Upgrade from the stock MacGregor mainsheet

[RandyMoon]

Has anyone upgraded to higher grade blocks on their mainsheet to get a smoother action? Or changed from a 4:1 to a 6:1 purchase?

If so, what were the results?

[Chip Hindes]

Changed the main block with cam and becket on my X to a Harken Little Fiddle Hexaratchet, primarily because the cam angle is welded and not adjustable, and the lead angle sucked. The Hexaratchet has an adjustable cam angle and I adjusted it downward compared to the stock block, where it's much more natural.

Purchase is the same; even with the less favorable, modified near midboom sheeting demanded by the bimini, I've not felt the need for additional purchase on the mainsheet. The other block remains stock Mac.

Works great. One of the least expensive and best bang for the buck mods I've done.

[They Theirs]

I believe a 4:1 with a Becket released of one part of the purchase to form a 3:1 purchase is adequate for the main on the Mac. Light air sailing with less purchase in the mainsheet makes for easy main control. As the wind picks up you might re-connect the becket for the full 4:1 purchase. I believe the Harken large Fiddle blocks have a smooth action with heavy load the six sided ratchet will allow you to use a nice Regatta braid (Easy on the Hands.It is Terrific for mainsheet!) and give a positive controlled release to the mainsheet. The standard blocks are minimal, but money spent upgrading to better smoother running blocks makes sailing improved and more enjoyable

[RandyMoon]

Thanks guys.

The angle of the cam is one thing I find bothersome with the std equipment. I had been looking at the Harkin blocks with the adjustable cam. How is the Hexaratchet feature working for you? I noticed in the Harken catalog they say the ratchet can be turned on and off. How do you use the ratchet feature when sailing?

They Theirs, could you explain "with a Becket released of one part of the purchase to form a 3:1 purchase?" How would you do that without the line taking off?

I had never thought of how light air and the setup of the mainsheet would affect use, but what you are saying makes sense. The more gizmo involved, the harder it is to feed the boom out in light wind. So being able to change the configuration of the mainsheet depending on wind conditions sounds advantageous.

I am definately going to upgrade. When running in heavy air, it can get difficult reeling the sheet in to jibe. No doubt the mainsheet should probably be best performing piece of hardware on the boat since it is used the most.

GOOD GENERAL INFO ON RATCHETS HERE

[Chip Hindes]

The ratchet on the Harken engages by a small slide switch on the side of the block.

With the ratchet disengaged, the block freewheels in both directions. So (for instance), if you're holding the running end of the sheet in your hand, as you might in gusty conditions, full force on the sheet is always there and you have to muscle it. It can be really taxing and quite uncomfortable when winds and therefore loads on the sheet are high. And even if the sheet is locked in the cam, releasing it under high load can yank your shoulder out of the socket if your not careful. Or at least with my bad shoulder it feels that way.

With the ratchet engaged, it's like the winch; the main sheave freewheels when trimming, so there are no additional loads, but when easing, the sheave locks and the line must slide over the block to pay out. The block takes much of the load, and it requires a fairly light touch to hold the running end no matter what the actual loads. Not so tough on your arms and wrists. Also, because of the light touch I find it's way easier to make fine adjustments by easing rather than trimming.

I leave the ratchet engaged except in fairly light winds.

[They Theirs]

You can also go for the Harken Double Speed MainsheetExpensive, but nice.

[Frank C]

Harken mainsheet, below left, is the one that I covet ... haven't yet allocated the half-BoatBuck!

Gross-trim / Fine-trim Mainsheets by Harken


Both of these examples are rather low in the multi-purchase pecking order. Many others offer ranges like 4:1 vs 16:1, way more purchase than we'd require. Here's why I like the one on left. Roger's 4:1 is a great compromise at the 80% sheeting point, but we've all noticed how it's sometimes too much spaghetti to move quickly (light winds). Yet when the wind is up, I appreciate every bit of that 4:1 purchase.

So, once I've figured out HOW to mount my companionway traveler I'll be moving the sheeting point from about 8 feet to about 6.5 feet along the boom. I figure I'll need 6:1 for heavy winds, but that's even more friction and rope for light winds. This Harken option has TWO mainsheets fed out thru 2 cleats. In light winds you can simply use both lines to drop purchase to 3:1. Yet in heavy winds, pulling only one of the mainsheets yields 6:1 purchase.
Sounds perfect! .... too bad about that price

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

I used to upgrade to the Harken 053 and 058 (or 060), and convert the Mac Mainsheet blocks to a Vang (which is the MacGregor Vang).

Now I use the Garhauer 25-01 US and 25-08 US, which has a snap-shackle on the bottom. I add a snap-shackle to the vang, and a longer line (21') so that it can be used as a Preventer, by attaching it to a stanchion base instead of the base of the mast.

[mtc]

I found a 16:1 duel speed Easy block set with continuous sheet on the bay for less $$ than the stock unit. Of course, the weight was greater, but the rigid vang handles it easily. 5/8 black line too!

Grabbing both lines brings the main in very quickly (perfect on a jybe) and single line adjustments result in very fine changes. Incredible!

Have two snap shackles to mount/remove the unit easily when rigging. Love it!

I'll get some shots and put them in.

Made a great difference.

Michael

[Newell]

I made (ala eBay) a adjustable cabintop traveler for my X. Now use 6:1 side-by-side harken blocks with a black (Horse rope) mainsheet. Will upgrade the line, hard on the hands, but the set-up works good for mid-boom sheeting and coupled with my 8:1 vang and preventers I am in perfect control of the main if I don't get tangled up in all the lines.

:|Newell
Fast Sunday 96X

[jsserene]

Newell, any pictures of your traveler?

Jeff

[They Theirs]

Traveler Arch Rigging

Traveler

[mtc]

Like the traveler design, would reasonably add trim capabilities to the stock rig. If I recall from earlier postings, didn't you have the Al verticals fabricated and added a track?

How do you get up to the foredeck?

Michael

[Terry]

I picked up the air blocks from BWY and put them on and noticed an immediate improvement in ease of pulling the sheets in or letting them out. The bearings make it adjust much more readily than the stock blocks that come with the mac. It is only a small improvement but it does make a big difference for $69.00 for the set.