Ronstan/Fredrikson Wanted!!
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12325
Printed Date: 08 Jul 25 at 1:45am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Ronstan/Fredrikson Wanted!!
Posted By: Guests
Subject: Ronstan/Fredrikson Wanted!!
Date Posted: 26 Feb 16 at 9:26pm
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Once upon a time Fredrikson made the best ratchet block ever. Then Ronstan bought it and made the same block with the little red Ronstan logo on it. Then Ronstan stopped making it because they didn't want the best ratchet block anymore and they didn't want anyone else to have one either. Anyway, I want one. Does anyone have one in good condition that they would be willing to part with. The online chandlers don't have them anymore, so I'm looking to buy a used one if in good condition. So, can any of you help me? Doug H |
Replies:
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 26 Feb 16 at 10:03pm
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Orbit 55 Auto? ------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 26 Feb 16 at 10:11pm
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No, don't want that one. Very specifically want the freddy. Found a couple of smaller online chandlers that may have one in stock, which I've emailed. |
Posted By: Presuming Ed
Date Posted: 27 Feb 16 at 12:07am
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Really was the business. b**tard Aussies to kill it off. http://www.westcoastsailing.net/default/frederiksen-mainsheet-block.html http://cdn.westcoastsailing.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/650x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/r/f/rf62100.jpg" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: LaLi
Date Posted: 27 Feb 16 at 12:24am
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What do you mean "killed off"? This is from the current product overview: http://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=RF62100" rel="nofollow - http://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=RF62100 And here's a story from a couple months back about the former Frederiksen plant in Denmark - check out the sixth picture down after the text: http://minbaad.dk/nyhed/archive/2015/02/december/article/ronstan-er-faktisk-dansk-eksport-paa-80-procent/" rel="nofollow - http://minbaad.dk/nyhed/archive/2015/02/december/article/ronstan-er-faktisk-dansk-eksport-paa-80-procent/ Never tried it myself, though. What is it that's so great about it?
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Posted By: pompeysailor
Date Posted: 27 Feb 16 at 8:36am
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The grip the design gets is immense, much greater than any design from other manufacturers. It also had a strong patent which forced others to down other routes. ------------- Formerly - OK 2145 Phantom 1437, Blaze 819, Fireball 14668, Mirror 54145 |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 27 Feb 16 at 9:00am
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Lali, I was under the impression that Ronstan weren't supplying them anymore in the UK. However, you're right it would appear they are still making them so maybe it's just the UK chandlers choosing to supply the orbit ratchets over them. I'll get in touch with the uk ronstan distributer over on monday to see what the deal is. As for what's so great about them, if you're not using a mainsheet cleat, they are outright the single best ratchet block ever made. They have (or certainly did have) the smallest distance between ratchet clicks. So if there's a perfect sheet tension, you have to either under or over pull by a a certain amount for any ratchet to engage and the smaller the distance between ratchet lever engagement, the more accurate your sheet tension. Also, it had the grippiest sheeve ever. It will detroy ropes a lot quicker than any other ratchet but it's a small price to pay. Also, unlike certain other ratchet blocks, the on/off switch is easy to use even with gloves, and when the ratchet is turned off the block runs beatifully. |
Posted By: LaLi
Date Posted: 27 Feb 16 at 1:08pm
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Smallest distance between clicks? Interesting. Looks like Rooster has them: https://www.roostersailing.com/pd/Ronstan-60mm-Freddie-Ratchet-Block_101077.htm" rel="nofollow - https://www.roostersailing.com/pd/Ronstan-60mm-Freddie-Ratchet-Block_101077.htm Twice the grip of a similar sized Harken... and twice the price!
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Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 27 Feb 16 at 3:43pm
I know the rep at the Uk Distributor personally, I will ask him when I next see him. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: Alan Gillard
Date Posted: 27 Feb 16 at 7:46pm
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When the Toppers went centre-main the Freddy was the block to have. I did laugh though when one of the squaddies only idea of what was good about the block was 'it has a nicer click than any other ratchet block'. Those Freddy blocks though (2004/2005)used to wear out because the ratchet was effectively a stainless plate locating onto the Alloy teeth of the pulley. Obviously the alloy teeth did not last so neither did the block. The specification of the current Freddy says it has a 'Torlon® ratchet pawl', which sounds as if it might be less aggressive to the Alloy Sheave. http://www.boedeker.com/torlon_p.htm
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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 29 Feb 16 at 1:39pm
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I have one on my classIc 14. Sorry, not for sale. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 29 Feb 16 at 1:48pm
| There was an interesting comment from our club's bet RS300 sailor yesterday. He noted that he found the boat much more controllable in yesterday's nasty winds if he turned the ratchet block off because of the granularity and the slight resistance to movement. |
Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 29 Feb 16 at 2:56pm
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That doesn't surprise me. I've got an auto ratchet Fredrikson (not for sale!) I bought for my Laser, thinking having an auto ratchet would be a jolly clever idea - it's not, as you can't turn it off when it's gusty and you really want to be able for control. ------------- Peter Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59 |
Posted By: Steve411
Date Posted: 29 Feb 16 at 3:56pm
I never use a ratchet - the gust response is far better I find. ------------- Steve B RS300 411 https://www.facebook.com/groups/55859303803" rel="nofollow - RS300 page |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 29 Feb 16 at 5:01pm
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I'm too feeble not to. Switch off down wind in the lighter winds, though.
