Block Spring Installation
The block with just one spring. The photos to follow show the process of compressing the spring and tying it to keep it compressed for the installation.
Wear safety glasses when you do this step. Compress the spring in a vice, leaving just enough of it above the vice to tie some strong line around it.
Make 2 or 3 loops around the spring then tie a square knot around it with one end tied like you would tie shoe laces. This is the "slip knot" that you will pull to release the spring after you have it installed under the block.
Here's one side compressed and tied. You then put it back in the vice and do the same on the other side. Like I said, have safety glasses on when you do this because the spring can escape the vice as you are compressing it and shoot across the room. Ask me how I know!
Here's the spring fully compressed and hog tied, ready to be installed.
Here's a simulation of the installation on your boat. When you install 2 springs, you have another smaller diameter one inside the larger diameter spring.