Seized gronicle

[DougWilde]

Last night I uncovered Williwaw to prepare a list for Spring fitting-out.
Everything looked to be in pretty good shape until I tried my port gronicle, only to discover it had seized-up over the winter.

Any suggestions as to what might be wrong with it or things to look for before I remove and disassemble it?

This is not your typical American (Acme) gronicle, but one of european origin that I picked-up in Marseilles (along with something else I'd rather not talk about), which means it does not have automatic lubrication.

TIA,

Doug Wilde

[ssor]

What's a gronicle? :confused:

[Bruce Taylor]

Well, what the hell did you expect? If you don't know how to winterize a gronicle you have no business owning a boat.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[jboat]

Keep in mind that the port side gronicle needs to be turned the wrong way, ie clockwise to remove it.

[Hughman]

Does the starboard gronicle work? sometimes thats all you need.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Bruce, he seems to have a souther european one (the mediterranean gronicle), these MUST be kept above 60F year round. No winterization.

Sometimes a smart tap with a hammer will do the job (he may need an assistant), failing that its the saw.

[Billy Bones]

Originally posted by Hughman:
Does the starboard gronicle work? sometimes thats all you need.Correct, IF you remember to adjust the compass accordingly.

[paladin]

was there any sign of dry rot due to lack of use or misuse/.....

[Bruce Taylor]

Bruce, he seems to have a souther european one (the mediterranean gronicle), these MUST be kept above 60F year round. No winterization.Listen, you Welsh lizard...the only "souther european" (sic) gronicle I know of is the Imbroglio (made in Naples, I think) and it most certainly does need to be winterized. If you don't know that, you don't know much.

[Stargazer14]

Bruce and Newt -
Before you guys get hurt in a catfight, let me help both of you out by clarifying that according to I.Bergs book "Seamanship of the Western Mediterranean", the Imbroglio gronicle need only be climatized
("when exposure to chilling temperatures below 15 degree celsius.")
on models produced before 1968 - after that time they were produced in Formia a few miles above Naples
and design changes incorporated no need for winterizing.

So in a way, you were both right.

[mmd]

"...one of european origin that I picked-up in Marseilles (along with something else I'd rather not talk about)..." - Doug Wilde I presume that the other thing you picked up in Marseilles is self-lubricating.... ;)

[Stu Fyfe]

I've just decided to pull all the gronicles out of Redwing. I can live without them.

[Mike Field]

.
Won't any of you blokes put SSOR out of his misery? :D

Anyway, anyone should know that those Italian gronicles all have metric threads. It's absolutely no use trying to use SAE fittings with them.
.

[Hughman]

Originally posted by Mike Field:
.
Won't any of you blokes put SSOR out of his misery? .We're doing our best, Mike. It's as plain as pie.

[outofthenorm]

In Canada we rely on genuine Saskatchewan Sealskin Gronicles port and starboard, but they are not recommended for the aft gronicle, especially on a vessel with reversing gear, due to sensitivities to temperature in high-fromic environments..

- Norm

[Stargazer14]

Norm, is that some kind of Aprils Fools joke or something?
What the heck is "high-fromic" ????

:(

[Hwyl]

Usually i leave them a day, then they sort themselves ot (a fresh breeze helps). You did correct your deviation table; right?

Perhaps you let your gollywobbler rub against your baggywrinkles: deadly

[videoguy]

Don’t forget that below the equator you have turn them counter clockwise. smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif ....Phil

[outofthenorm]

I'm a bit surprised you haven't heard of a fromic environment Stargazer, but maybe it's a multi-cultural thing you don't experience in the USA. It's hard to explain it's true meaning, but the word is clearly derived for the French fromage, which implies a slow process of smelly fermentation. I could have used the central European term, frowf (or sometimes frouph), but I thought that would be too arcane for a discussion of simple gronicles. - Norm

[JimConlin]

I wasn't listening closely, but i thought i heard, in a radio news report on the Michael Jackson trial,reference to "siezed gronicles". Did anyone else hear that?

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

I boiled mine in a vinegar & water bath to remove all the old paint and varnish that had accumulated. Then just polish them with a bass wire wheel. Never a steel wheel it will leave microscopic particles in your gronicles and cause them to eventually rust, and that is very bad. Mine are all shinny now. ready for spring ;) :D

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Stargazer - thanks for the clarification.

All, I think the Dingo is down a hole for the next couple of weeks, but DougWilde will get no sympathy at all if the gronicle is still siezed-up when he returns. I think he said something about an explosives course.

DougWilde, is this the famous ocean-going sailing foiler "Williwaw"? Foil-borne gronicles are beyond the range of my experience - this could be specialist stuff.

[ 04-01-2005, 12:04 PM: Message edited by: P.I. Stazzer-Newt ]

[outofthenorm]

Jim Conlin

Jim, I think what you actually heard was related to MJ's recent bout with a cold virus. Something was mentioned about his reason for not showing up in court was a case of "sneezed gronicles", but since he's not known to be a boat guy, I don't think it applies.

[landlocked sailor]

Doug, I think you could learn a valuable lesson here. I believe Karl Stambaugh specifies detachable gronicles on the Windward 15; I always take mine off and store them in a warm & moist environment in the winter. Rick

[nedL]

That will teach you for not using the self lubricating ones!
If you need to get some new ones I still have the issue of the "Mariner's Catalog" with some domestic manufacturers listed. Are you sure you've got them wired correctly? Maybe they are wire backwards & that is why they siezed over the winter. Anyone remember which forumite has posted the wiring schematic for them? :D

[Concordia..41]

Ned - I saved the wiring diagram to my hard drive for future reference - as I did your pages from the Mariner's Catalog. Unfortunately I'm at work and they're on the computer at the house.

If no one else has them handy, I'll post when I get home later.

- M

[ 04-01-2005, 12:40 PM: Message edited by: Concordia..41 ]

[Chris Stewart]

Originally posted by Stargazer14:
Norm, is that some kind of Aprils Fools joke or something?
What the heck is "high-fromic" ????

:( Opposite of low-fromic.

[outofthenorm]

Doug, I just went back to my bookshelf and picked out one of my favourites - "The Boats of the Bhudda" 1949, by Nicholas "Nick" Pocock. He wrote, "the master teaches that to function properly, that is to say, as an entity entirely in harmony with all other elements of its environment, each Gronicle should have one face polished to a high degree - shiny enough that you can see your reflection in it - then the other side must receive a 1 or 2 degree micro-bevel that achieves a kind of "oneness" with the previously polished side."

Maybe your port gronicle was too dull?

[DougWilde]

Sorry, I was away. Had to work, you know.

In answer to some of the questions...

Yes, the starboard one still works fine.
No, no evidence of dryrot. Had that once before when I moved inland to Arkansas.
Yes, I have them wired correctly. Previously I did have trouble, until I got them all bonded properly.
There is no date of manufacture on them, so I don't know if they are Imbroglio or Formia.
Karl's recommendation to use detachable gronicles came out on the second revision to the Windward 15 plans. I bought my plans over 15 years ago.

I had not thought about metric vs SAE. I'll have to check on that.

Would hate to have to replace these bad boys. I see they are really cheap in the Harbor Freight mailer, but gees, Chinese gronicles?

Doug

PS I ended up in Marseilles because of my deviation table.

[landlocked sailor]

NOOOOOOOOO!!! WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T USE CHINESE GRONICLES FROM HARBOR FREIGHT!. Whew, that was close. Their quality control is abysmal and combining them with your original, functional one could upset the space-time continuum in unpredictable ways....You're welcome. Rick

[Tristan]

BOTH of my gronicles have gotten a bit smaller since I had prostate surgery six years ago.

