I just got back from two weeks sailing up the Chesapeake. During this trip, one of the snatch blocks I use as a jib fairlead failed. I attach the block to the bulwark using a heavy webbing loop; which allows positioning it anywhere along the bulwark to adjust the trim angle. I like this arrangement. It’s simple, solid, and elegant. I’ve always used snatch blocks for this application, and this is my third failed block (over 20+ years). It’s always crevice corrosion that kills these things. It looks like the rubber cheeks are a contributing factor (covering SS portions that failed). So I find myself needing to buy new blocks… Again. And it occurs to me that I might get better service from something other than snatch blocks. I’m not averse to using non-traditional looking blocks and I’m wondering if some of the modern “soft-attach” blocks that are designed for attachment using webbing or dyneema might not fit the bill. My boat does not have stanchions and lifelines, so I’ve also depended on the the rubber cheeks of snatch blocks to keep the bulwarks from getting dinged too badly (whereas you can hang the block with bungee if you have lifelines). So I’m wondering whether I’d need to construct my own cheek pads if I use something other than a snatch block.
Hello Jeremy,
What about seizing a bull’s eye on one end of appropriate sized 3-strand and the other end with a generous eyesplice to allow it to be “cowhitched” to the buwark? Certainly more friction than a proper block, but with a winch maybe negligible.
Gary,
Yes, great Illustration for what I had in mind. To keep it traditional the " bull’s eye" would be wood and the line 3 strand. You could make the line as a grommet or two eye splices. Or purchase the hi tech.
Tom/Gary - I like the idea of the Antal rings. They look good to me. I’m going to give that a shot; and splice my own loop of the proper length to the ring so that, as you suggested, it can be cow hitched to the bulwalk with a minimum of slack left in the the loop; almost nlike temporarily seizing the ring to the bulwark; so as to minimize the whipping movement when tacking. This will actually improve the feed angle to the winch as it will be lower than with an actual block. And it’s fail-safe; and enormously stronger and more reliable than a block. At the cost of higher friction. And the price is right. I’ll give it a go. I’m sure these rings will be useful for other applications if this doesnt work out.