Other than the standard seat cushions, what are clever alternatives for stern chocks? I've seen some foam/velcro devices. Any suggestions?

Swimmers use a device to help technique which is a bit of shaped foam that wedges between your legs. I think it would be good for stern chocks.

Old car tyres.

Something around 225 or 245 width are good I've found.

Foam noodles. I use the big ones with a small hole down the center of them. 1 noodle cut into 4 pieces make 2 stern chocks. Use 2 sections (about 1 foot long) connected with some bungee, with a hook on one end a loop on the other. Total cost: $3.50

Told you those noodles came highly recommended! Besides, you can keep the head pads as I have found another pair.

P.s. your little bio still says "just crew."

If they're misbehaving, I find small children to work pretty well...

I've used the noodle things, with the hole down the center and really liked it. Cheap, readily available and pretty durable.

The only modification has been to take a piece of white PVC pipe from Home Depote cut to length and shoved down the center of the noodle.

I had the small piece of pipe already so I used it, rather than throwing it out...or storing it in the garage...though that black sprinkler tubing would do the same thing....

It makes the shock more durable, spreads the point loading a bit better and the bungy doesn't cut the noodle...

(Ya gotta just hate those cut noodles, don't cha..?)

You may wish to have two of them, lashed together sufficently loose so they are parellel to the mast and cradle it at the bottom on the mast where it crosses the rear beam.

If you don't like that way, shove two of them in the cut off leg portion of some old levis of your girl friend ...so the legs are small and tight enough) and you're in business.

Tie it onto the mast, between the mast and the beam, cinch the mast down to the rear beam and you're done.

Is life good or what...? ..... and why do I have to work for a living.... ?

I should have been a trust baby... right???

Pink foam insulation from Home depot.

Hot glue up a couple pieces, cut/sand to shape. cover it with fiberglass. sand/paint

Home depot black stair tread carpet for the part that touches the hull.

John Tomko is making stern chocks out of high density closed cell foam (like the Marstrom) for a very reasonable price. His price is based on what he has to pay for a sheet of the foam.


I have tried everything in this thread and bunch more. When I got a chance for real stern chocks at a reasonable price, I jumped on it.