[ 04-01-2005, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: Tristan ]

[DrakeChristensen]

I remember seeing an ad during the Super Bowl about some new way of fixing rusty gronicles...but warned that if your gronicles were still shiny four hours after treatment you should take 'em to a professional.

[John Meachen]

I may be mistaken but I seem to recall that Pete Culler was a great believer in slathering tallow on this sort of equipment if it was to be left for any length of time.Given its European origins,a liberal coating of olive oil might be a good alternative.

[Mrleft8]

Just be happy that yer gronicle has been seized! Some of us have gone for uncounted days between gronicle seizings!

[Paul Stohlman]

Come on!!!

Keep it simple. Just turn your boat around in the slip. The port gronicle will sort itself out. When the starboard seizes, turn her around again.

Evens out the UV on the varnish as well.

[Urk]

I met a wizend old ex-whaler in a taverna in Santiago, Chile one night , and he confided in me that, in his opinion, gronicles had no place aboard seagoing vessels. He said that he had lost a very good friend, (at this point he winked at me so I suspect that the person was more than a good friend), during an unseasonal calm off the Galapagos, due to total gronicle failure.
I, for one, have taken his advice to heart.

[Siebert]

Regarding seized gronicles, I experienced this very thing last season during an early haul out for some cleaning and bottom paint. I did a google search on the matter and found a penetrating oil made in Germany called Venarschlider that did the trick. Soaked my gronicles several times overnight, taking care to remove periodically and clean and the next morning they were just like new.

Regarding Chinese gronicles, never had one, never seen one, could not comment on there quality.

[ssor]

Unable to get a difinitve answer on this forum I called my sister who is also the family historian and she told me that prior to the civil war our great- great grandfarther owned a gronicle manufacturing plant near Atlanta, Georgia. He was a wealthy man and had many sons. When Gen. Sherman marched through Georgia great great grandfather's entire plant was burned to the ground and all of the gronicles esential to the Confederate Navy were distroyed and that was why the south was defeated. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[ssor]

I just finished talking to my fire eating, sword swallowing, juggler, rigger and he has informed me that in some circumstances a henway can be substituted for a gronicle.

[John B]

That is an extremely dangerous thing to do.Bad bad advice. Its the Goose's Bridle you use as emergency Gronicles. The Henway is only of use if you plan to cross the road( metaphorically speaking)

[Hughman]

Henways are extremely inferior applications for proper gronicle use, and excessive lubricants such as lanolin and other animal fats, olive oyl, and most petrolium derivitives are to be discouraged. There are some alcohol based substances that are efficacious, and journeymen all have their favorites.

Proper use of gronicles takes practice and training, and are best used in a clean environment.

[Tonyr]

I am at the stage of designing the electrical circuits for my 24 ft Lobster Boat, and was mulling whether it was necessary to bond my gronicles at all. Here is the thinking.

My boat is strip built, using epoxy coated screws and PL Premium between the strips. I propose to use plastic through hulls exclusively, and use double insulated circuits with no ground, so that the stray currents produced by the other boats on the marina floats (party boats, many, with A.C conected when they are alongside) have no way to bleed into my hull, and degrade my zincs (which I won't need, of course). I think I could get away with this provided I make sure to raise the lower unit of my Yamaha outboard out of the water when alongside.

My only concern is that the screws are steel, not bronze, so that even though I am in fresh water most of the time, induced magnetic fields from other boats' stray currents may still do strange things to the unbonded gronicles.

I may just do away with them altogether since I am usually in easy sight of land, and they are less use in these circumstances, and probably a bit unreliable becuse of the coriolis forces near the local strip coal mine in our biggest lake. They are certainly stronger here than when a boat is well out to sea.

Any thoughts? Am I all wet here? Am I going to be safe?

Tony.

[DougWilde]

I don't know, Tony. You might wait until the electrical schematic is posted again. That goes a long way to explaining why bonding merits serious consideration.

As far as turning the boat in the slip, I should have thought of that earlier and reversed the trailer in the garage come the solstice. But it is going to be pouring rain any minute now and likely cannot turn her around until Sunday.

Doug Wilde

[Lurch]

Originally posted by Tonyr:
Any thoughts? Am I all wet here? Am I going to be safe?Based on the previous entries in this thread:

A plethora of them, you will be, and no.

[Bayboat]

It's absolutely amazing how far from reality this discussion of gronicles has strayed. Various remedies for misbehaving gronicles are ranging from cleaning with ineffective liquids to application of various substances to gronicles that are interpreted as parts of the human male anatomy. It was this last that affected the availability of the only true gronicles, which are made of wood from the rainforest of Wayout Mongolia. The market is controlled by a sindicate based at Karakorum, which also controls export by way of the Silk Road to middlemen in Central Asia. Frequent allusions to gronicles as parts of the human male anatomy have angered the members of the Karakorum syndicate, and export has been interdicted for some time. That is why true gronicles are so scarce, and upstart manufacturers of decidedly inferior, one might even say fake, gronicles have sprung up in places like Marseilles and elsewhere. The use of these faux gronicles explains the mass confusion over proper maintenance and application. Until scatalogical references cease, the situation can only get worse.

The promise of obtaining true gronicles from El Pantanal in Paraguay is still quite nebulous. So those of you who have true gronicles should hang onto them and treat them tenderly, lest they deteriorate to the point of uselessness.

[ 04-02-2005, 05:37 PM: Message edited by: Bayboat ]

[Wild Dingo]

Seized gronicleWell now seized gronicles are a truely terrible thing... yes indeed terrible indeed!

I know from personal experience how painfull it is to have a seized gronicle oooh the agony the tears and the pain... such a thing should never happen to a fella! :(

Ive known of frozen gronicles and thats pretty painfull to but seized ones are a shockin thing!

there is but one cure really and not one to be taken lightly... cut the affected seized gronicle off!!! :eek: yes thats the onliest cure known Im afraid simple op really they put yer under and with a sharp blade slice away and squeeze between finger an thumb and with a pop out it goes then a few wee stiches and whalla no more seized gronicle... well actually no more gronicle :rolleyes: but yes mate thats the onliest cure known to man...

Or woman for that matter but theyre rather savage when it comes to seizin gronicles :eek:

Protect your gronicles from seizure!!! :cool:

[Paul Fitzgerald]

what about cpes?

[Bayboat]

True gronicles manufactured in Wayout Mongolia are immune to seizure.

[ 04-02-2005, 05:36 PM: Message edited by: Bayboat ]

[Puka]

I am oft troubled by the fact that the gronicles in my vessel disobey the natural order of things.
Seizings are inversely proportional to their age
For those of you that haven't had your ration of coffee, that means, the older your gronicles get the less they get seized.

I don't know whether this is because of cost cutting of the manufacturer(need wearing in),or possibly, SWIMBO lubricating them while I am asleep ,and thus screwing the results.
Life's a mystery.

Uh oh,faux par, should read Skewing the result.

[Larry P.]

Back in my younger and more robust days I has a traditional set of brass gronicles, they often cause me grief but with proper maitainence they usually remained functional. As age has crept up on me I had found synthetic replacements more practical. I still have the brass one in a jar and on occasion with permission of SWMBO I take them out. Usually on a friday night.

[ssor]

The reason that the gronicles manufactured by my great-great grandfather were essential to the confederate navy was that they were the only approved means for ringing southern bells.

[ChuckG]

Does your gronicle keep dribbling, even when you put it back on the bench? That sometimes happens with older gronicles. In fact, the only known remedy is to seize it. Most guys use a coxcombing, but I've heard of a coachwhipping that works as well. Is it possible that is how your gronicle got seized in the first place, perhps by some well meaning passerby?

cg

[Dave Fleming]

Hasn't Brion Toss developed a Gronicle Seizing?

