Brand New Harken 153 Triple Block!!!

Last year I upgraded the original Seaway 5:1 mainsheet system to a Harken low profile 6:1 set up. The parts I got were used, but were in great shape and work as they should. The triple block was an older style and had the previous owner's initials on them, so I asked a friend who polishes rocks if he could maybe, perhaps, try to remove the initials so he gave it a shot and kinda got into one side of the block pretty bad but didn't hurt the actual function of the block. The one side looked pretty ugly so I masked off what I needed to and painted it all black.
It worked fine, looked fine, but still I just didn't really like the blocks appearance all that much and really wished I had just left it alone. Well, fast forward to now. I found a newer style, Harken #153 low profile triple block, brand new with the tag still attached on ebay of all places. The item was first listed for $49.99, and nobody bid on it. I was watching it, but actually missed out on bidding at the time. The item was immediately relisted for $48.88 and I bid on it. All last week I watched and waited and nobody else bid on the blocks so, I was the only bidder and won the auction. I was more than ecstatic!!! These blocks cost $160.00 and I got them for 56 bucks and some change with shipping!!!
While I understand that these are not the latest and greatest, like the carbo air blocks but hey, they will be perfect for my boat.The ratchet is the older Harken #152 and now I have the matching #153. I am posting some pics and also part of an ad that I found in a 1980 Hobie Hotline!!! Check out the prices from back then. Feeling very happy with my new purchase and waiting for warmer weather!!! Happy sailing!!!

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

That's a great deal! Thanks for posting the old ad too.
That will last you a long time before you feel the need to upgrade again.. HOPEFULLY right?!
I really like the ease of a single shackle to hook up the mainsheet blocks and the Harkens run smooth.

I too modified my seaway blocks last year but after I had turned my seaways into a triple stack I picked up a free 16 on a trailer with a TON of spare parts free. Guess what Blocks I got in the deal...

My ratchet is different than yours though. Mine has a rod that slides up/down to engage / release the ratchet.

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84 14T Redline #67 Blue Hawaii faded but still working!
82 Yellow hull16 '81 Boomer nationals 20.9 on GPS
83 White hull 16 No sails "Clean and Purty Now!"
87 White hull no sails no tramp

I got the ratchet last year and it has worked great. I think the newer style of ratchet has the rod thing that you mentioned, mine is like the one in the ad. Now I have the new triple blocks that match the ratchet and I am all set. I will probably keep the older triple blocks as spares, they are Harkens also, just an older style with the stainless being round at the end, those are the ones that I painted black. Anyhoo, I'm good to go now and I also kept the old Seaway blocks and ratchet but the Harkens are way smoother and of course, low profile.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

I am assuming that this is still the correct way to reave a 6:1 set up. Please let me know if the method has changed. Thanks.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

All reaved up and ready to go!!!

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

Where the end of the main sheet connects to the lower block, I don't tie the sheet to the eye strap, but instead feed the sheet thru the eye strap (away from the block) and then tie a knot on the end of the main sheet so it can't pull thru the eye strap.

I also do the same thing with the other end of the main sheet, where it connects to the eye strap on the crossbar for the main sheet traveler.

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Tim
84 H16
82 H16
87 H14T
Tortola Sails: 115222
Blue Prism Sails: 88863
Clearwater, FL

Okay good idea, thanks for the tip.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

I have actually taken it all back apart anyway. Lol.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

Can't stop playing with the new toy eh?

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84 14T Redline #67 Blue Hawaii faded but still working!
82 Yellow hull16 '81 Boomer nationals 20.9 on GPS
83 White hull 16 No sails "Clean and Purty Now!"
87 White hull no sails no tramp

Hahaha, right you are!!! I was showing some family members the difference in the sound of the Harken ratchet compared with the old Seaway ratchet. The Harken sounds so much more substantial, like it really means business!!!

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

Spent some time polishing. Removed previous owners initials. Used 220, 400, 800, 2000, and 3000 grit paper and wet sanded. Finished off with a little Barkeeper's Friend for the final polish.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

That will make the boat at least 10 knots faster!

Looking good

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84 14T Redline #67 Blue Hawaii faded but still working!
82 Yellow hull16 '81 Boomer nationals 20.9 on GPS
83 White hull 16 No sails "Clean and Purty Now!"
87 White hull no sails no tramp

Haha, thanks.
I know I have been obsessing over this stuff, thank y'all for putting up with my OCD.
Last pics I promise. I used some UV protectant to bring the black back to life a bit. The product I used is by Meguiar's and is actually for headlights but it works well in this application.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

Well, I just couldn't leave it alone. I decided that the shine on the ratchet just didn't look as good as it could so, I got out a wool buffing wheel, drill and some very very old chrome polish and went at it. As you will see I taped off any non stainless areas. The wool buffing wheel is from the headlight restoration kit by Meguiar's and worked fantastic, was the right size for a small item. The chrome polish was really old but still worked fine as well. It only took a few minutes to get a mirror shine and now the ratchet looks new again.
The last two pics are close ups of what the ratchet looked like before the clean up. It had those initials engraved and some rusty stains. Let me know what y'all think of the results.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

Looks great!
People may say you are obsessing over it but Who cares!

It is yours and you are showing pride in it and if there is nothing wrong with that

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84 14T Redline #67 Blue Hawaii faded but still working!
82 Yellow hull16 '81 Boomer nationals 20.9 on GPS
83 White hull 16 No sails "Clean and Purty Now!"
87 White hull no sails no tramp