Harken ratchamatic block questions? Sheet release.

Matter of opinion and application there.
I set mine so it is more or less impossible to cleat from the trapeze. You have no feel when it's cleated, and you are not trimming if it is cleated.

Yeah, but on a Hobie 16, you sheet in until block-to-block and pretty much leave it there. The crew works the traveler (advanced technique). This ain't no F-16. It's also really handy to be able to park to the mainsheet to free up a hand - like when the loose main sheet gets blasted off the trampoline.

If the main is sheeted all the way in and cleated. how do you move the traveler? On my 16 if I have the main pulled in, and try and uncleat the traveler, I have to loosen the main to move it. Yes, it will move some, but with a lot of effort........ Plus, as the main moves away from center, it effectively pulls down on the rear of the boom correct...

I wouldn't want the traveler to run that free.

If it moves under load like the Harken bearing ones (H20)... every time you try to sheet, the traveler pulls towards you. Really a PITA on a good reach.

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

I will have to mess with the traveler next time out. I just know it does not move easily in or out while the main is sheeted block to block or even close to block to block.

You have to have the newer (post 1996) style traveler - with the big brass wheels. If you try that on an older traveler, you'll shred the pins. Don't ask me how I know this.

It's not like it runs free or anything - nor are you moving it very much - no more out than the hiking strap - and that would be a lot. Most of the movement is less than 6".

I've was on Jason Hess' (from Guatemala) hip right after a start at the 16 NACs in 2008 and watched his crew work the traveler constantly on every wave and puff - and he just motored away from me. I said to myself, "Damn, I wish I trusted my crew to do that!" Considering my crew at the time is now the Women's NA Champion, I probably should have.

What is this "reach" you speak of, amigo?

my boat is a 98 so I guess I do!!!!! I get what your saying, fine turning with just the traveler...

Went to lake yesterday mainly to get my Jib out of back of my truck and put in the sail box, No wind of course, I did look at my lower block and saw the slide for the ratchet!!!!!!!! I wished I had seen this sooner!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Now if we can just get some wind!

So I have been playing with the Harken 194 block while its been off the boat and found the following.
Looking at the side of the block in its normal working position with the ratchet slider facing you and the clam cleat to left facing down.
Pushing the slider up increases the ratchet locking torque while sliding it down decreases it to the point that the ratchet is disabled.
Also its worthy to note that the ratchet is not binary i.e. on or off but rather it is variable, dependent on the slider position which allows fine grained control of ratchet engagement.

SRG

_________________
Hobie 14 Turbo (~1979)
Hobie 16 Carumba (1983)
Hobie 16 1990 (storm damaged)
Hobie 16 1996 (my latest)

On a 194? If so, I've never knew that. Has always been on or off. I played with on on the shelf here and was not variable as far as I could tell.

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

I remember the same thing with Hess having his crew work the traveller.Funny thing is Gavin Colby is not an advocate of that style.He prefers to just set it and leave it upwind.Recently was at a sailing Training for the Pan Ams and we brought in Pedro Colon and he is very much the same mindset as Colby.Sure seemed to work for Jason Hess.

Interesting. There will be a training session at Nedlands with Gavin Colby in the next few weeks so I might ask about that. My crew struggles with the weight of the main on the traveller in stronger breezes so I generally have to set and forget at the moment.

Oops. It's an 88.