Anybody know how to attach this block to the gaff boom? (HM Sherbourne Vanguard)

[Stuka]

Hello, 

I have been stuck for weeks now I just cant figure out a good way to get this done.  As you will see in the picture this block has to be attached with a loop or something to the first eyelet off the gaff boom then have an open loop on the other side. I just cant grasp how this is supposedly done? The pictures in the instruction isnt that clear either.  This is my first model so im very unsure how to proceed. Any directions or suggestions would be appreciated as long as a rookie like me cant achieve it. 

[JacquesCousteau]

You may want to check out Chuck Passaro's guide to stropping blocks, which is available as a pdf for free download at Syren's website on the "blocks" page. I found it extremely helpful for figuring out stropping techniques, and relatively easy to do. I'm not totally sure about the best way to add a loop to both ends, though. In general, searching MSW for "block stropping" should return helpful results. Best of luck!

[popeye2sea]

Robin,

I am assuming that the block in the last pic is the one you are using, and that the eye bolt is already installed on the gaff.

 

Take that strop (the rope loop around the block) off of the block and remake another one so that there is a loop (eye) on both ends.  One way to do that is to make a loop with rope that will be large enough to go around the block with extra on both sides to form the eyes. Then you finish making the eyes by wrapping a few turns of thread and tying off so that the wraps (seizing) are tight against the block,  just above and just below the block.  You should end up with a block that is stropped like the one in the plans.

 

Now you can simply tie the lower eye to the ring bolt on the gaff, and the upper eye will take the rope which forms the tackle (the part that runs through and between two blocks).

 

Regards,

Henry

Edited Tuesday at 02:04 AM by popeye2sea

[paul ron]

im not sure if this is applicable in your ship but definately interesting...

 

https://suburbanshipmodeler.com/2017/11/24/main-boom-rigging/

 

 

[Gregory]

Here is a link to Chuck's stropping tutorial that @JacquesCousteau referred to.  Block Stropping

 

You might find a block stropped with a hook would be a better fit than the way the plans show.  Will be easier to work with than having the line & block  tied to the gaff.

Edited Tuesday at 01:39 PM by Gregory

[Stuka]

Chucks guide on stropping is a marvel I just read through it and I will try employ some of those technics on my Speedy in the future and maybe on this Sherbourne. However I dont have access to any hooks to do and alternative variant of this gaff boom attachment. But many Thanks anyways for this Piece of marvel 👍

[Stuka]

On 4/7/2025 at 7:14 PM, popeye2sea said:

One way to do that is to make a loop with rope that will be large enough to go around the block with extra on both sides to form the eyes.

Hello I appreciate the help however I do have a hard time to follow.  If I would take a big loop around the block to get two eyes one each side with seizing. How do I get one of the eyes to be attached to the eyebolt of the gaff boom? Also how would I solve one end with has to the two loose ends of string. Cause the loop around the eyebolt has to be closed like in the picture does it not?  Sorry for all the questions but I have trouble to visualize this.  See the picture which hopefully shows my question.

[Stuka]

Thanks for all the help guys, Hopefully with the help I can improve on my rigging in the future but I reached out to ECK and he did another variant of this which involves first tying string around a toothpick then he had this open loop which could then just be tied normally around the block. Finally one of the 2 strings goes into the eyebolt and then is tied to the base of the knot around the block. I kinda got this okay at best I will say but it will do for now I reckon. But I will contemplate redoing it or maybe let the imperfection be its own perfection.