talbot wrote:The comment about sitting in the boat is important. In general, if the wind is light enough that I can sit on the tanks, I don't really care about the ratchet or the angle at which the line exits the system. The whole point of extra purchase or more complicated blocks is to help out when the wind is strong.
I agree, in light winds, there's less need for holding power from the ratchet, so if it's not optimized for holding power, that would not be critical. In (very) light winds, you do want it to release cleanly - some ratchets that don't disengage have too much residual friction (wind won't be able to push the sail out as you are turning downwind for example) and people start turning the ratchet function off, manually. (Not necessary on the one I use, the auto setting does what it's supposed to, and does it well).
If 90 degrees does not give you enough holding power in stronger winds, one option is to look for a different make of ratchet and rope. The ratchets are
not created equal, and the differences are
not minor. In fact, the difference in holding power can be as much as 2:1 (test results from a sailing magazine). Likewise, a very slippery rope probably defeats the purpose.
talbot further wrote:I used to make fun of the "systems thinking" buzzword when in first came up in business and education, but a boat is a good illustration of how if a solution is optimal for one configuration of equipment, uses, technique, and aesthetics, you can't change any element without changing the system. You either have to come up with a new configuration or put it back the way it was.
Sail and rig trim are good examples of that. Many adjustments are not cleanly separate in their effects. However, as I suggested above the quote, in this case, it would seem to me you do have other alternatives than just the two locations for the ratchet block that you have explored.