[Puka]

Oh,ringing a southern bell! That thought is enough to make ones gronicles ache for seizure.

[JimConlin]

Was that Southern belle?

[Puka]

'course not. You can't ring a belle!

[Hwyl]

Originally posted by Puka:
'course not. You can't ring a belle!Speak for yourself. Done lots of fun things with belles

[Puka]

I think.....a hull scrub is in order.

[George Roberts]

Mine were just seized ...

;)

[ssor]

Originally posted by Puka:
I think.....a hull scrub is in order.Is that the same as a keel hauling?

[ssor]

:D

[Puka]

If you like...anything for collective penance. tongue.gif

[Chris Stewart]

Originally posted by ssor:
I just finished talking to my fire eating, sword swallowing, juggler, rigger and he has informed me that in some circumstances a henway can be substituted for a gronicle.Should not substitute henway for gronicle. Henways about three pounds. Gronicles much lighter, much more expensive.

[paladin]

well...if'n youse have no need fer the old gronicles you can use the worn out ones fer shark bait.......

[Puka]

News:
Old gronicles festooned in boat(read money) still attract Southern Belles......too good for sharks.

[ 04-02-2005, 07:36 PM: Message edited by: Puka ]

[ssor]

Doug Wilde, Do see what you started? If you had just paid proper attention to putting your gronicles away last fall then they wouldn't have been seized this spring. Proper attention to the care and protection of your standing rigging would have save all of us a great deal of mirth. Next time please try to remember how this forum responded in your hour of need!

[Peter Page]

In Victoria Australia you can still get the original red gum gronicals from Vic Rail. They used them in the old steam trains that still run near my place. Only $57 Aus a pair. If you need any send a cheque to me and I'll send some. You must state what size and left or right handed. Also they are not in metric or AF but in Whitworth.
Peter

[Paul Denison]

Originally posted by Concordia..41:
Ned - I saved the wiring diagram to my hard drive for future reference - as I did your pages from the Mariner's Catalog. Unfortunately I'm at work and they're on the computer at the house.

If no one else has them handy, I'll post when I get home later.

- MMargo, why would we need a wiring diagram for your hard drive? We're talking about gronicles here.

[Concordia..41]

Well...for all of you doubting Thomasas and ssors, when this was last discussed, I saved the port-side gronicle wiring diagram.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid163/p1816b5ba65d28fba1279efa9896d432e/f497ae6b.jpg

And you really don't want me to post the picture I found of the gronicle tester tongue.gif (guess I forgot all about that...)

- M

And yes, I'm just now getting home - see Mystic EBS threads :cool:

[ssor]

Margo, I think I see the flaw, some of the lamps have been installed with the polarity reversed. If that is corrected then you should be able to check both port and starboard gronicles without the need for separate gronicle testers. :D

[skuthorp]

You'll have to be more careful with the thread titles. Here I am, back from a long weekend and suitably outraged 'Siezed Gronicles' What! Another misuse of the Homeland Security Act?, the FBI confiscating all the gronicles in the US? The possibility of smuggled Cuban gronicales being the other source?
Well I am relieved, but my blood pressure........
:cool: :rolleyes:

[paul oman]

I coated mine with epoxy!

paul oman
progressive epoxy polymers

[ssor]

That's great, but did you correct the polarity before your encapsulated them. epoxy does help to prevent fungus and mildew from skewing the out- put.

[Howler]

My friend, Dick, told me about this discussion. I thought he said "squeezed gronicles" and since I had encountered this situation once before, I had to comment. Seized or squeezed, neither is going to permit the full function of the mechanism. Back pressure can build to a dangerous level requiring immediate bleed-off or risk complete failure of the unit. No need to disassemble. Seisure can be easily relieved with a solid whack from a hammer or brazed retrofit of a simple plumber's pet-cock.

[westinghouse]

Give my gronicles a whack with a plumber's pet cock?!

This is totally out of control.

I agree with Bayboat, though, ya don't want any scat on yer gronicles.

[Joe Sengl]

Way out of hand. So far, nobody on this forum has convinced me that a seized gronicle is such a bad thing. My own extensive experience has shown this to be a rather temporary condition anyway. Never, ever, in all my long week of sailing last summer, have I seen this appear permanent. What are the consequences?

On the other hand, my wife who has sported many hours on a double ender, insists that if left unattended, a seized gronicle quickly becomes a blown gronicle which has the potential to be devastating. I'm sure nobody wants that. Just leave it alone.

[Don Olney]

http://home.neb.rr.com/fansrus/bs_meter.gif

[ 01-09-2006, 10:25 PM: Message edited by: Don Olney ]

[westinghouse]

Ayup, seized gronicles often become blown gronicles. But that depends upon the treatment of the prick post.

[ 04-04-2005, 06:52 PM: Message edited by: westinghouse ]

[Puka]

Somewhere I have a T shirt that reads: The gronicles in this vessel are affected by rot, fungi and are somewhat necrotised.

This ensures that I am given a wide birth by all of the opposite polarity while I am fixing my boat. Absolutely no leakage current!

It is a guaranteed, 100% cure, for the occurrence of gronicle seizure.

I tried pfizer, but they weren't interested in anything that wasn't chemical and was a 100% cure.

This debasement is my final contribution.

[ 04-04-2005, 03:25 PM: Message edited by: Puka ]

[Bob Adams]

Originally posted by ssor:
What's a gronicle? :confused: I live a few miles south of Bel Air MD, and, if you want to visit, as the only wood boat owner in my marina, I can show you a REAL set of Gronicles

[Harry Miller]

As your gronicles age you need to employ a regular maintenance program. Mine features two elements:
a) Daily application of saw-palmetto extract.
b) A further lubrication using KY jelly in anticipation of strenuous use.

[Magwitch]

Information a little late I know, but anyway,,,,,,,,,,,
There are port, starboard and bow gronicles in the latest Classic Marine catalogue, Metric and Imperial in bronze, imperial only in wood (Lignum). The old system of letting a single. overlarge gronicle fitted at the stern take all the strain is frowned upon by insurance companies.
If bonding is used ie all fittings including gronicles are wired together, then a feed may be taken to the onboard lap-top which will warn if seizure is imminent. This works less well with the Lignum items unless an in line amp is fitted which will cause unacceptable power drain.
Fwiw I no longer find it necessary to fit extra gronicles to the base of a standard boat bucket.
IanW

[Dave Lesser]

For a more universal perspective on this problem, check out The Martian Gronicles by Ray Bradbury.

Sorry

[Howler]

I don't know...could be fun...

----------
April 16 and 17, 2005

Port Handy, Ohio

International Widget and Gronicle Swap
www.setofgronies.com (http://www.setofgronies.com)

Unique collection of Antique and Classic Gronicles on display.

Working demonstration of modern gronicles.

Greased gronicle snatching contest.

Evening entertainment by the Buckhead Googaw Dolls

Have some unused gronicles in the bilge? Bring them to the show. Buyers will be there.

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Unknown 18th century Pennsylvanian surveyor

[Skiff Junkie]

I've noticed that my gronicles are not exactly symmetrical. The port one is slightly closer to the waterline than the starboard one. Is this cause for concern?

[Urk]

The condition of having gronicles in differing planes is no cause for concern. If you have access to Simpson's Marine Tables Vol II, go to the chapter on Coefficients of Expansion and there is a very good explanation for this differing height or "hung" condition and, interestingly, the condition is exaggerated by high temperatures.
There is also a postscript by Captain Haversham (retd RN) on the now obselete "female" gronicle.

