Looking for an improved way to keep rigger top nuts from scratching your other shells when boats get taken out of the racks? Try these tethered rubber covers and keep your top nuts capped. Chris Tolsdorf at Unionville Crew shared this spare parts trick with us, after finding a pretty perfect solution on the McMaster-Carr hardware website. Full disclosure, Chris uses these on Vespoli riggers, but McMaster-Carr offers a range of sizes, so maybe you can find a fit for your fleet. Here is Chris's pitch for this Hack: "We are always searching for ways to prevent the dreaded rigger scratches that come from tight rack spaces and a rower's perception of level. We have tried tennis balls, rubber balls, any number of things that don't stay permanently attached to the boat. They inevitably get lost or not put on at all. "Jump on McMaster-Carr, one of the greatest websites in the world, and look up part number 2870N17. These tethered rubber caps fit perfectly in two ways. The tethered loop fits right over the spacers on the oarlock, and the cap then folds over to fit right on top of the top bolt. Just make sure you have one small spacer at the top of the oarlock. If you don't, the loop can also be stretched to fit over the backstay knuckle but it is not as clean. "They stay on the boat so are never lost and while they won't prevent a dent if a crew really wants to slam the rigger into the boat below, they do a great job preventing scratches. We have not had any stretch or break, but at $.44 a piece they are easy and cheap to replace." Chris also told us that a quick pass with a heat gun will help keep the caps tight if they stretch out a bit over time. Part number 2870N17 in all its glory As Chris notes, the tether on these caps--and the fact that you can leave them on for rowing--makes his trick a big improvement over the other Rowing Hacks we've seen for preventing scratched shells. As clever as the Swiss Nut Helmet, the Socked Rigger, and the Towel-Swaddled Single might be as Hacks, each one can fall into Chris' "inevitably not put on at all" category, so the Top Nut Cap is a clear winner. Do you have slick solution like this that you use with your fleet? If so, share your ideas--and hacks--in the comments below. If you have a great rowing hack to suggest for future inclusion, then please send it to us like Chris did and we will feature your idea in a future column. SUPPORT ROW2K If you enjoy and rely on row2k, we need your help to be able to keep doing all this. Though row2k sometimes looks like a big, outside-funded operation, it mainly runs on enthusiasm and grit. Help us keep it coming, thank you! Learn more. Related Stories Rowing Hack: Meet the Castellated Nut Rowing Hack: The Dolly-ed Up Sling Rowing Hack: Sock-Covered Boat-Straps Trailer Trick: The Handle Handler CommentsLog in to comment Posting... Post Cancel There are no Comments yet Rowing Features 12/5: Prep Sweeps Stotes December 5, 2024 12/4: Kohler Wins Olympic Trials December 4, 2024 Rowing Science: The Divine Proportion of Olympic Regatta Finish Margins December 4, 2024 12/3: Tufts Wins First NCAA Title December 3, 2024 Rowing Headlines "My Mission is Accomplished"--Dutch Olympic Coach Eelco Meenhorst Steps Down December 5, 2024 National Rowing Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Announced; Induction Ceremony at 2024 HOCR September 23, 2024 Youth Nationals 2024: How to Watch and What to Know June 5, 2024 2024 Inaugural CRCA Athletes to Watch March 13, 2024
Looking for an improved way to keep rigger top nuts from scratching your other shells when boats get taken out of the racks? Try these tethered rubber covers and keep your top nuts capped. Square Nut
Chris Tolsdorf at Unionville Crew shared this spare parts trick with us, after finding a pretty perfect solution on the McMaster-Carr hardware website.
Full disclosure, Chris uses these on Vespoli riggers, but McMaster-Carr offers a range of sizes, so maybe you can find a fit for your fleet.
Here is Chris's pitch for this Hack:
"We are always searching for ways to prevent the dreaded rigger scratches that come from tight rack spaces and a rower's perception of level. We have tried tennis balls, rubber balls, any number of things that don't stay permanently attached to the boat. They inevitably get lost or not put on at all.
"Jump on McMaster-Carr, one of the greatest websites in the world, and look up part number 2870N17. These tethered rubber caps fit perfectly in two ways. The tethered loop fits right over the spacers on the oarlock, and the cap then folds over to fit right on top of the top bolt. Just make sure you have one small spacer at the top of the oarlock. If you don't, the loop can also be stretched to fit over the backstay knuckle but it is not as clean.
"They stay on the boat so are never lost and while they won't prevent a dent if a crew really wants to slam the rigger into the boat below, they do a great job preventing scratches. We have not had any stretch or break, but at $.44 a piece they are easy and cheap to replace."
Chris also told us that a quick pass with a heat gun will help keep the caps tight if they stretch out a bit over time.
Part number 2870N17 in all its glory
As Chris notes, the tether on these caps--and the fact that you can leave them on for rowing--makes his trick a big improvement over the other Rowing Hacks we've seen for preventing scratched shells. As clever as the Swiss Nut Helmet, the Socked Rigger, and the Towel-Swaddled Single might be as Hacks, each one can fall into Chris' "inevitably not put on at all" category, so the Top Nut Cap is a clear winner.
Do you have slick solution like this that you use with your fleet? If so, share your ideas--and hacks--in the comments below.
If you have a great rowing hack to suggest for future inclusion, then please send it to us like Chris did and we will feature your idea in a future column.
Rowing Hack: Meet the Castellated Nut
Rowing Hack: The Dolly-ed Up Sling
Din125 Washers Trailer Trick: The Handle Handler