Best Blocks for the Money?...

[DrKirk]

Does anyone have experience with Garhauer blocks vs. Harken vs. Lewmar "Synchro" Blocks?... I need to up the purchase of my mainsheet on my 39 foot steel sailboat.

Thanks!


"Capt." Kirk

[Irwin32]

Catalina uses Garhauer. Practical Sailor speaks well of them, as well. I installed a Garhauer traveler last season - one year is certainly not a test of endurance for it - but it works great and I am, at this time completely satisfied with it.

[paulmcquillan]

We replaced every block on our 41 foot 22,000 lb boat with Garhauer''s roller-bearing Lite blocks. (All the sheeves also.) It''s been a great investment and looks beautiful even after several years.

We also installed their roller bearing genoa cars and can adjust them by hand under load in any wind condition we''ve found.

Entire design goal was for the wife and kids to be able to adjust sails by themselves. We achieved those goals for far less money. If I had to it over again, I''d do the exact same thing again.

[WHOOSH]

I''m not sure what is meant by "best" - best value? If some kind of absolute ''best'' is meant, what''s the context: racing? strength for weight?

I made the same decision Paul did when upgrading all our sailing hardware and replacing the mainsheet traveler (and for the same reason: ease of use by my wife when on-watch alone). My conclusion at the time was that the Garhauer products were the best value available and also entirely suitable for our application (cruising offshore). I compared our choices with Harken and Lewmar (from Defender) but, while prices were higher, being able to handle the hardware (which is abundant at boat shows and on every new Catalina plus other boats I could go aboard) was also very helpful.

OTOH I''ve consistently been underwhelmed by the whole process of buying - and eventually, some day...maybe - receiving a Garhauer order. Perhaps things have changed from 2000 and 2003 when I placed big orders (with one exception, of very common components) but I had to make repeated calls, nag and plead in each case, and eventually got one order with an improper main block on the mainsheet track. I would probably do the same thing again next time - which says something about the value and performance I think we got - but boy, they could sure clean up their act.

And BTW I''ve heard this same story from many, many other customers. My advice is to not put yourself in a position where you are in a hurry for them to fill an order.

Jack

[ross99]

I bought a couple of Garhauer''s Lite Blocks right here on Sailnet last year. I agree they are a great product, and since Sailnet''s delivery has always been great, I don''t know why you''d order from anyone else!

[Bermuda]

My experience also echos most of the others, Garhauer probably has the most bang for you buck.

As to their service, I found it second to none. I was building my own mast, base and rail attachement brackets for a KISS Wind Genrator and they were great at providing modified versions of existing products that they use for other things. In other words, if you want them to add a diesel engine flywheel to a mainsheet block they''ll start welding as soon as they know what side of the flywheel you want to attach to the block axel <:-)