[kenkongs]

I seized my port gronicle ice fishing

[JimConlin]

Note- Gronicles are not to be confused with Neuticles (http://www.neuticles.com/index1.html) which earned this year's Ig Nobel prize (http://www.improbable.com/ig/ig-top.html) for medicine.

[ssor]

If you are terribly concerned about your gronicles not hanging symmetrically the application of pine tar and turpentine is very effective in evening things up. Usually a blend of about sixty per cent turpentine and about forty per cent pine tar with just a splash of japan driers is the best mixture and the most durable.

[Concordia..41]

Magwitch
.
Member # 9044

posted 04-05-2005 11:22 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information a little late I know, but anyway,,,,,,,,,,,
There are port, starboard and bow gronicles in the latest Classic Marine catalogue, Metric and Imperial in bronze, imperial only in wood (Lignum). The old system of letting a single. overlarge gronicle fitted at the stern take all the strain is frowned upon by insurance companies.
If bonding is used ie all fittings including gronicles are wired together, then a feed may be taken to the onboard lap-top which will warn if seizure is imminent. This works less well with the Lignum items unless an in line amp is fitted which will cause unacceptable power drain.
Fwiw I no longer find it necessary to fit extra gronicles to the base of a standard boat bucket.
IanW
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 487 | From: Peterborough UK and my real number is 711 | IP: Logged I don't know whether to laugh or cry...

[JimD]

Physics has for some time been searching for the so called 'Gronicle Particle'. But the search has so far been stymed by both the technical and theoretical difficulties in designing and building a sufficiently powerful gronicle accelorator.

Edited to add: Just realized my comments are Non Boat Gronicle Related. Sorry to hijack the thread.

[ 01-09-2006, 08:59 PM: Message edited by: JimD ]

[Peter Page]

All Australian Gronicles are now metric. The old ones were made out of Mellie Root. A very hard timber from the near desert of western Victoria and NSW. Coming from underground as it does the timber is very stable and we never have any trouble. I have never had my Gronicles seized yet. I will try to post a pic of the ones on my Simmons Sea Skiff. The new Gronicles are made out of some new space age plastic but they look like Tupperware. I can still get the old ones if any are wanted, give me a call. In the US you can get them From Dave Carnell at Cape Fear
Peter,

On the pier looking at my Gronicles
http://static.flickr.com/43/77324730_6eaab90f4b_o.jpg

[outofthenorm]

All this talk about poorly maintained and under-used gronicles makes me glad that this year I decided to store my gronicles in a special leather sheath lubricated with WD-40. Sure hope they'll be all right when it comes time to use them again in the Spring.

[ssor]

Originally posted by outofthenorm:
All this talk about poorly maintained and under-used gronicles makes me glad that this year I decided to store my gronicles in a special leather sheath lubricated with WD-40. Sure hope they'll be all right when it comes time to use them again in the Spring.Oh man, WD40 is all right for short term storage but for the whole winter you need beeswax, pine tar and linseed oil.

[vern benson]

videoguy on the first page just aobut had it,,,what it needs is relative bearing grease...

[Mr. Smee]

Doug,
If you had stored your gronicle(s) in your foul weather gear as mum told you this wouldn't have happened. But since it has and if the home remedies don't work, then the surgeon will have to use the framistat.
Oh, and Cap'n Hook lost his paw protecting his gronicles from the croc when it bolted on to the deck - dontchaknow.

[casem]

Funny thing is I did a google for "gronicles" and I only got 2180 hits. The top two were WB forum.

[David W Pratt]

Davey has some lovely bronze gronicles, but they are Whitworth threaded. I'm just letting mine go gracefully green.

[Trojan Dog]

I know how unreliable Hollywood can be about anything having to with traditional craft and/or real seamanship, but the new movie "Chronicles of Gronicles" might offer some help. There is reportedly one scene in which Kevin Spacey is seen to be servicing a bronze gronicle, which of course would never have been found on the vessel shown, but you know Hollywood. The story goes that the technical advisor genuinely knew his stuff but had a substance abuse problem, correcting the prior rumor that he didn't know his gronicles from a hole in the ground, which wasn't quite fair. Incidentally, the film's star, Johnny Depp, is so apparently taken with the subject matter that he's negociating to purchase a 110' schooner with no less than 12 pair of gronicles, all of which have been fully restored and work flawlessly.

[JimD]

They say Marlon Brando refused to play Fletcher Christian in the 60's version of the Mutiny on the Bounty unless he was assured the ship's gronicles would not be burned at the end of the movie.

[ 01-10-2006, 07:27 PM: Message edited by: JimD ]

[Island_Tom]

I can't believe all the discussion on a subject that even a newbie like me is familiar with. I've only owned a wooden boat for about 2 weeks but even I know that it's best to keep your gronicles in a cup. That way they are protected from both the elements and accidental damage. Nothing worse than reaching for a screwdriver and having that 3 lb hammer drop on one of your gronicles. Gotta protect them! When you're ready to go, just remove them from the cup and there they are as good as the day you got them. Doesn't matter where you get the cup, (USA, China) as long as the gronicles fit in properly. Nothing worse for them than being jambed into a tight cup for any length of time.

Of course my gronicles are made in Canada, but I'm sure the US or AU gronicles work much the same. With the cooler weather up here, of course, ours don't get out as much. So we take full advantage of it when we have the chance.

[Hughman]

Originally posted by Island_Tom:
I know that it's best to keep your gronicles in a cup. That way they are protected from both the elements and accidental damage.Gronicles need to swing free to be of any use! This has been the way it's been since the great Polynesian navigators! Keep them shined and properly lubed, and they will work when you really need them. They get better the more you use them.

[SouthForkSam]

You know as a young lad I had an unfortunate bike/wooden boat accident (don't ask) that resulted in a twisted gronicle (I think it was the port groncile). The repair guy cut open the outer shell and lashed them both into place. It was quite a sorrowful experience. I think I should epoxy them so as to avoid a re-occurrence of the torturous event.

Gronicle repair is also quite costly...........

[Ken Hutchins]

When I was interviewed for the local Chronicle TV show I did a segment on the proper use of gronicles including showing them in their proper location on the boat and how to care for them. So when the show was aired I was all excited that there would be a video of proper gronicles on Chronicle. But destined not to be, the editor cut out all that good information and left it on the cutting room floor to be swept out with the trash.

[TomF]

Originally posted by Ken Hutchins:
...the editor cut out all that ...Ain't nobody gonna cut my gronicles! ;)

[Sam Desmet]

I may have missed it... What is a gronicle?

seems a very curious device :cool:

[Andrew]

Anybody seen my snipe?

[FSS172]

Well, seized or greased and ready to kick a.., does anyone know anything about G.O.U.S's? A search of the forum turns up nuttin. And after a painstaking review of all 522,000 returns from a Google search, it appears that there's no information available on them on the net either. Surely someone here has encountered these gronicular anomalies. But if so... why aren't they talking about it?

[ 01-11-2006, 02:03 PM: Message edited by: FSS172 ]

[TomF]

Heck, man. It's all there in the Faq.

[outofthenorm]

Originally posted by FSS172:
RE: G.O.U.S's?It depends on whether the S stands for size, which would make the question irelevant, because we all know that size doesn't matter. But if the S stands for shape, then it would be curious that there's no information available, because in my experience, the shape of your gronicles is critical to performance. Especially in the Winter.

