Description
Harken Carbo Ratchet Blocks allow sailors to hand-hold loaded lines and offer balance between holding power and controlled easing. Harken 57 mm Blocks feature Cam-Lock or U-Lock locking systems to lock the shackle in front or side positions, or swivel to keep line from twisting.
Feeatures
- On/off switch roperates from both sides.
- Standard grip: medium/light air; 10:1 holding power.
- Glass-filled nylon sideplates: load-carrying curved bearing races.
- Machined Hardkote-anodized aluminum sheaves: strength and corrosion resistance.
- Eight-facet sheave: holds line securely.
- Ratchet on/off switch allows you to switch between ratchet and standard pulley block.
- Ratchet always on: 2610/2611.
- Cam arm locking plates: Allows cam arms to be locked in more than five positions for fair leads.
- Cheek: Line-shedding, small mounting footprint and drain holes.
- Common uses: Main/jib/spinnaker sheets/traveler controls/genoa sheets/foreguys.
Harken Ratchamatic, Carbo Ratchet, and Hexaratchet blocks are lightweight, strong, and run exclusively on ball bearings for fast trimming under any load.
Harken ratchet blocks hold part of the sheet’s load, let you trim and ease with complete control, and enable higher trimming speeds. Ratchets make it much easier to hand-hold higher loads by only allowing the sheave to turn in the trimming direction. When you are holding or releasing the load, the faceted sheave grips the line to reduce fatigue and give you more control. Also, ratchets make faster trimming possible because you don’t have to hold the full force of the sheet while shifting your grip.
Where should I use ratchet blocks?
Ratchet blocks are great for any system that is normally adjusted by hand, including mainsheets, jib sheets, spinnakers, vangs, and backstays on everything from dinghies to large keelboats. In addition to increasing the loads you can manage without a winch, they reduce shock loading on your hands and your equipment for example, a ratchet block can stop an unanticipated gust from yanking the line through your hands or from putting too much load on your cam cleats. Some dinghies and sportboats even use two Ratchamatic blocks in series for turns less than 90 degrees per ratchet block.
How about holding power?
You can count on the Ratchamatic's powerful sheave geometry to hold your sheet securely, but still provide great trimming? feel?. Plus, you won’t tear up your sheet playing the shifts in a blow.
Specifications
- Sheave diameter: 2 1/4" (57 mm)
- Length: 4 1/16" (103 mm)
- Weight: 3 oz. (85 g)
- Shackle pin diameter: 3/16" (5 mm)
- Maximum line diameter: 3/8" (10 mm)
- Maximum working load: 500 lb (227 kg)
- Breaking load: 2000 lb (907 kg)
- Holding power: 10:1