Never found an autorachet that agrees with me on when to actually swich on. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 29 Feb 16 at 6:02pm
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I have mine on all the time in the D-Zero but I do play the main from the boom offwind in lighter airs and the gust response from the rig is amazing, does most of the work for me. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 29 Feb 16 at 6:50pm
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Ratchets are slow, slow, slow; they block off a major feedback process. Might as well have hydraulic steering and destroy absolutly all feel ------------- http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here |
Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 29 Feb 16 at 7:29pm
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Autoratchets for the kite everytime! Having the Mrs dragged into the boat on every gust is not quick. |
Posted By: LaLi
Date Posted: 29 Feb 16 at 7:43pm
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Interesting. Some want rope-destroying grip from their ratchets, while others want nothing at all. I thought ratchets were for more, not less, control in conditions where there is too much "feel". From this view, autoratchets make very good sense. I actually have a hard time understanding why one would prefer a non-automatic ratchet anywhere. (Maybe now is the time to think again.) I have a Ronstan Smart Ratchet on my Laser and I am very happy with it. The Lightnings I've sailed lately have had Harken Ratchamatics for the spinnaker sheets and they're perfect. Both have an adjustable engaging load, but I've never seen a reason to change it.
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Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 01 Mar 16 at 1:05pm
I had an auto ratchet on my Laser, was the worst thing I ever had on it. It broke after 3 outings too so i went have to a std switchable ratchet. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: about a boat
Date Posted: 01 Mar 16 at 2:18pm
| Had one on my 300. Got a Harken on the Phantom. In hindsight I would had swapped them over before selling the 300. It is far superior. Even has a nice click. |
Posted By: tgruitt
Date Posted: 01 Mar 16 at 5:58pm
Quicker cleating it then? ------------- Needs to sail more... |
Posted By: LaLi
Date Posted: 01 Mar 16 at 6:30pm
What do you consider to be the best ratchet for the Laser and why? (Or the D-Zero, etc...)
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Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 01 Mar 16 at 10:51pm
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I had a Harken autoratchet on my 600 which worked really nicely and never had a problem with it.
On my Laser, RS700 and OK I have had switchable ratchet blocks, and on the Grad I just have a plain Harken 40 block (no ratchet). On the Grad I have had absolutely no need for a ratchet but the OK I am really wondering about. In a strong breeze new years day race I found that the bearaway was too slow as I just couldnt let the sheet out quick enough. Its possibly down to having a thicker mainsheet than on previous boats but the class experts such as Jim Hunt use the ratchet to gauge how much to ease in the gusts upwind, as the rig is pretty sensitive. Perhaps I need to consider clicking the ratchet on upwind but dropping it off just before the bearaway? ------------- OK 2129 RS200 411 |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 02 Mar 16 at 1:06pm
It was a Harken if memory serves. It gave a loud 'crack' and then it autoratcheted no more so I took it back and got a refund and put the old Harken manual ratchet on it. I also found it started to ratchet at very low wind speeds so was next to useless. I believe the one on the D-Zero is a Harken manual racthet. Gives very good feel even when it ratchet mode and doesn't chew the mainsheet up. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: laser193713
Date Posted: 02 Mar 16 at 3:40pm
| Returning to the original post surely it is easiest just to order from here.... http://www.ronstan.co.uk/marine5/range.asp?RnID=012 |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 02 Mar 16 at 5:02pm
Except neither of the ratchets on that page are the ones people want.... ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 02 Mar 16 at 10:26pm
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As this thread has dragged on waaaaaaaay too long it's time to step back in. So, I jumped the gun on the Freddy and am now going for the Harken Hexaratchet. Very much looking forward to the massive On/Off switch! As for people saying ratchet blocks make you sail slower...... I think that's a bit of a sweeping statement not taking into account the specific demands each boat may have in order to go at its best. When I start fitting the boat out, I'll be sure to bore you all into depression with photo's of it and any mods made. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 02 Mar 16 at 10:39pm
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If you actually wanted a Harken hexaratchet, why did you start a thread looking for a Freddy? Why not start one looking for the Harken!
More importantly, what's the boat? |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 02 Mar 16 at 11:47pm
It's a longwinded answer but the short version is, I was being a ridiculous impatient child. Just an impatient child. As for what boat, I'll be sailing a beer boatyard streaker. Been away from sailing/racing for a couple years now but the Streaker is the one boat that makes me want to go racing again. Anyway, lets kill this dull thread now. |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 03 Mar 16 at 7:30am
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At least no one mentioned how the quality of the rachet block affects yardsticks... ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 03 Mar 16 at 10:01am
One with a 't' missing will slow you down! |