So are they illegal or not?
If they are not sold by a Laser dealer, then they are not legal.
Just to qualify that statement a little. It may be true in the US but few other countries have a dealer network as extensive as the US.
In the UK you can buy official Laser branded parts either from Laser Performance directly, any number of chandlers and some even direct from the manufacturer (or importer). Dealers do exist but most people go to LP directly for boats and major parts such as sails, spars and foils.
So are they illegal or not?
What I would also like to is what would everyone upgrade first out of . . .
the mainsheet (no idea what it is now I think its just line)
the boom blocks
and the mainsheet block (I would like to hear what everyone thinks about the Orbit 55 ratchet).
Help with this would be great thanks!
Would a brand "Laser" sail made by Elstrom or Haarstick be legal? Holt Allen used to be the supplier of the legal blocks, a new supplier now supplies them, but Allen Bros is a new company with access to the old molds, that doesn't mean that new blocks produced from the old molds are class legal, yet the old blocks will remain class legal indefinitely. Whilst off the top of my head I can't remember, but you'll probably find the old blocks are stamped with the Laser Trade mark, whilst these new ones definitely won't be. It's a similar situation with the new vang fitting from Harken, whilst they even come off the same production line, without that Laser Trade mark, they aren't legal, even though it's an identical product.
Two people on the 2nd forum said their blocks failed I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem recently because those posts were from 08 and there were later post saying that Ronstan had already started to fix the problems so have they succeeded by now? Thanks.On the Ronstan 55 block - I have been using it since it was first introduced, and have tried many of the others as well, none of the modern ones seem to have the same holding power. It's been discussed a bunch here, if you search you'll find them, here are a couple to read.. http://sailingforums.com/threads/mainsheet-block.17533/#post-88981 and http://sailingforums.com/threads/which-mainsheet-b-orbit-carbo.5581/ If you decide on the Ronstan, I would suggest the standard post/shackle as opposed to the dyneema strop.
Thank you.Ronstan fixed the problem in the first year, the blocks have been reliable now for a few years..
I'm on somewhat of a strict budget I've got about 100 dollars to spend and I would really like to put a new main block on my boat because mine is still the same old basic block. But I would also like to upgrade my mainsheet and boom blocks to reduce the friction so I do not have to push the boom out each time I go downwind. I figured with the Allen Bros blocks I would have less friction than I have now simply because they're new and my current ones are old. My boat is an '86 so obviously I don't have a new vang, outhaul or cunningham but I don't have the money to upgrade those yet I will later but I would like to get the simple "cheaper" stuff done first.Since you are talking about upgrades, why not jst get the new class approved Harkens' for the boom anyway ?
Well then I think my money might go to the block and the new mainsheet. Right now I have no idea what diameter or type my main is.The good and bad about the original blocks (including the "new" Allen Bros blocks) is while not free spinning, they don't get significantly worse as the hours add up on their use. So, replacing them with like blocks most likely will not contribute to helping get the main out.. Better to not spend the money on those and save up until you can get the Harkens IMHO. Any of the autoratchets are going to make a big difference in helping the mainsheet run when easing out to go downwind, so that is the first thing I would change in your case.
Do you know the dia of your mainsheet (and type ?), as the thicker (8mm / 5/16") mainsheets do not run as easily as the 7mm/ 1/4" sheets.
I understand that Intensity is more of a "side" dealer and because of that does that mean everything they sell isn't class legal?
That is correct. Intensity sells imitation parts and sails.
---snip---
I also looked at West Marine for the Orbit block and they sell the Dyneema link block for $20 less than the swivel head. (43-63)
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=50045&subdeptNum=50057&classNum=50070
Would it make sense to buy the Dyneema because its so much cheaper? Why does West Marine offer that one so much cheaper APS sells them both for 63.
Could you explain this? DO you just mean you have the shackle on the boat, then another one, then the Dyneema?---snip---
I'm happy with it, have not had to replace the strop due to wear, but I use an extra shackle between the strop and the eyestrap on the boat.
How do you clean the blocks I would really like to be able to do this. ThanksI would say clean the blocks you have then save up for the ball bearing boom and trav blocks, they will make more difference than just getting new blocks
Could you explain this? DO you just mean you have the shackle on the boat, then another one, then the Dyneema?
Ohh OK thanks.No, it's exactly as I stated - eyestrap on the boat, shackle between eyestrap and dyneema loop
That's hardly surprising as it's what comes with all the new boats. The advantages of one ratchet block compared to another these days is pretty small and hardly worth swapping one for another.The Ronstan Orbit 55 Ratchet RF56101 http://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=RF56101 seem by far the most popular used on Lasers today. Almost all boats I saw at the recent NSW Laser Masters used them.
Not to belabor this too much, but Intensity sells perfectly legal tiller systems, line kits, extensions, etc.
I'm not trying to incite a riot here, but to tell tcwings20 that everything they sell is illegal is simply wrong.
Does anyone know how to clean boom blocks or know an article on it?
Thanks