[Fitz]

Well, I never thought it would happen to me, but tonight I was laying on my back taking the keel off a 1920 Chestnut Bob's Special, got half way through it, something snapped and low and behold TWO seized gronicles! :eek:

[hank woll]

well you all seem to accept the idea that whatever doug picked up in marseilles was not an addition to his fun-loving lifestyle-a seized gronicle is second only to a stubborn or crusted fringlatch and you need to use a latex shield to keep from serious harm when approaching meltdown-so there ugo

[hank woll]

m must have missed my bit about crusted over fridlatches-very stubborn-worse than a gronicle by a goodbit-some one should have told you you always need to wear yer raincoat in marseilles no matter the apparent weather-and as mom told u-don't pick that up-you don't know where it's been-so there

[Ross Faneuf]

From 2001-2005 Ceol Mor had not the usual two, but three gronicles mounted. 2 starboard, 1 port. But this year she is due for topsides paint, so I seized the opportunity, dismounted all 3, and filled and faired the holes. Soon, no-one will be able to tell that Ceol Mor was ever embarassed by this equipage.

I can't express what a great relief it is; and Lois won't have to offer apologies whenever we come alongside in Winter Harbor or Southwest any more.

[Hughman]

Embarrassed by Gronicles?? Lord have mercy Ross, you carry BAGPIPES aboard!! tongue.gif

[Bob Adams]

Originally posted by Concordia..41:
Well...for all of you doubting Thomasas and ssors, when this was last discussed, I saved the port-side gronicle wiring diagram.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid163/p1816b5ba65d28fba1279efa9896d432e/f497ae6b.jpg

And you really don't want me to post the picture I found of the gronicle tester tongue.gif (guess I forgot all about that...)

- M

And yes, I'm just now getting home - see Mystic EBS threads :cool: MY GOD! Electric gronicles??? Have you no respect for tradition?

[JimD]

Like all high tech gizmos, electric gronicles can fail just when you need them the most. When it comes to gronicles, Margo, I suggest you apply the KISS rule.

[Lucky Luke]

Originally posted by casem:
Funny thing is I did a google for "gronicles" and I only got 2180 hits. The top two were WB forum.Google is run by a bunch of totally ignorant folks!
How dare they suggest searching for "chronicles" instead of"gronicles"? :rolleyes:
Happily, here is a sane place where people can talk about gronicles, knowing what they are talking about! ;) ...even Margo does...although she uses extremely sophisticated electronic ones...HmmmmmHHH...and I'm not so sure I would like mine rigged the way she describes!

[ 01-15-2006, 11:06 PM: Message edited by: Lucky Luke ]

[Concordia..41]

Well if you all knew how busy I was, and how often I forget to wind my manual clock, you'd understand my need for hard-wired gronicles. :mad:

[Ross Faneuf]

My bagpipies don't have gronicles either. Never did. But that's a whole nother thread..

[Tristan]

Over the years my gronicles have gotten a bit smaller. Is this defoliation or some kind of shrinkage?

[ken mcclure]

Tristan, it's perfectly normal for gronicles to shrink with age. Particularly if they've been disconnected for any length of time during their installation.

Most of the shrinkage is due to normal electrolytic action, and can be reduced or even eliminated by using di-electric grease. There is also some evidence that, of all things, KY jelly has a salubrious effect.

If you have the electrical gronicles installed, PLEASE be sure that the polarity does not get reversed. There are documented instances of incorrectly installed gronicles precipitating serious displacement issues causing vessels to be as much as 300 meters to the port or starboard of where they really are.

The older, more traditional hardwood gronicles do not suffer from this problem but are far harder to maintain.

Oh, and be SURE to oil the follicles at LEAST once per year. There are little sumps that will accept a small amount of oil which will last for about 12 months under normal usage. If you can get the above wiring diagram a bit larger, you will see that there is a charging light that is supposed to indicate when the follicles need oiled. In most U.S. and Western European models, however, this light typically fails so you need to make yourself a reminder to do the annual service.

As mentioned in an earlier thread on this topic, a good mnemonic is:

Spring Ahead
Fall Back
Oil the gronicles follicles.

[ 01-16-2006, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: ken mcclure ]

[JimD]

Even if using KY your gronicles should be soaked in acetone at least once at the end of every season and then regreased for winter storage.

[Les Schuldt]

I've just finished rereading Lin & Larry Pardey's "Care and Feeding of the Offshore Gronicle", a book that's a "must" on any serious sailor's shelf. Larry reminds us that although most people lubricate their gronicles with 90 wt. oil, records of the Elbe River pilot and Larry's own testing (for over 50,000 miles) indicates that only mayonaise will provide lasting performance. Larry also indicates that this mayo-lube will add from 10-30 nm. to your typical noon-to-noon run.

He told of being stuck in Morocco during the vinegar embargo of '74 and not a spoonful of mayonaise to be had. Unwilling to face an Atlantic crossing with suspect gronicles, he and Lin were forced to smuggle a gallon in from Kenya on a borrowed Vespa while wearing mini-skirts.

I learned that applying the mayonaise with a ladle (as one would naturally assume) can actually be counterproductive, as bubbles can be introduced into the cranse and cause galling. A much better method is the eyedropper-claw hammer approach. Backing up the application with a traditional seizing of tarred marlin and duct tape completes the job.

Lin explains the importance of well prepared gronicles in a passage. Having overlooked the correction for Coriolis Effect on egg whites in the Southern Hemisphere, they nearly ran Serrafyn aground on Tristan Da Cunha when they thought they were safely off the coast of Cunnamulla. A lesson we can all profit from.

Larry bemoans the fact that an increasing number of sailors are starting to rely on electronics (usually in plastic boats!) and are venturing off-shore without traditional, non-electronic gronicles. The folly of this is illustrated by the results of his survey of 58 vessels that ran aground during the Antofagasta storm. Of these, 39 didn't have gronicles, 11 had failed gronicles(due to improper lubrication!), and 8 had functioning gronicles, but indicated that they meant to run aground.

Larry weighs-in on the debate over whether to use the metric or left-handed Wentworth threaded gronicles. The real decision rests, he insists, not so much with which type of vessel you sail, nor whether you plan to cross oceans, but rather if you wish to be self-sufficient. He suggests that any sailor that has a complete set of wentworth wrenches, and knows how to use them, will never be stuck in some backwater port waiting for delivery of obsolete metric gronicle parts.

So, please don't rely on uninformed opinions on this all-important component. Add this book to your library and spend an afternoon getting to know your gronicles. Your life could depend on it.

[ 01-17-2006, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: Les Schuldt ]

[EASLOOP]

The trouble is that the word is spelt gronicHle (gronichle not gronicle). It's the fault of you lot over there on the other side of the pond. It's taken a while but you have mangaed to screw up a perfectly good language (lol).

Har Har

John

[ken mcclure]

:D At least we've made one good change. We've taken the language to the level of the declarative, rather than the interrogatory.

In brief, we make statements - not questions.

For example:
Cut me bloody 'and off in the tablesaw, didn't I?"

"'ave to pop 'round to the dispensary to get it sewed back on, won't I?"

"Bugger'll hurt for a bit, won't it"

"'ave to wipe me bloody arse with me left 'and for a bit, won't I?"

:rolleyes:

[ 01-17-2006, 10:24 AM: Message edited by: ken mcclure ]

[Bayboat]

All of this scurrilous balderdash about faux gronicles is leading pell mell toward permanent interdiction of true groncicle sales from the only legitimate source, the rainforest of Wayout Mongolia. The dealers at Karakorum are just about out of patience with the current widespread misrepresentation of their product. If the situation does not improve, the boating world is in great danger of being permanently deprived of the genuine article.

