It’s ok Chuck.  Without getting into a long discussion, this is what I do for a 
living, for  most of my working life, so I do know what I am doing. 

You don’t want to heat SS to form it, or any other reason,  because then it is 
soft and rusts. SS is generally cold formed.  You can bend a piece back and 
forth 180 degrees several times before it will break.  We do that for weld 
tests. Don’t worry, I am not going to put Matt in jeopardy.

 

Bill Coleman

C&C 39 Erie, PA

 

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Chuck 
Gilchrest via CnC-List
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2019 4:10 PM
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: Chuck Gilchrest
Subject: Re: Stus-List Merriman snatch block question

 

“Fixing” bent snatch blocks???  Really??  Bending it back into shape?  Finding 
replacement pins for 30 year old blocks that are twisted and falling apart?  
You need to consider metal fatigue and once stainless steel is bent without 
applying heat, it is severely compromised.

I’m as cheap as the next sailor (well maybe not the Canadian ones…) but once a 
piece of critical hardware gives up and gets bent out of shape, it finds its 
way into the scrap heap and gets replaced because I don’t depend on damaged 
hardware to get me home safely..  Maybe because I love my children and my wife 
and want to see them again.   Just for the record, if the snatch block lets go 
under load and kills someone or severely injures a crew member, I hope you have 
enough liability insurance because it will not be something you can pin on a 
company that has been out of business since 1989.

If you have a single piece of electronic gadgetry or cookware on your boat that 
costs more than a snatch block and have limited financial resources, I suggest 
you sell them and buy the new hardware that you need.  And yes, I am well aware 
that new snatch blocks are expensive..it’s for good reason!

Chuck Gilchrest

S/V Half Magic

1983 35 Landfall

Padanaram, MA

From: CnC-List <cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com> On Behalf Of Bill Coleman via 
CnC-List
Sent: Tuesday, April 9, 2019 2:02 PM
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: Bill Coleman <colt...@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: Stus-List Merriman snatch block question

 

Lay it under my keel, I will take a look at it. I can probably beat it back 
into shape. Might cost you a beer or two, tho.

I used to repair Merle’s Merrimans, and now of course I own them.

 

Bill Coleman

C&C 39 Erie, PAanimated_favicon1

 

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Matthew L. 
Wolford via CnC-List
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2019 1:15 PM
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: Matthew L. Wolford
Subject: Stus-List Merriman snatch block question

 

Listers:

 

    I have an old Merriman snatch block in need of repair.  It was under load 
last season and not properly closed, which caused it to open and bend the 
stainless straps (on the sides) and the pin holding it together.  I believe I 
can bend the stainless straps back more or less into alignment.  However, the 
pin is bent and in need of replacement.  The pin used by Merriman for this 
block is stainless, 2 1/2 inches long (I’m guessing 5/16 diameter) with a head 
on one end and internal threads on the other.  It is held together by a machine 
screw that screws into the threaded end.  I suppose I could use a stainless 
bolt, but that would not be very elegant.  Any ideas?  

 

 


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