Is the wind steady and strong? Breeze-on with puffs? Or is the air light to medium? 57 mm Power3 ratchet blocks have one-design sailors covered with three holding-power options that best suit the day’s wind and wave conditions. More ratchet choices allow sailors to fine-tune their set-ups in tandem with the purchase that provides the ideal level of power, responsiveness, and grip.
Black = Standard Holding Power
Harken’s standard 10:1 ratchet (100 lb of force requires only 10 lb of holding power) is a great choice for medium or light-air days where it is vital to ease and trim the sheet smoothly and often. This ratchet is friendly to any type of line.
Titanium = 1.5X Holding Power
The 1.5x ratchet has a holding power of 15:1, or 1.5 times that of the standard ratchet. Use in breezy, puffy conditions to boost holding power and to ease quickly when a puff hits. Depending on line composition and cover texture, the more aggressive sheave facets can increase line wear.
Silver = 2X Holding Power
The 2x ratchet has a holding power of 20:1 or twice that of the standard block. Use in strong, steady wind where holding power is mandatory. The 2x ratchet provides the most aggressive grip on any size line or type.
The patented T2 Ratchamatic is Harken’s newest block to feature the T2 line’s styling and soft-attachment system. The weight of this high-strength block is only a few ounces. This is thanks to composite fiber-reinforced sideplates, aluminum sheave, a lightweight soft-attach, and a minimum of moving parts in the ratcheting mechanism. All T2 blocks are lashed or spliced through the load-bearing center of the block, decreasing the loads on the sideplates and acting as a safety backup for the system. Lashing allows ratchet adjustment close to the deck. Lashing or splicing provides a variety of options for securing the block at exactly the right height to maintain a fair lead.
Pressure on the line engages the ratchet mechanism, which switches seamlessly from free-running to ratchet mode. Unloaded main and jib sheets run out freely during mark roundings, and asymmetrical spinnaker sheets free instantly during jibes. T2 Ratchamatic blocks are clearly labeled with high-contrast directional markers for correct reeving and trimming direction. Use for mainsheet and spinnaker systems on beachcats, dinghies, and sportboats.
A length of Spectra® line with a polyester cover is included.