I will be a contrarian and say that I like to have it there. In fact, I added a ratchet block last season and I like it.
It helps if you are shorthanded and you need to roll the jib with one hand and release the jib sheet with the other. This helps in orderly furling the jib, especially, when it is blowing. I sailed without it for 14 years, so obviously it is not required. But it is quite handy. Happy New Year to everyone Marek 1994 C270 Legato Ottawa On -------- Original message -------- From: John Conklin via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Date: 2021-01-04 12:38 (GMT-05:00) To: Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: John Conklin <jconk...@hotmail.com> Subject: Stus-List Re: rachet block for Harken furler Confirming have no use If it’s really blowing I have a big barrier there which I’ll take one wrap around John Conklin S/V Halcyon S/V Heartbeat On Jan 4, 2021, at 12:02 PM, Joel Aronson via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Joe Happy New Year! I'm jealous you got out! No, you don't need a ratchet block, Most people I know who have them don't use the ratchet. Joel [https://ipmcdn.avast.com/images/icons/icon-envelope-tick-green-avg-v1.png]<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avg.com%2Femail-signature%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Dsig-email%26utm_content%3Dwebmail&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cbfd84af18e05451f0e4808d8b0d78f76%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637453787152128147%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=bANTTVLKi8BCMLvR5p%2FRGYxeJ9LdK4JA%2FZ5ylqwi%2FOM%3D&reserved=0> Virus-free. www.avg.com<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avg.com%2Femail-signature%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Dsig-email%26utm_content%3Dwebmail&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cbfd84af18e05451f0e4808d8b0d78f76%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637453787152138103%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=h%2F%2FRX41ymWwyCWQwRFKh7vtu6aatV0zeUwLGOIFt1IM%3D&reserved=0> On Mon, Jan 4, 2021 at 11:59 AM Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote: I was out sailing Saturday and as I haven’t got around to buying a new rachet block yet, I bypassed it and just grabbed the furling line as it exited the next most forward block. I have to say it worked quite well and I am not sure I need a rachet block. I think the whole reason for it is to prevent the jib from unfurling too fast. I never ever just let it go, so maybe this is something I can do without? I have plenty of regular blocks sitting around. Joe Della Barba Coquina C&C 35 MK I Kent Island MD USA Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paypal.me%2Fstumurray&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cbfd84af18e05451f0e4808d8b0d78f76%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637453787152148060%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=lh7KClNqvSsVgmT9YDSthUFedQ4pgVtoJMqV3BdMnFQ%3D&reserved=0> Thanks - Stu -- Joel Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
