mainsheet block

[doctom]

yesterday took adavantage of some heavy weather to do a shakedown sail in Galveston, TX. I have a 33 feet Cheoy Lee Offshore (12000 lbs displacement) with a aluminum mast and a 15ft boom. Was using a working jib with two reefs in the main to tack back and forth across the channel when the mainsheet block exploded. Luckily no one was injured, though the flying sheet took the helmsman's glasses right off of his face. So I need a replacement but have little experience in replacing sailing hardware and dont know quite what i am looking for. Any suggestions? Is Harken the only way to go? I looked up the 6099 model online and it is just shy of three hundred. Do I also need to replace the top piece (is it called a fiddle?) as well? A local resale shop has locally made blocks for about a 100$ less that look well made but then I dont know what I am looking at so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

[SailorMitch]

The Harken 6099 looks like overkill for your boat. The max line size it accepts is 3/4 inch, which I doubt seriously your 33 footer has for the mainsheet. Harken does make top quality stuff, so if you want to stick with them take a look at the #1564 (list for $218.50) or the #038 (list $141.) You can buy Harken for discount online.

Another suggestion is to check out www.garhauermarine.com. The Garhauer folks also make top quality gear that is heavier than Harken (a tad clunkier in other words) but is bullet proof. Garhauer makes a range of fiddle blocks that will cost you less than $100 direct from them (they do not sell through stores for the most part.) I have a bunch of Garhauer gear on my boat because the gear is good, sturdy, and their customer service is topnotch.

[PBzeer]

I'll give a hearty second to Gahauer. Good stuff, good people.

[Tartan34C]

Are you looking for traditional wood shell blocks or modern metal shell ones?
All the best,
Robert Gainer

[doctom]

I already have too much wood on my boat!...i really like the 40series from Garhauer. I think I will pick them up so I can be back in business for the bouy race next week.
Thanks for all of the great replies! Helped me to make a decision I fel better about.

mike

[cardiacpaul]

you might want to look here....

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Boaters-Exchange

[sailingfool]

I'd chip in again on the Garhauer recommendations, I have been very happy with their blocks and I think they are a real bargain compared the costs of Harken or Lewmar. Their bearing quality also makes trimming the main a good deal easier. Call their number and ask for Guido and he'll take care of you.

One piece of advice, when you replace the failed block, also replace all other blocks of the same age and type - their time has come. Gets expensive...welcome to boating.

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by sailingfool

One piece of advice, when you replace the failed block, also replace all other blocks of the same age and type - their time has come. Gets expensive...welcome to boating.

Another vote for Garhauer: I replaced a 4 to 1 coarse/fine adjustment Easyblock mainsheet on my Viking 33 with a six to one (two triple blocks) single cam cleat tackle, and now my wife can easily work the sheet in all weathers. It was deliberately oversized for the Viking, and so back goes the Easyblock for the next co-owner (I'm "sharing" the Viking while we do a circ.) and the six to one is going to the new boat, a 41 foot cutter with a 15 foot boom. I've ordered a six foot Garhauer traveller to replace the six-foot Harken track, which has those stupid pull-pin track stoppers that are near useless. I much prefer handling the traveller controls and then tweaking the mainsheet for twist/tension. So I'll have all Garhauer for the main, and Andersen winches all around...a good mix, I think. The cost of the traveller (with blocks, minus lines) was about $370 Canadian, and I believe the two triple blocks were $180 Canadian in 2005. I use 1/2" or 9/16" line.

The Harken 1 1/4" track will actually be recycled as a pole lift track on the forward part of the mast. There's nothing there at the moment and I want to pole out the genoa on runs.

Garhauer isn't light and it isn't pretty, unless you consider function over style "pretty". I do. The price is certainly right.

[sailingdog]

I'd recommend Garhauer as well. Good gear...and very reasonably priced.