laserboy4.7
New Member
im looking and looking for a better block than the stock one, the stock one is okay but the ranstan ones look really nice and i was wondering which ones are the best for a laser and that'll look cool
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No offense, but why do you care whether or not it looks cool so long as it works?im looking and looking for a better block than the stock one, the stock one is okay but the ranstan ones look really nice and i was wondering which ones are the best for a laser and that'll look cool
If you're talking mainsheet blocks, ie ratchets I think the Ronstan Orbit is the way to go. Aside from one of the earlier models failing on me (which was replaced straight away as this is a well documented problem) I have found it to be great with great grip. I haven't tried the others however but it sure beats the block that came with my 1982 boat.
This has been discussed quite a lot before too:
http://www.laserforum.org/showthread.php?t=6670
Lol...Wtf...
The stock ones are more than fine. I don't know how much better you can get.
You mean the stock one that came on my '74?
---snip---
"Just an update on the Ronstan Orbit - Mine stopped functioning about a week ago, I wish I could tell you exactly how many hours of use, a rough guess is somewhere between 150-200 hours. I used the block only in auto-ratchet mode.
It started with the ratchet not engaging, just freewheeling. Naturally this was happening with the wind blowing 20+ With less load, it was occasionally working correctly, but then completely stop functioning after another 2 hours of use..."
Wouldn't mind trying one, but would never use it in a season race without a backup handy.
---snip---
You managed to post all the negatives.
I did follow this thread.
I bought my ratchet from Intensity for $45 US at a time where the Australian dollar was around 95 US cents. The same orbit block here is $110.
This original model did fail one day yet all I had to do was sail an afternoon with my old one before getting it swapped at my local sailing store.
Both blocks have been great and the new one's switch has improved. I have not seen any line wear or spectra strop wear as I am using a small shackle to attach it to my mainsheet eyestrap as per the instructions that I saw a while ago (unsure where they were).
Fair enough. Good idea with the shackle...or do you mean the block can be used with either the spectra or a shackle? That's kind of cool if so.
Fair enough. Good idea with the shackle...or do you mean the block can be used with either the spectra or a shackle? That's kind of cool if so.
I was referring more to the ones that come with the boats now.
But if yours is still working great after that many years, then I guess that would attest to its quality.
Fair enough. Good idea with the shackle...or do you mean the block can be used with either the spectra or a shackle? That's kind of cool if so.
heh... the stock mainsheet block on a '74 is 1" in diameter, no ratchet, no bearings... absolutely horrible... sry, I was kinda being a smart-a**