I'm working on a 6/1 Harken Carbo mainsheet and one of the suggestions is a Ratchet w/Cam.What is the ratchet and how does it work?
Ratchet block
- Thread starter Quoddy
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The sheave on on ratchet block acts like a winch,
in that it will only turn in one direction. The ratchet
mechanism prevents it from rolling the other way,
just as in a ratcheting wrench.
This allows you to hand hold a larger sheet load
with out it slipping back out.
Many ratchet blocks have a switch that
disables the ratchet so that the sheet eases
more freely in light airs.
in that it will only turn in one direction. The ratchet
mechanism prevents it from rolling the other way,
just as in a ratcheting wrench.
This allows you to hand hold a larger sheet load
with out it slipping back out.
Many ratchet blocks have a switch that
disables the ratchet so that the sheet eases
more freely in light airs.
A ratchet block is a block that has a ratcheting mechanism that prevents it from turning in one direction. It effectively increases your mechanical advantage about 10:1.
Block thanks
Thanks for my answer.Sounds like a handy feature.I imagine Harken would provide for deactivating it to make the block more versatile.
Thanks for my answer.Sounds like a handy feature.I imagine Harken would provide for deactivating it to make the block more versatile.
Just remember its 10:1 going OUT not IN 
In is still 1:1 and it does shred the jacket of your sheet over time
In is still 1:1 and it does shred the jacket of your sheet over time
ratchet block ?
Anyone think this ratchet block is any better than a standard block with a cam to hold the main sheet?
Anyone think this ratchet block is any better than a standard block with a cam to hold the main sheet?
I love it on my Hobie 16, makes holding the sheet a little easier instead of camming it since so much happens way quicker on the cat. It does wear the sheet a little quicker, but the angle of the sheet determines if my ratchet is engaged or not, so I only try and use it for minor adjustments.
You need the cam cleat unless you intend to never let go of the sheet
My windward sheeting car has the ratchet block and CAM and a lot of times it slows down dumping a sail
My windward sheeting car has the ratchet block and CAM and a lot of times it slows down dumping a sail
Ratcheting blocks are extremely usefull for hand held sheets... in situations where the sheet is rarely cleated... such as on racing dinghies, sport boats and catamarans. If you cleat your mainsheet all the time, then you will rarely have the need for the ratchet feature. Every ratcheting block I've seen is equipped with a switch to disengage the ratchet, because there are many times you will not want to use it... Sailing downwind is a good example... where you want to feel the pressure on the sail.
That said....... most pre built mainsheet tackle assemblies include a ratcheting maiin block with a cam cleat. In cases where a self tailing winch is used to control the sheet you would, of course have no use for the cam cleat, but these are decisions that are individual to the boat and it's owner.
Get the ratcheting block.
That said....... most pre built mainsheet tackle assemblies include a ratcheting maiin block with a cam cleat. In cases where a self tailing winch is used to control the sheet you would, of course have no use for the cam cleat, but these are decisions that are individual to the boat and it's owner.
Get the ratcheting block.
http://www.harken.com/blocks/QandARatcheBlocks.php
Look carefully at the first pic of the hexaratchet on this webpage. If you look carefully youll see that the sheeves are not 'round' but somewhat 'fluted' so that there is considerable friction in sheeve when the line is 'tailed' to the ratchet.
I use these on my big scows both as a mainsheet terminal block and as cheek turning blocks for the jibsheets.
As other posters have listed ... using a hexaratchet can substitute for the use of a winch; but, are faster, have easily controlled high friction in the 'out' mode due to the locked and 'fluted' sheeve.
For mainsheets you can terminate from a hexaratchet (on a ball-swivel becket) to either a cam cleat or 'trigger cam cleat' ... a trigger cleat is similar to the standard cam cleat but when you pull 'down' on the cleated line the down-pressure unlocks the wings of the cams and it instantaneously opens. Hexaratchets are extremely useful in 'varying' and unstable wind conditions (gusts, etc.) that require constant and fast in-out adjustment of sheets.
Look carefully at the first pic of the hexaratchet on this webpage. If you look carefully youll see that the sheeves are not 'round' but somewhat 'fluted' so that there is considerable friction in sheeve when the line is 'tailed' to the ratchet.
I use these on my big scows both as a mainsheet terminal block and as cheek turning blocks for the jibsheets.
As other posters have listed ... using a hexaratchet can substitute for the use of a winch; but, are faster, have easily controlled high friction in the 'out' mode due to the locked and 'fluted' sheeve.
For mainsheets you can terminate from a hexaratchet (on a ball-swivel becket) to either a cam cleat or 'trigger cam cleat' ... a trigger cleat is similar to the standard cam cleat but when you pull 'down' on the cleated line the down-pressure unlocks the wings of the cams and it instantaneously opens. Hexaratchets are extremely useful in 'varying' and unstable wind conditions (gusts, etc.) that require constant and fast in-out adjustment of sheets.
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