[ 01-21-2006, 01:48 AM: Message edited by: Bayboat ]

[Howler]

I just took the time to read the entire thread and am surprised that nobody asked the obvious question. Doug, are the gonicles exposed or enclosed? I would imagine that exposed gronicles are more likely to get seized, no matter what climate zone.

Also, in his book "The Gronicle Code," Richard Wad explains that if the seized gronicle smells like updock, clamp it tightly in a vise and remove any crust with a course hasp. With a fresh coating of Dr. Peter's Chinese Snake Root Oil, you should be good to go.

[ 01-21-2006, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Howler ]

[George Roberts]

My gonicles were disconnected many years ago.

From time to time they still get seized. Not as often as one might like, but often enough to keep them working.

[Willin']

Upon studying the schematic, it's fairly obvious that these are English gronicles, as they are positive grounded.

You're probably aware that gronicles, as with all things English, must be tuned as a pair. I won't waste your your time telling you that perfectly tuned English gronicles, much like Triumph carburetors, are absolutely essential to smooth operation.

Unlike said carburetors, achieving a proper tune of the gronicles won't cause the universe to implode.

[Nordicthug]

Unbonded gronicles almost always degrade quickly in a salt environment. Not only that, but the fugitive particulate matter from rapid gronicular degradation has been found to be toxic. As a result, it's a good idea always to wear HEPA filter equipped breating apparatus while inspecting or repairing unbonded gronicles of any manufacture. The cheap Chinese gronicles now flooding the market are of especially poor quality and high toxicity and must be avoided at all costs.

Easily available and inexpensive poly-resin funicular weasel pin outhaul ferules can be quickly adapted for use as temporary gronicles. the sizes don't always match but will function satisfactorily.

[ken mcclure]

The poly-resin ferules are a good substitute and have, in some cases, outlasted the original installations!

However, you need to be aware of recent studies that indicate that these ferules can, in certain circumstances, cause serious delamination problems especially below the waterline.

Several of the fi&*($#ass boat manufacturers have found this (to their dismay) after having installed them as a cheaper alternative in new boat deliveries.

In a story awhile back, an unfortunate boat owner wrote of a divorce and an attempt to keep his plastic-sheathed wooden boat and sail it trans-Atlantic. This thinly veiled attempt at suicide wound up with the fi&*($#ass peeling off like a redhead's skin in the Florida sun.

After-incident review revealed the fact that the ferules were installed vertically, rather than horizontally, and further that they were canted to point toward the bow. This apparently focused the field and enhanced the effect causing the sheathing to split at the stem.

As a result, there are several yards now using the ferules as an easier method for removing sheathing from a wood hull.

(I'm so glad that this information is up here, and wasn't lost in the recent watergating of the Misc. section.)

[Vince Brennan]

Definitely deserves a bump.... and if anyone needs a pair, I'm not using mine anymore...

[JimD]

Definitely deserves a bump.... and if anyone needs a pair, I'm not using mine anymore...

No offence, Vince, but I don't think any self respecting sailor is going to be interested in second hand gronicles. Perhaps you could just mount them on the wall over the mantle. A great conversation piece for when you have guests over.

[Barrett Faneuf]

Gronicles are far more trouble than they are worth. They seize up, wear out, and generally cause way too much wasted time by skippers comparing material, size, performance etc. I've never owned any, myself, and have noticed rather significant advantages in hull speed and windward performance without them weighing me down.

[JimD]

And when you get old they start to knock, too.

[Peter Eikenberry]

Don't try to cross the border from Canada to the US. Your Gronicles will be "seized" by customs because they don't meet USCG standards!

[Hughman]

Gronicles are far more trouble than they are worth. They seize up, wear out, and generally cause way too much wasted time by skippers comparing material, size, performance etc. I've never owned any, myself, and have noticed rather significant advantages in hull speed and windward performance without them weighing me down.

Barrett, Gronicles are appreciated for navigation, not speed, which is a most undesirable characteristic. A captain knows that getting where you need to be is vastly more important than being first to arrive somewhere inappropriate.

[Barrett Faneuf]

Barrett, Gronicles are appreciated for navigation, not speed, which is a most undesirable characteristic. A captain knows that getting where you need to be is vastly more important than being first to arrive somewhere inappropriate.

So, you're saying that your gronicles tell where to go? I see the source of the problem, right there. Skippers that use their gronicles for navigation almost always end up in dangerous waters, if not right on the rocks.

[Paul G.]

During my rebuild of Sheryl I found a worn Gronicle behind the port cabin bulkhead. Seems as if the previous owner had left it there as a sad reminder of the glory days when Sheryl sailed the gulf proudly all her brightwork gleaming in the sun, dancing from wave to wave

One sad and somewhat decrepit bronze Gronicle is all thats left of her glory days.

But wait; I am rebuilding her I can fit NEW Gronicles, bigger better faster than before. I can see it now, two fabulous shiny Gronicles proudly bulging out from their mounts either side of a beautiful stiff wooden mast, with Gronicles like those, that mast wont even need rigging.....

[Hughman]

So, you're saying that your gronicles tell where to go? .

Well, no, actually.

A proper understanding of the function of gronicles in one's voyage is essential to successful completion of the voyage. Properly tuned gronicles make a positive difference.

[Peter Eikenberry]

Get some of them new ones with GPS and automated man overboard marker.

[Bayboat]

Concordia 41: Hi Margo. You really don't have to worry about gronicles (at least for the time being) because female gronicles have been declared obsolete (see prior post this thread). In case anyone is wondering, they are not adaptable to conversion. Owners of obsolete gronicles are advised to contact the only manufacturers of true gronicles, Karakorum, Inc. in Wayout Mongolia. They are the only source for genuine gronicles from the rainforests of Wayout Mongolia. Export is currently interdicted, but a polite inquiry concerning possible remanufacture of female gronicles might elicit a favorable reply (note name and address change). Karakorum, Inc. 32624 Om Mani Pudme Lane, North Ulan Bator, Wayout Mongolia, NMA 26B 8236 HB.

[62816inBerlin]

Now there is a special site on Myspace about Gronicles, for all who still have questions or stupid answers!
See http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=95720129

Quote: >>> "Gronicle...a mythical piece of boating gear."

Männlich
57 Jahre alt
RICHMOND HILL, Georgia
Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika <<<<


;-{) Gernot

[glennmajestic]

I use never sieze on my gronicles and never had a problem with them although the wife says the chemicals cause her pain when she touches them.Oh well can't win for losing.ps elictric gronicles are just wrong and should be outlawed!

[bob easton]

It's always entertaining to see this thread get bumped back to life.

Forget the vinegar, tallow, olive oil, wire brush treatments and such. Any gronicle seizure is easily fixed by just banging them into each other.

[ChrisBen]

Well if you all knew how busy I was, and how often I forget to wind my manual clock, you'd understand my need for hard-wired gronicles. :mad:Hmmm... and hard wired bilge pumps? http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/razz.gif

[panmanb]

are gronicles from japan smaller than the ones in the us ?

[Peerie Maa]

are gronicles from japan smaller than the ones in the us ?

Can be, but as always their craftsmanship is superb in its attention to detail.

By the way, Ken's comments are only true of the South East.;)

[glennmajestic]

Sorry no experience with Japanese Gronicles,but their female counterparts work wonderfully and I have used them on many occasions.

[C. Ross]

Nice to see this thread again. Full of useful information.

Any tips on winterizing your gronicles?

[Fitz]

The bumping of this thread must have cursed me. With all the cold and snow last night, I feared the worse. I dug a trail out of the house in the blowing and drifting snow and sure enough....seized a gronicle bad.:mad:

[C. Ross]

Fitz, I feel your pain. But given the cold and snow, are they really seized, or just not properly winterized?

