Ratchet blocks

[Polly]

Cheap solution found! Our topping lift was really stiff to haul up, not good. It goes From the top of the mast, under the boom through a bullseye fairlead, back up to a cheek block at the top of the mast, then down to the foot of the mast; we wanted to lead it back to the cockpit but it was not at all good.

It seemed to me that most of the resistance was caused at the boom, so I got some cheap flexible plastic tubing, put it through the fairlead and stopped it sliding out, then threaded the topper through it. Result! The rope slides easily through the tube and the topper works as it should, even from the cockpit. It cost about a squid, and also saves friction on the sails where it once rubbed. One happy saily here

[Warp]

The common approach in this situation is just to find the one that looks shiniest and costs the most because that means it must be the best bit of kit for the job

 

 

For the 4:1 blocks I have actually gone for the shiniest however they are (relatively) cheap...

 

 

My current problem is finding a pretty ratchet block as they are all without exception black plastic...

[Polly]

For the benefit of those now using Google Translate... Topping lift = oh shoot! I'd better stop this thing sailing!!! Pull it and the wind spills out of the sail...a bit of an emergency brake ?

[riyadhcrew]

Morning Polly,

 

Talking about brakes on a sail boat - and this is a serious question - Can you make a yacht "reverse" using the sails. I've never seen it done intentionally and I just wondered.

[quo vadis]

I see them doing it all the time

[Polly]

Yes but not for long, the hull shape is not up for it. You might hold out the boom against the wind to push you back a bit, say to a mooring buoy you just missed.

[riyadhcrew]

Understood Polly. Thanks for that.

[JennyMorgan]

For the 4:1 blocks I have actually gone for the shiniest however they are (relatively) cheap...

 

 

My current problem is finding a pretty ratchet block as they are all without exception black plastic...

Oh no they are not! Try pages 14 & 15 of the Classic Marine of Woodbridge catalogue, easily googlable. 

[Polly]

They don't seem to be ratchet blocks though, JM?

[ranworthbreeze]

We use similar for hanging backcloths at our local community centre, they are fairly light and well constructed and of course the price is right.

Regards

Alan

[JennyMorgan]

Quite right, Polly, that point clicked after I had posted it but I have a Gibbs tufnol ratchet block on JM, weather they are still made or not I don't know. Often thought of putting ash cheeks on it, look the part, maybe!

[Polly]

'Clicked' ..? We have a few Tufnol blocks on Brilliant but I saw no ratchet blocks in their range so maybe they stopped?