RE: [Paddlewise] sticky carabiners

I frequently shop at sailing supply stores for lines, hardware, and 
fiberglass repair materials. Last December, I used sailing hardware to hang 
our boats from our new garage ceiling. In the latter case, corrosion 
resistance was not a factor, but strength and versatility were, for I found 
Harken Micro cheek blocks screwed to the roof trusses and wall studs very 
useful as turning blocks for the hoist ropes. The hoist ropes themselves 
are 3/16" polyester running rigging from West Marine, selected because of 
its strength and non-stretchiness. Each kayak and canoe also has a small 
boat trailer winch bolted to a wall stud to hoist it. With a 36:1 power 
ratio on each winch, raising and lowering a British heavy kayak ten to 
twelve feet from the floor is an easy, one-hand operation.

Chuck Holst

-----Original Message-----
From:	Mark Paxton [SMTP:paxtonm_at_hotmail.com]
Sent:	Friday, March 09, 2001 11:31 AM
To:	PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net
Subject:	[Paddlewise] sticky carabiners

Hello,

Harold touched on the solution to corroded aluminum carabiners, which
otherwise make great grab handles, tow hooks, etc.  It's marine hardware.
Surf the racks at West Marine and there's a host of useful stuff.  They've
usually got free Harken and Ronstan catalogs near the hardware racks, and
they're worth grabbing so you can flip through them and invent all sorts of 
unintended uses for the stuff at your leisure.  The stuff is outrageously
expensive, but the things you'll want to use in a kayak are among the
smaller, cheaper items offered.  It's well made and it lasts forever; stuff 
you can (and may) stake your life on.
Mark

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