MARINER CUSTOM BRIDLE

This is a hand-made custom bridle, tailored especially for the Mariner. Only the finest and strongest materials have been used. They are completely resistant to sea water. The nylon can be mildly affected by sunlight, though an identical bridle is still quite serviceable after more than 6,000 hours exposure to direct. sun. The bridle will fit ANY Mariner. It is stronger than the usual wire bridle, has no sharp protrusions to damage sails or cut hands. The bridle will also balance without the mast.

The Mariner, equipped, weighs under 1,600 lb. Thus the four points of the bridle lift an average of 400 lb. each, in normal use. With 200 gal. ot. water in the bilge, the numbers are double. The bridle WILL lift your boat under this condition, but obviously, water should be drained. The small shackles have a rating of 1,10.0 lb, working, 20,500 lb. yie]d.. The 4" snaps are rated ät 5,.000 1b. The 1/2" nylon at 3,750 lb., with six-tuck splices, still, 3,150 lb.

Before you use your bridle, please CHECK the chain plates and see that they are not loose or improperly fastened to the hull. Also check the quarter cleats (corners of stern) and make sure they are backed with wood or moulded in, as well as through-bolted.

The bridle has two parts: the shorter piece with shackles and snaps, goes forward; the longer one - all-nylon goes aft.

Before attempting to use the bridle, you must: Carefully remove the fasteners from each after chain plate and replace them with the 3/16" shackles that come with the bridle. Insert the shackles to hold both the chain plate and the shroud turnbuckle end, with the "U" of the shackle facing aft, and the thread-end of the shackle outboard. Tighten the shackle pin with pliers; and CHECK it for tightness occasionally.

Fasten the 4" snaps to each shackle, with the snapper UP. The forward part of your bridle should be OVER your boom, if the boom: is aboard. Place the eye of the bridle on the lift-hook, with the point of the hook facing APT.

Cleat the after part of the bridle to each quarter cleat on the stern. Be sure to cleat securely, with the bitter end of the line THROUGH the eye of the cleat. It will fit. The blue circumferential mark on the bridle should be in the eye of the: cleat. This is important to obtain proper BALANCE of your boat on the lift. Place the eye of the after bridle on the lift-hook over the eye of the forward bridle. Now, your Mariner is ready to lift safely..

I suggest you stow the bridle INSIDE the boat, and not expose . it to continuous sunlight. Occasionally check the shackle pins for tightness. Be sure to fasten the 4" with the snapper UP. When lifting, check first for 'snags' of tiller, main sheet, hatch moulding, .jib.sheet, etc. With a 'magic-marker' re-mark the blue ring on the after portion of the bridle occasionally.

Copyright © Information provided by renowned NJ Mariner sailor, Sam Streep, 1986