In the summer I find that a mixture of tequila, sea salt and some citrus like lime loosens them right up. But I don't have a winter formula. Can anyone help?

[Jay Greer]

I have found a WWII Mil Spec penetrating oil that was originaly formulated for freeing seized gronicles in the field under battle conditions.
If you can find a can of VV-P-216A 9150-261-7889 Amco Penetrating oil, I am sure you can salvage your seized part.
Jay

[Bayboat]

All this confusion about gronicles could have been avoided if access to the only AUTHORIZED gronicle manual had not been interdicted by the Wayout Mongolian manufacturers because of frequent scatological references by uinformed members of the boating public (read careless forumites). The interdiction has been in effect for some time now, so the only practical recommendation can be to hold onto the gronicles you have and maintain them as best you can. The appropriate authorities are attempting to alter this situation, but the going is very slow due to various interruptions in communication that occur along the Silk Road, the only presently feasible route for contact with the manufacturers.

[Bayboat]

Gronicles redux: Just a note on the valiant attempt by Margo to inform us about a certain type of gronicle: Her diagram is OK as far as it goes, but that's not veriy far. The trouble with it is that it does not allow for the critical hookup of the frammashod link, thus rendering the gronicle inoperative. The problem might be solved if ever the Wayout Mongolian manual should again become avaliable.

In the meantime a few customers have had contact with the putative Paraguayan manufacturers and have even tried out their product. This has not worked out, since the Paraguayan product was shipped wrapped in pampas grass, which so discumbobulated the latent circuits that the gronicles arrived in an advanced state of decay. Efforts are being made to obtain refunds, but numerous delays have occured since the great flooding in the Parana lowlands.

[isla]

For a more universal perspective on this problem, check out The Martian Gronicles by Ray Bradbury.

Sorry

Or the Gronicles of Narnia, or possibly the Gronicles of Riddick :p

[Paul Pless]

Any tips on winterizing your gronicles?I think its best if they receive a very good polishing, a spit shine so to speak, before putting them away for any real length of time.

[George Jung]

Bayboat, I had to read your post twice - I thought you were referencing Margo's diaphram - my bad; the ol' eyes are in about as good of shape as my gronicles; both need a good ol' correction, I guess. But I knew there were no diaphrams in an authentic gronicle, so all's well. Paraguyan, huh? You'd think, as important as this is, we'd be able to manufacture our own. Depressing - we've outsourced our manufacturing jobs, our gronicles - what's next?

Just a friendly suggestion, Mr. Pless - be careful with those spitshines. Too much orbital action, and it can ruin your chrome finish! I know of a guy who trusted his gronicles to an overly enthusiastic 'power buffer' - that one had some teeth to it. Now he lists to port.

[switters]

You know as a young lad I had an unfortunate bike/wooden boat accident (don't ask) that resulted in a twisted gronicle (I think it was the port groncile). The repair guy cut open the outer shell and lashed them both into place. It was quite a sorrowful experience. I think I should epoxy them so as to avoid a re-occurrence of the torturous event.

Gronicle repair is also quite costly...........

you should never use epoxy on gronicles. It's insulting to the gronicles and highclass boat owners everywhere. The only way to fix your gronicles is the old fashioned way, by sealing them with magma hot tar and pitch. run alittle cotton cord in there if you have really cracked or seperated gronicles.

[Hughman]

Power buffers, hot tar, wire brush... You folks are harsh! Gronicles are kept in good function by regular use, cleaning, and lubrication.

hot tar, jeez!

[paladin]

Avoid the epoxy/gronicle repairs....we have had some forumites that apparently also had very bad experience with super glue..

[Canoez]

The bumping of this thread must have cursed me. With all the cold and snow last night, I feared the worse. I dug a trail out of the house in the blowing and drifting snow and sure enough....seized a gronicle bad.:mad:

C'mon, Fitz - how long have you lived in New England? You should know by know that you should never use brass gronicles in cold weather. Bronze gronicles are alway suggested for applications below 40°F and brass is never recommended for snow contact.

[C. Ross]

I think its best if they receive a very good polishing, a spit shine so to speak, before putting them away for any real length of time.

Ah, nothing like the old spit shine applied with a little elbow grease, is there?

I hate it at spring fit-out time when the gronicles are tarnished. I may have to use professional buffers this year.

[Fitz]

C'mon, Fitz - how long have you lived in New England? You should know by know that you should never use brass gronicles in cold weather. Bronze gronicles are alway suggested for applications below 40°F and brass is never recommended for snow contact.

Yah, canoez but with the Holidays upon us and all, I figure a nice shiny pair of brass gronicles was the way to go. That and I save the bronze pair for places where it counts the most. Well, after I freed up the brass pair, I lost them in the snow that arrived today, so I fear I may not see the brass gronicles 'til spring thaw.

What's a man to do without a good pair of showy brass gronicles?

Fitz.

[stumpbumper]

It occurred to me, that other thing you picked up in the South of France could in fact be the root of your problem.

[Three Cedars]

In a pinch a nut splitter will work on a seized gronicle , usually one is enough to get by on and after splitting one nut most of us wouldn't be up to tackling the other.

[Captain Blight]

I may have to use professional buffers this year.Taking a drive through Frogtown, are ya? :D

[C. Ross]

Taking a drive through Frogtown, are ya? :D

You'd be a fool to turn over your gronicles to one of those places.

You can still get a decent carburetor rebuild on Rice Avenue, but no thanks, I don't want pitted and corroded gronicles from some Frogtown non-union day laborer.

[Canoez]

Yah, canoez but with the Holidays upon us and all, I figure a nice shiny pair of brass gronicles was the way to go. That and I save the bronze pair for places where it counts the most. Well, after I freed up the brass pair, I lost them in the snow that arrived today, so I fear I may not see the brass gronicles 'til spring thaw.

What's a man to do without a good pair of showy brass gronicles?

Fitz.

Perhaps a set of white oak ones with gold leaf will do until the thaw arrives and you find the brass. Then again, the bronze may substitute in a pinch.

[glennmajestic]

A good crew will keep those gronicles polished and lubricated with only a modicum of whipping and the occasional keelhaul!!!!!!!!

[Sailor]

Same topic but a little off, anyone know if NASA has perfected their new composit material to fasten the shuttle to the fuel tank? I from what I understand of it, the new space age material (can't recall what it's called) could be machined in to perfect gronicles that would need neither maintenance nor lubriaction making them nearly perfect due to the rust free properties of the material. Just asking I'm looking for a decent pair of gronicles as well.

[OconeePirate]

I know this is an old thread but last night I was going through boxes of my father's old stuff and ran across a pair of what appear to be hand fabricated sterling silver gronicles, even have a little cartouche stamped in there.
I'm supposing that this must be for a craft intended more for show than work (does the boating world have an equivalent to "trailer queen" in the car world?) as I've always understood that the gronicles took as much or more abuse than any other metal bits onboard.
Anyway, could anyone give me any information about these bits? I have a set of four. Three left, one right. Were they standard equipment on any builder's craft? Are they worth more than the silver they're made of?

I tried to get some photos but the camera keeps shutting down everytime I get focused on the things. I'd say they must be cursed but that would be ignoring what a total piece of junk my camera is.

[Harbormaster]

Cursed gronicles? Oh my. I've certainly cursed when my gronicles have been misused.

It's a bit of a quandary why you only have one right gronicle, but certainly silver ones are the most highly prized. I'd say take them to a boat yard and show someone your gronicles to get their opinion. Those guys are pretty knowledgeable, just undo the package and ask," what do you think about my gronicles?" I bet you'll get an answer.

