Hempex!

Replaced all of Sjogin’s running rigging yesterday with this Manila substiute. It’s 10mm Polypropylene and finished to look like the real deal. While there’s always a worry about sun light degradation as opposed to Polyester (Dacron), I’ll give it a try. Available from Gordon Laco (new block supplier) at a reasonable price.


New mainsheet
Hempex has a fairly tight lay, making splicing a pleasure. Managed to do the main sheet splice while having a visit from Mark, a local Forum friend. Still need to put a whipping on the upper end of the splice.


All rigged
All done. I also tied the old jib sheet blocks to the rail and ran the tiller lines through them. If it works OK (too little friction?) I’ll seize them to a bronze pad eye on the inside of the rail.


Spare line
Let’s rig something! Sjogin’s collection of spare lines await. The coil on the left is the leftover Hempex. I needed about 200′ for the all of the running rigging.


Old Hankins
A very old Charles Hankins beach skiff. Not sure what’s going to happen to her but she needs a lot of work.


Striper
Striper, a nice old bass boat. She was in the shed with me this Summer, undergoing a thorough refreshing.

5 thoughts on “Hempex!”

  1. Still grateful boat owner Dave.

    The Hempex feels like a hard laid Dacron. I imagine the fuzz will wear off in time.

    Russ

  2. Russ: I saw Striper in the well today while I was kicking around Beaton’s. She really is a sweet little number. I saw Go Y’all up on her cradle and stood on a trailer next to her taking cell phone pics. Tom Beaton drove by a couple of times and I can only imagine what he was thinking seeing this rogue snapping sensitive photos of one of the more well-known skiffs on the upper bay. She’s been kept up in the head of the South Drive lagoon just off the East end of Princeton Avenue in Metedeconk for at least 40 years. My Dad’s parents had a grand summer house the next to last house down South Drive on the river. My brother, cousins and I would ride our bikes up and down that road all summer long and see Go Y’all several times each day. Very few reminders of those good times still remain. I almost melted when I saw her.

  3. Dave,

    Sorry I missed you. Home with a cold so no usual Saturday morning visit to Beaton’s. Did you get a chance to wander out on the T Dock and see Sjogin?

    Let me know the next time you’re in the neighborhood.

    Russ

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