07/09/2012 18:45:34 Alex Morrison Posts: 87 | It seems that both mainsheet blocks on the boom have given up on me :( to be honest I'm a bit disappointed how long they've lasted! Same for the cleat. So any recommendations for new blocks? Not Selden. Alex Tweet |
| 07/09/2012 19:47:56 Posts: 0 | I put harken 29mm ti-lite carbo blocks on my boom ages ago - but then I use a 7mm rooster mainsheet recycled from the laser. Far nicer set up than the yacht hawser original. been using for 18 months with no probs. I swapped the ratchet for a Ronstan - again its needs to be a tie on version - my lovely fredriksson ratchet would not twist to the correct angles Tweet |
| 10/09/2012 19:47:42 Alex Morrison Posts: 87 | After further inspection this weekend some of the internal stuff holding the bearings was jamming the block and stopping it from turning. Yanked it out and they seem to be free again :) will wait till they completely give up .... probably at the next event! Tweet |
| 19/09/2012 22:05:23 Posts: 0 | Al wait to you find the ball-bearings rolling around in the bottom of the boat !!!! I really like the look and feel of the Karver tie-on blocks. Although mainly aimed at the yacht / sports boat market the smaller sizes would be fine on a dinghy and are really nice bits of kit. Might treat myself to them on my boat (the agent is not far from here). I don't use the ratchet or cleat really so not had any problems with this. This weekend, however, my mainsheet managed to knot itself around the daggerboard downhaul - never happened before but absolutely catastrophic when you need to dump the main for the reach to the finish line ! Going to take that off before the next event. Chris http://www.allspars.co.uk/shop/ShowImage.do?prodId=494&imageNum=2 edited by Chris421 on 19/09/2012 Tweet |
| 20/09/2012 12:22:57 Alex Morrison Posts: 87 | I'll have to look into those blocks.... maybe but it on the xmas list :) Last week my rachet came off and i had to use the main off the boom like you do. I've no idea how you do it! It feels so un-natural. Also it seemed that i was pulling the boom in rather than down. Must do some maintenance before Grafham! Alex Tweet |
| 21/09/2012 13:31:15 Posts: 0 | Hi Alex. Each to their own - it feels very unnatural to me sheeting from the ratchet ! That is a good point about the pulling in / rather than down - sheeting from the boom definitely doesn't work in lighter winds but as soon as the breeze is up enough to hike I find it is a lot faster for me - I find it gives a really good feel of the trim and ooching the boat onto the plane. Racing at Parkstone this weekend (I only did Sunday) the first race I had to sheet from the cleat to generate power but as the breeze picked up I was able to sheet from the boom, which felt very good to me. The only issue you do have (as I was explaining to Neal) is there comes a point where if you need to free off you run out of mainsheet and have to swap back to sheeting from the cleat - which can be hairy !! This happened in the last race where I had Mark right on my transom and we were getting progressively lifted as we approached the top mark and were sailing very free - I had run out of mainsheet and eventually had to let go and grab the main from the cleat - almost rolled it in to windward just before crossing the finish line (shortened course we finished at the top of the beat) ! I don't think sheeting from the boom is for everyone but as I have never sailed a boat with anything else it feels very natural to me and definitely works once there is enough breeze. Chris edited by Chris421 on 21/09/2012 Tweet |