Outrigger locks? Required or not

[Twisted28]

I have Lee Outriggers on my 28 GW Marlin which have the wishbone type of mount and large knob lock. My question is my boat currently has some "rigging" mounted to the hard top with galvanized pipe which looks like crap and is not part of the system. In trying to find Lee style upper clamps, I am not finding any.
Is this because they are not required? Can I safely take off the junk style of upper hard top locks when they are in the upright position without undue stress on the fiberglass where the whishbone mounts are?

 

[gerrys]

The typical Lee Jr would have a wishbone as you described in the lower section with a T-handle that would tighten against the main mast. In the lower section there is also a second latch that would lock in the rigger when in the raised position. The rigger would raise into a slot and a flat piece of metal (the latch) would be rolled over and engaged by a thumb-type screw. Then on the hard top there is a cradle to rest the upper part of the rigger. Is this like the one you have?

 

[jehines3]

Sorry for the bad photo, but its from when I bought the boat. Do they look like this?

 

[gradyfish22]

If you are refering to the cradle on the hardtop, it is not needed, but a gret thing to have. It is a Grady custom part through Lee outriggers and only Grady uses it, it will keep your outriggers from swaying and wearing over time. It also prevents them from rubbing against the hardtop, damaging the hardtop and outriggers from hitting each other. Also, without it, both the hardtop and outriggers hitting will create a bit of noise, I've been on boats without them, my boat has them and I'm glad they do. They do help reduce the whip in the outriggers which can ruin thwe threads over time, and will fatigue the aluminium, but will unlikely ruin them unless they are on the boat for years and mistreated. The small clamps on the hardtop also help reduce some stress on the cabin side since the outriggers do not sway much. All that you need is the small halfmoon cradle shown in the picture above and the standard wishbone mounts, anything else is not needed.

 

[Twisted28]

Thanks for the feedback, I do have the cradle parts but they are mounted on some BS galvanized pipe and flange. The images shown does replicate what I have except I do not have the factory Lee parts which the cradle on the hard top mounts to.
I will try and find the parts from lee. last I looked on their site I could not find anything. I will try and call them since it is a custom part for GW

Thanks to all fro the feedback.

This site is great!

 

[Rock N Troll]

If you are refering to the cradle on the hardtop, it is not needed, but a gret thing to have. It is a Grady custom part through Lee outriggers and only Grady uses it, it will keep your outriggers from swaying and wearing over time. It also prevents them from rubbing against the hardtop, damaging the hardtop and outriggers from hitting each other. Also, without it, both the hardtop and outriggers hitting will create a bit of noise, I've been on boats without them, my boat has them and I'm glad they do. They do help reduce the whip in the outriggers which can ruin thwe threads over time, and will fatigue the aluminium, but will unlikely ruin them unless they are on the boat for years and mistreated. The small clamps on the hardtop also help reduce some stress on the cabin side since the outriggers do not sway much. All that you need is the small halfmoon cradle shown in the picture above and the standard wishbone mounts, anything else is not needed.

That`s not really a "grady custom part". It`s the swing out bracket that Lee gives you with a set of Jrs. to hold the main tube in place when laying the riggers down to clear a bridge. Grady just got creative and used it for that purpose which actually sounds like a good idea. Is anyone using it for this purpose and if so how are they working?? I called Lee this morning looking for that "custom part" and steve there told me what it was. They`re $34.50 each from Lee by the way.

 

[gradyfish22]

Did not know it was fo9r that purpose. others on here as well as Grady have claimed it was a custom part for Grady only so I figured it was. It does make sense that it could be used to lay the outriggers down and would probably work well. I have it on my hardtop like the picture above and love them they really secure the outriggers and are easy to release the outriggers as well, just give a slight push forwards once the wishbones are loosened and they will deploy with no problem. They are also added security incase someone does not close the latch it it rattles free.

 

[gw204]

Capt. Bill used these and modified them slightly to accept the rigger poles...

He mounted them right to the edge of the hardtop. I would have done the mounting a little differently, but it was some sweet "out of the box" thinking on his part.

I like these far better than the Lee cradles. Ever seen a set of poles after laying in those for a few years...they're pretty torn up. :cry:

 

[Twisted28]

These look really sweet. Do you happen to know where they carry them?

 

[Rock N Troll]

These look really sweet. Do you happen to know where they carry them?

They just look like ant. stand-offs. You can buy them anywhere cheap.
That`s actually a good idea for the rigger poles

 

[gradyfish22]

Yup, that is exactly what they are!!