Folding Pad eyes

Mark.Wilme · Post by **Mark.Wilme** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:32 am

Anyone any recommendations on folding pad eyes for clip in points ?

I'm thinking the sea Dog ones look like junk and the Wichard ones look better. I cannot determine quality on the Holt ones.

appreciate any experience you folks have here. Also whether the manufacturers supply pre-drilled backing plates or whether you make your own.

Thx

fusto · Post by **fusto** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:05 am

The Wichard ones are very nice. Just installed some recently for a customer. Quality castings.

The Sea Dog's are about what you would expect.

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:35 am

Note that the Wichard ones come with a little piece of rubber in back of the "folding D" ring. This helps dampen vibration so the metal doesn't make an annoying chatter when motoring.

Haven't seen backing plates for these which is a shame, but they are easy enough to make.

Hirilondë · Post by **Hirilondë** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:32 pm

I am installing many Wichards this winter for boats doing the Marion/Bermuda Race. In a strong spot of the cockpit, cabin, etc. fender washers are often enough, but Marion/Bermuda Committee requires backing plates regardless of location or to what material they are attached. Yet they don't specify any particular materials for them (the backing plates). Seems kind of arbitrary to me. Hmm, I wonder what they would say about cardboard?

George ( C&C 40 ) · Post by **George ( C&C 40 )** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:31 pm

Dave to the rescue again,

I'm installing two of the mid sized Winchard fold-down pad-eyes in my C&C 40's cockpit this weekend. I'll make sure to use some 1/2" Starboard material I have as backing plates. I'm trying to make sure that all the work I do to the boat for my upcomming cruises also meets Cat 1 offshore specs. I'm not planning any races over the next two years but I would like to do Annapolis-Newport and Annapolis-Bermuda sometime after that.

Thanks for the post,

George

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:38 pm

I probably sound like a nerd here, but I've read that Starboard can "creep" and thus makes not-so-good backing plates. That being said, I doubt it would actually fail; but OTOH you probably have other materials available, so I thought I'd mention it.

Rachel

George ( C&C 40 ) · Post by **George ( C&C 40 )** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:18 pm

Hi Rachel,

Thanks for the note. I was unaware that Starboard had a certain "creep" factor. I'll make up some out of glassed-over plywood instead.

Geore