Where and what kind of Ratchet Blocks

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Where and what kind of Ratchet Blocks

Postby bluesman » Tue Jul 22, 2014 10:10 am

I am very interested in installing Ratchet Blocks on my Main as well as my Jib lines.

MAIN: My Main runs from the traveler through 2 blocks on the boom down to the swivel block/upward cleat on the Centerboard truck. Would it be better to replace the big block on the Swivel or to hang one off the boom?

JIB: can someone share some knowledge about what type of block will work for jib lines and how they are installed?

thanks!
Cape Cod Shipbuilding DaySailer
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Re: Where and what kind of Ratchet Blocks

Postby jeadstx » Tue Jul 22, 2014 12:28 pm

Is your boat a DS1 or a DS2?

John
1976 Day Sailer II, #8075 - Completed the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Texas 200
1952 Beetle Boat Swan Catboat
Early Rhodes 19
1973 Mariner 2+2, #2607 - Completed 2014, 2015 and 2016 Texas 200
1969 Day Sailer I, #3229
Fleet 135; Canyon Lake, Texas
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Re: Where and what kind of Ratchet Blocks

Postby GreenLake » Tue Jul 22, 2014 2:07 pm

I use a single Ronstan55 Autoratchet as the forward block on the boom. I leave the auto setting engaged. At the same time I upgraded to FSE Robline Racing Sheet and am very happy with that combination. The Racing sheet is grippy but smooth running.

I usually sail in lighter rather than heavier conditions; by also changing the block at the end of the boom I could increase the overall holding power of the ratchet, but have not found this necessary.

My mainsheet runs from
  • a becket on the block at the back of the boom to
  • a block on the traveler and then to
  • the same block at the end of the boom and then to
  • a block at the middle of the boom and down to
  • the swivel block on the CB trunk.

Depending on whether you do the double purchase at the end of the boom, your sheet loads may be higher.

I have upgraded the blocks on the jib sheet cars with the same ratchet blocks. My jib sheets have a very slippery cover (not a rope originally designed to be used for that purpose) but the ratchet blocks hold it well.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
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Re: Where and what kind of Ratchet Blocks

Postby bluesman » Tue Jul 22, 2014 2:51 pm

jeadstx wrote:Is your boat a DS1 or a DS2?

John


My boat is manufactured by CCSB and is made from original DS-1 molds.

I looked up the Ronstan blocks and there are many options. Greenlake which styles did you use? Any pics of the installation of the jib sheet car?

http://www.ronstan.com/marine/range.asp?RnID=334
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Re: Where and what kind of Ratchet Blocks

Postby GreenLake » Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:35 am

Here's a picture of the block installation for the jib. For the main, I use the same block, in place of the forward block on the boom. I simply set these to the "auto" setting and that works for me.
1818
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Re: Where and what kind of Ratchet Blocks

Postby bluesman » Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:25 am

Thanks, perfectly clear in my mind now
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Re: Where and what kind of Ratchet Blocks

Postby jeadstx » Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:17 pm

Greenlake, do you use ratchet blocks for the jib sheets as well as the mainsheet?

John
1976 Day Sailer II, #8075 - Completed the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Texas 200
1952 Beetle Boat Swan Catboat
Early Rhodes 19
1973 Mariner 2+2, #2607 - Completed 2014, 2015 and 2016 Texas 200
1969 Day Sailer I, #3229
Fleet 135; Canyon Lake, Texas
jeadstx
 
Posts: 1216
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:10 am
Location: Dripping Springs, Tx

Re: Where and what kind of Ratchet Blocks

Postby GreenLake » Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:56 pm

John,

yes. I've had the ratchet on the main and liked it and recently found that I wanted to play the jib sheets by hand and that this was awkward due to slippery rope as well as the loads being higher than comfortable.

So I bought two more ratchet blocks. I had to undo the car's U strap from behind (it's bolted) to be able to fit the strap for the ratchet.

New system works like a charm (I've learned to leave jib-sheets and main sheet rigged all the time, because it's easy to get the ratchets strung backwards....)
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