DIY Seaboard Deadeyes for HM Rigging

[Jack]

I know Mike at Strongline in Australia originally used Stainless eyes. They looked similar to a heavy duty eye that you see in anchoring ropes. Within a year the SS eyes were elongating out of shape. The forces involved are big. He switched when he found a good substitute.

I know a big cat that was self built in New Zealand had SS eyes also. He welded a bar across the open eye to try to combat the forces that were trying to elongate it. I think it worked until he found the lashing ropes were piled on top each other and could not be adjusted. Last I saw he was switching out. But these are big boats, big loads.

What size rig are you talking about? A small enough boat and I would give it a try. I would be cautious over about 20' though. Just my thinking out loud. The wood they are using for dead eyes is more like Iron wood or some really dense hard stuff isn't it?