Block Choice

   Mr Allen
Make your blocks sexier than harken ones- and make them work like harken ones and we spotty yoofs will coat our 29ers and the likes in them
Or sponsor me and give them to me for free! Then I'll tell everyone that Allen blocks are the best! 

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FireballNeil Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 03 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 654	Post Options Post Reply Quote FireballNeil Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Block Choice Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 5:31pm
	Mr Allen Make your blocks sexier than harken ones- and make them work like harken ones and we spotty yoofs will coat our 29ers and the likes in them Or sponsor me and give them to me for free! Then I'll tell everyone that Allen blocks are the best!
	Neil

Jamie600 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 14 Jun 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 718	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jamie600 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 5:55pm
	I think it might be worth thinking about a complete rebrand, as you can see from some of the comments on here Holt don't have much of a reputation, so moving away from Holt, Holt Allen, Allen etc might be just as effective as any changes to the actual product
	RS600 1001

Lukepiewalker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1341	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lukepiewalker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 6:03pm
	My Vanguard Finn has a full Harken fitout, except in a few places where systems have been changed over the years. The ratchet block which is probably the original from 1992 is still going strong. I had to remove some cleats last year, on some of them I couldn't get the machine screws out, the ends broke off instead. A friend who is better than me at such things removed the corroded screw. The cleat went back on the boat... Harken all the way... And spares are available...
	Ex-Finn GBR533 "Pie Hard" Ex-National 12 3253 "Seawitch" Ex-National 12 2961 "Curved Air" Ex-Mirror 59096 "Voodoo Chile"

mike ellis Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 30 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2339	Post Options Post Reply Quote mike ellis Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 6:05pm
	im not picky on block choice, however i have holt blocks on the blocks on the inboard ends of the racks on the 600 and the bits the rope goes round wobble a lot and dont spin easily, i keep meaning to replace them but being skint most the time and having an old 14 to fit out which eats any of my spare money i just haven't got round to it but if i do i intend to get harken or ronstan blocks because of the good press they get. i havent really had any blocks completely fail on me if they have had the rope lead right but on the 600 i have found some blocks just seem to have worn out whereas on the 14 where any blocks tht are there are all harken they all run smoothly despite the boat being about 15 years old or more. i think holt and even (shock) RWO blocks are fine on take up systems for control lines, there is no sense throwing money at harken blocks for a block that only has to pull an elastic up tight or lead a rope with very little load on it. spend the money where it is needed (high load stuff, kickers, downhauls, kite halyard blocks etc).
	600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318

craiggo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 01 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1810	Post Options Post Reply Quote craiggo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 6:32pm
	My 600 (783) was fully fitted out with Harken kit, the tie-lite blocks on the boom and strop and a Nice big ratchet and cleat, all the control line cleats were also Harken and I never had any problems with them. On my 700 I have one of the fancy Holt mainsheet jammers and is feels as if it flexes too much and the pin to stop it spinning all the way around keeps popping out. It may look good but it doesnt work well. I think the first thing that Allen need to do is sort out reliability and strength, once thats sorted then try and make the bits look good, but dont work it the other way around. Regarding control line cleats I have had several Holties where the cam springs have gone or one cam has worn very quickly, again I think these could do with bulking up and start using better springs etc. A couple of quid extra on the price wont hurt you if the quality is good enough. On the plus side, my jib cleat on my 49er was a holtie albeit carboned into the hull to strenghen the base but it lasted and worked rather well. In the short term at least, I will only be buying Harken, although the latest Ronstan kit looks to be catching up.

no limits Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 09 Feb 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 88	Post Options Post Reply Quote no limits Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 8:12pm
	Last year i bought several holt and RWO cleats and mainsheet blocks for my old laser. A season later i sold the boat with 15 year old Harken fittings because in a force 4 or more the RWO mainsheet rachet just start losing grip and actually starts spinning. New laser is getting a full Harken fit out

Smight at BBSC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 09 Jan 07 Location: Great Britain Online Status: Offline Posts: 1129	Post Options Post Reply Quote Smight at BBSC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 8:21pm
	I would have to say that if you think the harken blocks are a bit pricey the ronstan blocks are definatly a good alternative. I've never noticed any difference between performance of ronstan and harken to be honest.
	RS600 988

MRJP BUZZ 585 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1496	Post Options Post Reply Quote MRJP BUZZ 585 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 8:24pm
	I am the same as above, i have a balanced mix between ronstan and harken and to be honest i don't really notice a difference
	Josh Preater BUZZING IS FUN

sargesail Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 14 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1459	Post Options Post Reply Quote sargesail Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 9:11pm
	I'd love to hear from anyone who has used the RONSTAN oRBITS ESPECIALLY THE 70MM

Hernia55 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 22 Feb 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hernia55 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 9:57pm
	I'm interested in this one, we need to replace our Holt spinnaker sheet autoratchets which have finally given up the ghost. Thinking about either Harkens or Ronstan orbits, since all our other blocks are Harken and they seem to work we will probably go for those.