Now how about ratchet blocks?

[cs]

Like this one.

http://www.pyacht.net/online-store/graphics/LEW_29901661.gif


What would you use one for and just really how does it work?

Chad

[Noah]

On a small mainsheet a ratchet block can be a nice thing. The provide more resistance on the line so you aren't holding the full force. Turn it off in light wind, turn it on in high wind.

For a while we used the harken auto ratchet blocks on the Spinnaker sheets for the Melges 24. In the end we went back to manual ratchets, our spinnaker trimmer is a huge dude who had no trouble trimming the sheets in most conditions without the ratchet.

Dude, have you found the Harken Compu-spec thing? Or just looked at the Harken site? They have some pretty good ideas about how to rig up a boat.

[Henning 4148]

Sheet. Reduces the power needed to hold the sail in position. Easy to sheet in, easy to hold and when letting out, the sheet slips over the blocked pulley (also easy).

[cs]

I've looked at the Harken site before and the other week someone posted a link to diferent mainsheet setups. What I'm doing is repleacing all the cheap pullys on my weekender with good blocks ande I'm using E-bay to buy them.

This is just one of the blocks that I'm watching and thinking about bidding on and was wondering if it would fit the scheme of things in what I need. Being as it works good for mainsheets, than it does fit the scheme.

BTW I'm down to just needing 2 or 3 blocks to having all the critical ones repleaced.

Chad

[Henning 4148]

Bitten by the racing gear bug ...

[bamamick]

'racing gear' is unnecessary for your needs on the Balboa, but the reason that we use this stuff is because it WORKS. By most measures I am a big, strong guy, but I am not sailing any of my boats without the proper gear. Why would you? Spend your time enjoying the sun and the breeze, not thinking about how much your hands or your arm hurts because you're not rigged properly.

I was looking at the guy's photos last night of his new Snipe that he built and noticing the pieces of rigging that he was adding. I know that this stuff is expensive, but spend the extra to make the boat a pleasure to sail. It really does make a difference.

Mickey Lake

[Don Z.]

Chad,
to give you a direct answer...

A ratchet block, instead of having a sheeve that can spin in both directions, can be locked to spin in only one direction. I'm not sure about the block you've pictured, but a Harken "Hexaratchet" also has a groove cut in the sheeve, to act sort of like a cam cleat.

With the ratchet on, the block cannot spin 'backwards', and the grooves tend to hold the sheet. If you really need to ease, the line can slide around the sheeve, but the cam action adds friction, making it easier to hold. With the ratchet off, it works normally, and you can ease or trim as required.

Actually, for a boat like the Balboa, I would think them a good thing. From a safety perspective, you wouldn't have to cleat the main, but the ratchet action allows you to hold the line with less effort... making you less likely to feel the need to tie off. Some will argue that a cam cleat is ideal, but I don't like cam cleats. I can never get them to release when I really need them to release...

[cs]

See I don't think it is unneccesary. At one point I didn't think that good blocks were neccessary on the weekender, but I've changed my mind.

That is why I keep watching them on E-bay and coming here asking questions.

Chad

[cs]

Thanks Don. At the present the Balboa has the blocks she needs, esp since she is still up on "blocks" herself. I'm working on repleacing the cheap Ace Hardware pullys on the weekender.

Chad

[Figment]

C Some will argue that a cam cleat is ideal, but I don't like cam cleats. I can never get them to release when I really need them to release...

Spinlock PX

[Don Z.]

Thanks Don. At the present the Balboa has the blocks she needs, esp since she is still up on "blocks" herself. I'm working on repleacing the cheap Ace Hardware pullys on the weekender.

Chad

Well, for the weekender, I'd say the same thing applies. Definitely not a boat where I'd want a cleated sheet. I mean, when you want to let it go, it needs to go NOW...

[bamamick]

championship regatta (major for around here, anyway). All I had to do was finish and we had third locked up. I was in 7th place in the last race and was on the last beat when I got hit with a puff (one of those we call a mast-breaker in the Star class) and the boat went over. Couldn't get the damn cam cleat uncleated. Angle is important to those things and oddly enough, the angle is constantly changing on a boat sailing upwind on a puffy day. Anyway, didn't finish the race and wound up out of the money.

