As it is known, I post here frequently re: various topics.
My boat is a Hunter 49, which is always sailed very conservatively
Two weeks ago, a Rutgerson becket block which controls my vang exploded, presenting a fairly dangerous situation.
Upon inspection of this block, it is obvious why it failed. The becket end is a very thin ring , (about 5 mm in total) it simply split right down the middle.
BTW, sailing conditions were approx 10 knots true wind, 90 degrees apparent.
I immediately reported this failure to Rutgerson.
Their response was that:
The block has been upgraded with newer material which has better UV resistance
They tried to assert that I was using the block at a side angle (impossible with a vang)
They said it was probably "chock loads". I think they meant "shock loads", which I can assure you they weren't
Their most incredible statement was that "BLOCKS BREAK"
No,,, they don't when used within proper limits, which this was.
I, personally have never had a "block break"
They also said that as a boat owner, I should get used to "things breaking"
Yes, my water pump and cupboard latch did, but this wasn't something which could drop a man off your mast in a bosun's chair.
I suspect if you call Harken, Schaeffer, Ronstan, none of them will say, "yes, our blocks break"
I urge all owners as follows
Do not use any Rutgerson block in situations where personal injury can result in the failure of the block.
Secondly, inspect all of your Rutgerson blocks. If they are made with a grey plastic, that is the material I was told by Rutgerson was upgraded owing to UV.
If you are using any Rutgerson Becket blocks, inspect the wall thickness of where the becket attaches. Rutgerson refused to supply me with load data for the becket. My sail maker knows the aproximate forces on my main & vang, and I wanted to see if there was a bad specification.
Rutgerson then tried to pass off the problem on Selden, saying they didn't know the end use of the product.
Lastly, Rutgerson said they sold thousands of these blocks, and none of them broke. This was after telling me that "blocks break"
I'm a little confused by the contradiction
In summary, if taking a man aloft, do not depend on the Rutgerson blocks on your mast base. Use a known quality snatch block where they publish the loads, and are able to take shock. As it is good practice to take a man aloft on 2 halyards, there is the remote possibility that one halyard fails.
This would present a "shock load" on the second halyard.
As Rutgerson has clearly told me, their blocks fail with "chock load", I suggest you take their word for it, and not risk a person's safety
My boat is a Hunter 49, which is always sailed very conservatively
Two weeks ago, a Rutgerson becket block which controls my vang exploded, presenting a fairly dangerous situation.
Upon inspection of this block, it is obvious why it failed. The becket end is a very thin ring , (about 5 mm in total) it simply split right down the middle.
BTW, sailing conditions were approx 10 knots true wind, 90 degrees apparent.
I immediately reported this failure to Rutgerson.
Their response was that:
The block has been upgraded with newer material which has better UV resistance
They tried to assert that I was using the block at a side angle (impossible with a vang)
They said it was probably "chock loads". I think they meant "shock loads", which I can assure you they weren't
Their most incredible statement was that "BLOCKS BREAK"
No,,, they don't when used within proper limits, which this was.
I, personally have never had a "block break"
They also said that as a boat owner, I should get used to "things breaking"
Yes, my water pump and cupboard latch did, but this wasn't something which could drop a man off your mast in a bosun's chair.
I suspect if you call Harken, Schaeffer, Ronstan, none of them will say, "yes, our blocks break"
I urge all owners as follows
Do not use any Rutgerson block in situations where personal injury can result in the failure of the block.
Secondly, inspect all of your Rutgerson blocks. If they are made with a grey plastic, that is the material I was told by Rutgerson was upgraded owing to UV.
If you are using any Rutgerson Becket blocks, inspect the wall thickness of where the becket attaches. Rutgerson refused to supply me with load data for the becket. My sail maker knows the aproximate forces on my main & vang, and I wanted to see if there was a bad specification.
Rutgerson then tried to pass off the problem on Selden, saying they didn't know the end use of the product.
Lastly, Rutgerson said they sold thousands of these blocks, and none of them broke. This was after telling me that "blocks break"
I'm a little confused by the contradiction
In summary, if taking a man aloft, do not depend on the Rutgerson blocks on your mast base. Use a known quality snatch block where they publish the loads, and are able to take shock. As it is good practice to take a man aloft on 2 halyards, there is the remote possibility that one halyard fails.
This would present a "shock load" on the second halyard.
As Rutgerson has clearly told me, their blocks fail with "chock load", I suggest you take their word for it, and not risk a person's safety