More boat preparation

This maintenance item has been on my list for some time. In fact, I'm sure these blocks were in this condition when I bought the boat. However, since all the "big" items for the race were taken care of last year, I can now start to deal with some of the lower priority items. The jib leads on my boat are adjustable from the cockpit via a series of blocks for purchase under load. The forward jib leads have a small block (a Harken 1513 control block if you need the detail) that the control line runs through to adjust the lead position. As you can see below, the sheave has failed and the control line is running around the post at the center of the sheave.

Of course, boat repairs are never as simple as you expect. As I went to remove the first screw that holds the control block to the jib lead the head broke off. There was not enough of the screw body exposed to put pliers on it so I needed to drill out the screw body. The only way to do that without potentially damaging the jib lead was to remove the jib lead from the track and drill out the screw body from the back. This got most of it and a hole punch got out the rest, threads intact! The remaining screws came out without a problem. Compared to the new blocks, you can see how much of the sheave was missing.

A little blue locktite on the screws and the new control blocks were installed. I took the opportunity to lube the ball bearings in the jib leads cars while I was at it. Everything all back together and running smoothly.