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 Post subject: Harken Blocks, Slow?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:45 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 6:10 am
Posts: 119
Location: Plum Island, MA
Yesterday sailing in high winds I found my Harkens were slow to let out; any ideas?


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 Post subject: Re: Harken Blocks, Slow?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 3:23 pm 
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Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2010 8:10 am
Posts: 681
Location: Satellite Beach, FL
Do you have the ratchet turned on?

If the blocks aren't running freely, soak them in hot water overnight to loosen up the gunk.

It could be that your line has gotten "fat". Is it really bloated and not running smoothly through the blocks?

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Zach


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 Post subject: Re: Harken Blocks, Slow?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 5:38 am 
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Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 6:10 am
Posts: 119
Location: Plum Island, MA
PurdueZach wrote:
Do you have the ratchet turned on?

If the blocks aren't running freely, soak them in hot water overnight to loosen up the gunk.

It could be that your line has gotten "fat". Is it really bloated and not running smoothly through the blocks?


Great, thanks. Used to sail out of Melbourne, BTW. Yes, the boat is new to me and I forgot about the ratchet switch. I'll look at the block later today. Thanks.


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 Post subject: Re: Harken Blocks, Slow?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:47 am 
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Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:40 am
Posts: 463
Location: Metuchen NJ
a soaked line will slow down through the blocks from swelling, particularly in light air. enough to make me consider replacing it with a smaller diameter line.

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Chris
'88 H18SE Arís


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 Post subject: Re: Harken Blocks, Slow?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 11:03 am 
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Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 6:10 am
Posts: 119
Location: Plum Island, MA
It was a high wind day (20 with gusting to 40 which toppled me because I had the ratcheting on). I forgot about the slide switch since I hadn't ailed one since the early 90s. Thanks for the help.


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 Post subject: Re: Harken Blocks, Slow?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 12:08 pm 
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Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:27 pm
Posts: 576
Location: Central Oregon
Even with ratchet on you should be able to release sheet out pretty quick on big wind days. Id say something else is going on. Way to fat of line or ??

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1980 H16


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 Post subject: Re: Harken Blocks, Slow?
PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 5:16 am 
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Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 6:10 am
Posts: 119
Location: Plum Island, MA
Thanks, I did add new line to the boat which has only been used once prior. I'll consider going to a thinner sheet. It a 70s cat which is being restored. Thanks again.


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 Post subject: Re: Harken Blocks, Slow?
PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 6:40 am 
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Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 4:56 pm
Posts: 72
At a given diameter ; is one brand of cord better than the next ?

Too bad there's not an additive we could put on the line to make
it more slippery, but that would make it hard to hang on to ; unless
they also supplied a special glove as well.

In High winds, i usually drop the Main, and sail with just the jib for
just that reason ; sheeting the jib is WAY faster than sheeting out
the main because it has a lower block ratio. We have bin out in a 35mph +
with our H-20 with just the jib, and it was a BLAST ; never once came
close to flipping her. Needed a LOT of rudder though !!

Bille


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