That being said, I don't see a better alternative and every boat I own has a couple dozen of the things on board.

Mickey Lake

[Dave Hadfield]

A ratchet block is also handy for a bosun's chair rig in which you are hauling yourself up to the masthead.

You don't have to hold all of your own weight during the moments when you're not climbing. The ratchet stops the sheave turning, and the friction over the sheave takes some of the load off your arms.

[Wild Wassa]

"Why would you? ... not thinking about how much your hands or your arm hurts because you're not rigged properly."

Mickey? ..., when was the last time you crewed someone else's ship-box when the bits and strings were past their life or ordinary and the best of the hardware was struggling to respond to any quick commands or the loads were not in proportion to the tasks?

Nothing is nicer to sail than a well set up boat with beautiful slippery movements and free moving bits, that you don't have to fight to trim or change ... would you agree Mickey?

Noah, I'm a kite jockey on several boats. In a blow, one loop around the winch and nothing is an issue, 2 loops around one ... and my 13 year old daughter could do it. Sailing isn't only for the strong and powerfull. I like using my muscles, loops on winches are for rookies.

Have a look at how many husband and wife teams are Super Sailors ... then check the gear on their boats?

As a specialist crew, for me, it is all about the gear and string and what makes me look bad. There are plenty of boats that I crew on, only once .... which is my choice. Shitt gear makes for a crap sail. Providing the crew with hot running gear to work with, .... and I will stay.

BOATS WITH HOT RUNNING GEAR ARE NOT SHORT OF GOOD CREW, EVER! ... in my neck of the woods. Skippers should go foreward more often and then use the bits they expect their crews to use. It is all to easy down-the-back.

Imagine boats with hemp strings and wooden blocks, why on earth would you do it (excluding the artefact of course)? I complain to the Skipper if I find string that is older than one racing season or I find a block that doesn't free wheel for 5 minutes when a zephyr blows on it and if I flick a sheet and it doesn't release instantly, that is all the Skipper will hear about for that leg that we are on or until he changes it (squeeky wheels get oiled quickly?) ... and if it isn't Vectran stuff to tug on (or some nice cover on that Dyneema type stuff when used around a tight turn), then someone else can go tug on it! If you are good crew ... you can afford to be as pompus as you like, I certainly am (pompus) (and written only in the best interests of crews and crewing) Skippers with shitt gear well they just are a dime a dozen. Crews with good gear ... stay elite.

Warren.

[Michael Beckman]

You would hate sailing on longboats. Traditional line, and big difficult dipping lugsails. >_>

[Wild Wassa]

Michael B, I wrote ... "(excluding the artefact of course)."

I can almost guarantee that I would like what you sail. I'd want to fair the boat then tune the boat to how I would like it ... there are crew and their are specialist crew. Haul the boat! ... and buy me aticket.

[Dave R]

Chad, I had a Harken Hexaratchet block for the mainsheet on my Weekender. It attached to a wedge shaped block of wood mounted low on the cabin bulkhead. I used it when it mainly when it was windy or when my wife was on the mainsheet. It allows one to use bicep instead of tricep for hauling in the sheet and holding it. A bit less tiring that way.

In calmer conditions I would turn the ratchet off to reduce friction on the sheet when letting the boom out. I didn't leave that block installed when hauling the boat because it would tend to bounce against paint and varnish. Sometimes in light conditions I didn't bother to install it at all.

If there was more than two on the boat I would tend to go without it because the sheet got in the way when entering or exiting the cabin.

You can see the block and its mounting in this photo sent to me by the new owner.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/weekender410/Weekender/DSCN1611.jpg

[Noah]

Wassa: The Melges 24 doesn't have winches, so you only have a ratchet block between you and the 670sq ft (62 sq meter) Asym Spinnaker.

Now on my Swede 55 they don't make a ratchet block up to the loads, so we go through two high load Harken 75mm Carbo blocks, then around the lewmar 55 winch. The number of wraps is determined by the wind. The other day we were doing 13-14 knots in 22 of wind and it was a bear to trim the 165sq meter chute (1776sq feet)...

I made up custom tapered Samson Warpspeed sheets that are very light after the turning blocks, but have a 9/16th cover so there is plenty to hold on to.