[ssor]

That seems to happen a lot about this time of year. I understand that turpentine and lanolin mixed together and and used as a lubricant is quite effective.

[Breakaway]

There was a recall regarding those French gronicles IIRC...

[OconeePirate]

That seems to happen a lot about this time of year. I understand that turpentine and lanolin mixed together and and used as a lubricant is quite effective.

Would Go-Jo be an acceptable substitute in a pinch?

[ssor]

Would Go-Jo be an acceptable substitute in a pinch?

How hard a pinch?

[TomF]

Nobody's gonna pinch my gronicles, for damned sure.

Lanolin and pine tar is what I'd always heard, but Cleek should be here soon to set us straight.

[floatingkiwi]

I often have problems with mine, as one always seems to list a bit lower than the other, my father, his father, etc, reportedly suffered the same problem.
I remember a Asian female family owned boatyard back home, Wun Hung Lo, were their name.Any one of the gifted and very professional girls, would set us straight as we put in, each season,
making sure the slip was well prepared and free of debris , onlookers, and drive by boating enthusiasts.
I always felt very relieved after their services and it was always hard to pull out of there, not knowing what would be over the horizon.

[ssor]

Does anyone know of a repair kit for siezed gronicles?

[Captain Intrepid]

PS I ended up in Marseilles because of my deviation table.

Out of all the places to end up because of your deviations, France is a pretty good one.

[Duncan Gibbs]

I can't believe that no-one here has tried carbon fibre gronicles! No need to bond, lubricate, winterize, aclimatise, or nothin'!!

Geeez peoples! Git with the programme!! :rolleyes:

[paladin]

I have found a WWII Mil Spec penetrating oil that was originaly formulated for freeing seized gronicles in the field under battle conditions.
If you can find a can of VV-P-216A 9150-261-7889 Amco Penetrating oil, I am sure you can salvage your seized part.
Jay

Must comply with MIL-TFD-41.

[Saltiguy]

Buy American! How many times do you have to hear it. My Dad has Wilcox Crittenden gronicals ( Made in Middletown, CT)going back to the 1930's and they've been trouble-free.

[Baltimore Lou]

At the risk of being told to take it to the bilge, it was my understanding that the head of the RNC, Michael Steele had made a personal commitment to the issue of seized gronicles and had sent a task force to research the issue. They wound up in a club in Beverly Hills and were making great progress when they were caught by the opposition, "red-handed" so to speak. Now the s**t is really hitting the fan. Just goes to show you that when mixing politics and gronicles it is best to stay under cover!

[gibetheridge]

None of this foolishness would have happened had you been blessed with high compression gronicles. They are totally imune to corrosion, UV exposure, electrolysis, fluctuating votages and are unaffected by magnetic orientation. They work so well in fact, that you only need one, although most sailors prefer to use two. There is a wiring harness available that allows you to connect them to your GPS, which facilitates and activates their "self homing" capabilities even after severe storms or heavy usage. They function under all conditions, and, in fact, seem to perform even better with the addition of a bit of risk. Their one shortcoming, one that you can turn to your advantage with a little creative thinking, is that they must be used regularly and often to maintain their self lubricating qualities. It also helps to keep them hidden to avoid getting them seized by jealous and/or lascivious customs agents at international border crossings.

[JimConlin]

A chum has an older English sports car and reasoned that for use near the ocean, the car needed to be fitted with gronicles. He was luck to find a pair of Denbiegh-Snidely gronicles and installed then under the bonnet. They were not effective until he learned to imbibe them with original Lucas smoke. (http://www3.telus.net/bc_triumph_registry/smoke.htm)

[Bob Adams]

Cursed gronicles? Oh my. I've certainly cursed when my gronicles have been misused.

It's a bit of a quandary why you only have one right gronicle, but certainly silver ones are the most highly prized. I'd say take them to a boat yard and show someone your gronicles to get their opinion. Those guys are pretty knowledgeable, just undo the package and ask," what do you think about my gronicles?" I bet you'll get an answer.

I don't know about silver, I've heard good things about brass Gronicles. Personally, I prefer Tobin Bronze.

[John Turpin]

As long as people continue to fail to use torque wrenches to install gronicles, they'll have these problems. It's not the metal or the lubricant -- its the tightness. I'm betting that I'm the only person here that actually read the instruction sheet.

[Harbormaster]

Maybe I'm just getting jaded, but I used to enjoy my gronicles a lot more when I was younger. Sometimes I used to go below just to check on my gronicles and make sure that they were working correctly. These days I'm lucky just to use them once a week. They are nuthin' special, not bronze, or silver, not even especially big, but they always did the job. It's odd though, I found that they were self-lubricating as they finished their job, I never lubricated them before hand.

As they say, it takes all kinds. I guess mine should be worth something - they are almost antiques.

[ssor]

What I don't understand is I still have my gronicles but my teeth are falling out. I need my teeth.

[Fitz]

Jeeeheezuusss, we had near 80F here today. The tolerance on the gronicles must have been really tight because going from 45 or 50F in the flood waters to 80F in the sunshine sure enough siezed the left hand gronicle up bad.

This could take time.

[Dumah]

The only sure cure for seized groincles would be application of a water cooled electronic fliggigger manufactured by Weston Widgit Works. This has been found to aleviate most cases of seized groincles, bearing in mind that Witworth groincles need altogether seperate and unique service, check with our UK bretheren.

[Sailor]

None of this foolishness would have happened had you been blessed with high compression gronicles. They are totally imune to corrosion, UV exposure, electrolysis, fluctuating votages and are unaffected by magnetic orientation. They work so well in fact, that you only need one, although most sailors prefer to use two. There is a wiring harness available that allows you to connect them to your GPS, which facilitates and activates their "self homing" capabilities even after severe storms or heavy usage. They function under all conditions, and, in fact, seem to perform even better with the addition of a bit of risk. Their one shortcoming, one that you can turn to your advantage with a little creative thinking, is that they must be used regularly and often to maintain their self lubricating qualities. It also helps to keep them hidden to avoid getting them seized by jealous and/or lascivious customs agents at international border crossings.

I'm not hooking my gronicles up to any power source. Are you kidding? To the GPS? No thanks. I'll take my chances with a PAIR of good old fashioned bronze ones. That is unless NASA goes ahead with their new material even if they're getting rid of the shuttle program. We'll have to see.

[Stan D]

To all of those who advocate the removal of gronicle's, I would advise against it. I've noticed that if they get removed, they must be replaced IMMEDIATLY. And it usually take the best of "surgeons" to do it in a manor where they will work again.

But then all this talk of "seizure" reminds me of when I had teeth, and the frequent visits to the dentist. (You all knew someone would go here). As he sat down on the stool next to me in the chair, his gronicles would be seized, in an assurance that if one of us were hurt, then both of us would be hurt.

[Tom Freeman]

It occurred to me, that other thing you picked up in the South of France could in fact be the root of your problem.

Or the problem with your root.

[Harbormaster]

I recall the first time my gonicles were seized aboard the boat. I couldn't get 'em unseized no matter what I tried. I got perturbed, so I started whacking away at them trying to get them unstuck. So there I am whacking my gronicles when my girlfriend sees me and asks what I'm up to. I show her and she asks if she can give me a hand. Well says I, it'll be my pleasure.

It didn't take her more than a minute and they were free. So I've learned my lesson, if you want to get your gronicles unseized, try a woman's touch.

[John Turpin]

But only if she's factory trained.

[huisjen]

Nobody's gonna pinch my gronicles, for damned sure.

Lanolin and pine tar is what I'd always heard, but Cleek should be here soon to set us straight.

I thought lanolin was only for kiwi gronicles.

Dan