ratchet pulley blocks

The sandwich maker is refusing to buy me gunpowder for Christmas...again.

So this time she suggested something for my landyacht.
Since the arthritis has been making it difficult to hang onto the sheet rope (9mm), I am looking for recomendations regarding ratchet blocks.
I have never had much to do with them, so want to know what lasts well, whats best suited for landyachts, where to buy, catalogue or part numbers.

Any info is appreciated.

Stephen.

I use the ronstan orbital auto rachet with the fluted alum sheeve 50mm, the 9mm rope fits perpect and it hold better than anything i've used..

I'm using a Holt Ratchet block and a collection of RWO, Holt and Barton blocks elsewhere. Paid no more than £12 (Aus 18.5, US 19.5) for any of them - doubles, triples, and ratchet..... however I did have to wait a while for some to appear on EBay new, most came from either the Republic of Ireland or Jersey so saved a lot on tax. But it really does pay to shop around as I have had a few from a local chandlers that was selling off old stock. Happy hunting

Cheers Col

That slipping over a stationary pulley is what i dont like about the ones I have tried
and the price of course Well over one hundred dollars the ones I have looked at
Which is why I have never had one

I know what you mean Gizmo.

But in this day and age you would think that they could come up with a dog clutch system that only engages to hold the load.
When the rope is played out, it simply releases, or the friction could be adjusted to suit.

It works on big game fishing rods and rope endless pullies for hoisting.

Furry sheet ropes are a pain where the ratchet runs.
I have to tidy them up with a cigarette lighter every now and then.

Don't get me wrong though, I won't go sailing without mine.

Merry Christmas, Chook

I am fairly sure Ronstan does one like that and they are really good so long as the spring loading is fairly light.

If it is too strong the slightest easing of pressure on the sheet will put the sheave back into freewheel.

Then again if it is too light it becomes near impossible to get the sheave to freewheel.

Never never use cleats on the main sheet in a small yacht, things can go wrong SO FAST and is SO dangerous........

Not quite with you on that one Brian. Spring loaded cam cleats can be quite handy for the main sheet while your hands are doing other things such as pushing off on your rear wheels or buckling yourself in after a running start.

If it is located close to where you would be handing the sheet anyway, the sheet can be released instantly if things get out of hand.

Jam cleats are the dangerous ones.

This is the set up I use on my class 5 - cam cleats -one flick and its freewheeling out

You wont go far wrong with a harken, mines 22 years old and cost a ** load more than $80

after 10 to 15 minutes of working with the sheetrope, stuff feeling the wind- all I can feel is the need to up the dosage of my arthritis pills, and hope like hell I wont be called in to work for a couple of days until my hands are usable again.
I want to sail, and if using a ratchet block helps- there will be one hanging from my landyacht as soon as I can arrange it.

stephen.

So Westernstar, you joined on Christmas Eve and have made three posts in four days in each of which you imply you are a bit of an expert in land sailing.

Is it the wind you are feeling in your hand or a pulley part of your anatomy.

In your profile you have chosen to be totally anonymous.

Methinks you have been here before under different aliases, have been banned because your aim was to stir trouble and have now come back to do more of your particular brand of evil.

Wassamadder??? Nobody stroking your ego???

Which are your initials, D.W., K.L. or D.R. ????

Come out of the closet and be real or just fade away into your own personal hell.

If you want to feel the wind in your hand, then let go the rope, as all you would feel would be the rope in your hand

C'mon guys, don't over react! Debate his statement but don't attack him.

To keep it on topic, I guess there would be limited value if you're racing on a short course and need to win, but if your sailing on the lakes you guys have in WA where you can sail to the horizon, I'd think a ratchet block would be essential. Horses for courses I guess.

I am using a ronsen 70 automatic ratchet block. It takes a 12mm rope and I have found it a great block to use.
Cheers
Vic

Note the distinction between rachet blks, which can be switched on and off with a lever on the side of the blk, and an auto ratchet that engages the ratchet mechanism above a certain load(often adjustable with tools). With a ratchet blk in the off position(light air), the sheave turns both directions easily. With the ratchet engaged the sheave only turns one direction(sheeting in), and when you sheet out the mainsheet, it slides over the non rotating sheave, adding friction that contributes to the holding power of the block.

An auto ratchet sheave turns both directions easily under low loads. As the pull on the blk increases, at some point the ratchet mechanism kicks in and locks the sheave in one direction. When the sheet is dumped quickly, the load is removed and the ratchet is quickly released, allowing the sheet to run freely( unlike the standard ratchet sheave that is still locked).

Quite different from both of these is the Oxen block, that locks the sheave and sheet positively with a quick release after sheeting in. And it remains locked, even without tension on the sheet, until the line is sheeted in again slightly and released.
These are sohpisticated, complicated blocks, that work very well in ideal conditions. They're very expensive, over $250, and require maintenance, and may not stand up well to dirty environments. And if they malfunctioned in an emergency, might not release at all, unlike either style ratchet blk where the line can run over the sheave even if it's locked.

I find all the Harken ratchet blks to be a bit stouter and more durable than the Ronstan units. Haven't tried the others. I use the carbo ratchamatics, which are the lightest that Hkn makes, on my cats with good results, but they may not be a durable as the others in the dirt. I have a 75mm standard ratchet on my elderly Fed 5 that's doing well after many years of hard use.

Dave