Selden Blocks

[x-man12345]

Hello guys,
I am thinking of changing out my halyard blocks. Mast is coming down when I get home in April to remove the epoxy and coat with Sikkens. I thought this would be a good time to renew the mast blocks. Also thinking of fitting a topping lift halyard but that another story.
Has anyone used Selden blocks?
They sell the right sizes and have good specs. PBB 50 has a SWL of 700kg
Plain bearings for static loads.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated

[erbster]

Are the existing blocks worn out?
I fitted a topping lift to Aurora, using the same method as Russell. A very useful upgrade http://yachtzephyr.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/topping-lift-upgrade/

[Ru88ell]

I was going to change my halyard blocks but decided against it in the end. They were doing the job just fine.

[x-man12345]

Thanks for the replys.
Blocks are not worn out but not sure they were the bestest best quality in the first place. I just want to be pro active and have blocks that I can bet on. We have already had one deck block fail (looks like a common problem). Both blocks have been converted now using 316 eye nuts and allen bolts.
That ruined our days sailing on a calm day. Would not like this sort of thing to happen far from home or on a less than calm day.
I have changed the topping lift on Ladybird already. Fixed eye on the port side of the boom, topping lift goes up and through a block on the mast band, back down to a horn cleat on the stb'd side. End of the topping lift is secured to the horn cleat in the low position. When I need to raise the boom I lift it and make turns around the horn cleat. It is a quick job. Thought about running a halyard line down through the stb'd deck block and through a jam cleat but not sure it would be any quicker. Also thought about fitting a cheek block on the stb'd side of the boom and running the halyard line through a jam cleat along the boom. Down side of this is another piece of dangling rope when the boom is up.
Things to ponder
Tiller pilot is next on the list.

[x-man12345]

New PBB50 Selden blocks on order .
Close inspection of the originals when we took the mast down, showed they needed changing. I went to visit the Uk distributer, Solent Spars in Swanwick Marina and got some good advice. Got a very good price from Force4. Happy days. Will be fitted with the new tan yankee at the weekend.
Ian

[x-man12345]

Selden blocks fitted. These are a quality product
Happy days
Ian