Masthead Sheaves--re-cut old aluminum or buy new delrin?

[Douglas]

Hi John , there were other mast fabricators (Kenyon) that used bronze bushings pressed into aluminum sheeves, not just LeFiel , and on a 30 year old boat here in Singapore, there was no corrosion on those sheeves, either.

I have had good luck ( reduced corrosion, less rusting ) with using SS and bronze together, like using bronze toggles and SS clevis pins, or using bronze bolts and screws on SS lifeline and dodger hardware.

My Forespar sheeves were some sort of white plastic, but the thin part of the cheeks were starting to crack and break away.

I did have new sheeves fabricated, but forgot which plastic it was,,,, I also had bushings made for them, out of "Turcite" plastic .

There must be a guide somewhere that would advise what type of plastic, new sheeves should be made of ??? I got some info on Turcite , from the McMaster-Carr online catalog .

Delrin , turns out to be hydroscopic and absorbs water, then swells ,,,, how much , I don't know.

Douglas