Hi Ratio Blocks - H16

Hi,

Recently had surgery on my wrists & find that the discomfort intolerable in a big blow on standard ratio (6:1) blocks...In other words, hurts like hell after a few minutes !!

Any thoughts on the best 8:1 blocks for the H16 ?? I used a set of Tiger blocks recently and could manage ok with them, but unsure if there are any that are maybe better suited to the H16 (Lower profile etc...)

All thoughts & comments appreciated !!

Cheers

brian

Problem with more ratio is that the line does not feed out easily. This can cause you to have sail control issues... capsize.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks MM...

Yeah, I'm aware of that but the alternative doesn't bear consideration...I ain't quitting sailing Hobies !!

I did find that the Tiger blocks with a thinner mainsheet did realease quickly enough to keep it all hanging in there in a fairly gusty F4-5....Anyway, isn't always the crews fault if we get our hair wet ?? LOL

Seriously, I really don't have any choice about going up in ratio, my wrists are shot and won't get much better, so I'm looking for the "best" alternative hardware, meaning the best running and lowest profile...I suppose I'd best also see what the ramifications are for running alternative blocks/ratios in class are...Any ideas ??

6:1 is max for the class, but who cares if it means you can actually keep sailing / racing. Low profile would have to be maintained of course.

Looks like the Tiger set up would be pretty close.

Quad on top H2631. Triple ratchet with a becket and an added large bullet above the cleat (Like Harken 2619).

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Many thanks Matt - Sort of what I figured, but it's great to have a supporting opinion !!

Yeah I just went from 7:1 to 6:1 because it wouldn't sheet out fast enough for me. When I looked for a 6:1 reeving diagram though I noticed that the Hobie and Harken were slightly different.

Thanks All...

I have a set of 2631/2632 57mm Ratchomatic Carbos on the way, which just leaves the simple question of which string to use and what thickness...

44" is the standard H16 mainsheet length so I was thinking of 65' of 10mm string (I won't be at the boat until the week after next so I have to order blind...) - Any thought on the best mainsheet to use ??

Thanks, as always !!

65 feet?! not sure I'd want much more than 50' on board, even with the 8:1

still tooting the Salsa (New England ropes) horn, three long seasons and still going strong.

_________________
Sheet In...Max Out
www.fleet297.org
sailflatlands at gmail dot com

bzzz line is pretty sweet for mainsheets....

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1981 Hobie 16
1982 Hobie 14 turbo (sold)
1996 SeaDoo GTI
1999 Hunter 340

Before investing big bucks in blocks, have you tried Robline?
(Polyamide and Dyneema SK75.)
See page 28 of this year's catalogue.

Lighter, thinner and stronger, not only does it float, it's easier on the hands.
Best of all, being slightly thinner, it runs through the blocks like #$$%& from a goose.

I upgraded to Robline on my H18SX, sooo much easier all round.
Caleb, want to chime in on this?

Get Dealer advice re the ends, they should be glued, not burnt.

Does it help if you wear a wrist guard?

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

LOL...I reckoned on 25mtrs to be safe and cut it to the correct length when I'm with the boat in Vassiliki on 27th June...A bit over the top, but it would be a b&&&&r if it was too short

What size Robline ?? 10mm ??

And yeah - I wear wrist supports on both side now when I'm sailing, to stop over rotating them...Good new is the op seemes to have been very successful on the left side so will have the right done at the end of the season....

Size Robline?

I'd go for 10 mm for the mainsheet, like it says in the catalogue.
Even that is only 6.4 - 16ths of an inch, or just over 3/8ths.
Ask the dealers or other Forum Contributors......

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

John, you are running 8mm on the main, 6mm on the jib.

I purchased a short chunk of 10mm to use as a seperate traveler control once...it is fairly large - feels & looks exactly the same size as 7/16 Sta-Set. Too large in my opinion to run freely through high ratio blocks.

Brianoc, if you need a large diameter due to poor grip strength in your hands, but need the sheet to run freely....consider having a tapered mainsheet made.

I use 8mm in my Harken 8:1 carbo set up and it is the correct size, in my opinion again.

Sorted - Taking Marlow Excel Fusion out with me - 10mm Outer and 8mm Dyneema Inner cores and easily tapered, supposedly !! All depending on whether the blocks I ordered from the good ole US of A actually arrive !! Ordered on 29th May and still haven't arrived !!

Oh...BTW !!

I struggled to find a reeving diagram for the Harken 2631 / 2632 setup but eventually found a picture here http://www.murrays.com/archive/20-21.pdf that was clear enough to follow !!

I also used this place http://www.ropecellar.com to get the mainsheet - Really helpful and he found a piece of a 10mm Dyneema 12-core already tapered and let me have it for an absolutely fantastic price !!

Hope this helps anyone considering this setup in future

Thanks everyone for your contributions - I'll post a followup and let you know how it pans out next week !!