New main sheet

[PabloPicasso]

the 4:1 main sheet system is nearly had it. So where to source a replacement.

The existing one must be 40 years old with tufnol looking sheaves, and a very grey looking rope.

Where is a good place to get a modern replacement from? It'll probably have to be an online order. Who has good stock and service?

 

[Catalina36]

Garhauer for the blocks. Even allowing for US postal charges and UK VAT they're still very good value compared to much of what we have here. Standard fit on Catalinas.

GarhauerMarine.com - Home page

 

[[70521]]

Any chandler will be able to assist. The major online ones are as good as each other.

 

[Minchsailor]

I did this a couple of years ago. Barton blocks seem to be good and not at silly prices.

 

[roaringgirl]

Do have a think about it before buying and installing. When I replaced my mainsheet, I reconfigured it a little rather than blindly replacing like with like, the end result is much more manageable.

 

[fredrussell]

I'd buy the blocks second hand but a new mainsheet. Blocks last decades in my experience, whereas line doesn't. I am a cheapskate though - I'm determined to make sailing as cheap as humanly possible.

 

[johnalison]

There must be a number of suitable blocks, so I would choose as much by fit as anything. For the cordage, I have found that shiny stuff works better because it slides past itself with less friction, though I know that others prefer a matt coating.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I did the same soon after I bought my boat, with modifications. I used Barton ball bearing blocks with a snap shackle on the deck mounted block with a cam. Very easy to use, especially after I replaced the sheet with slightly larger diamer and much more flexible. Works well and not as expensive as other well known makes.

 

[Fantasie 19]

Not a usual option I suspect, but when I bought mine for the new to me boat 10 years ago I got matched Selden blocks from Amazon, as I already had vouchers from birthday/Christmas to spend...

 

[Stemar]

Whatever make or source, get proper ball or roller bearings in the blocks. Sleeve bearings will make it sheeting in hard work.

 

[Kukri]

My boat came with an apology for a mainsheet so I replaced the lot. In my case Lewmar blocks and a 14mm mainsheet as it’s nicer to handle than 12mm but this only works if you have big sheaves. The bigger the sheaves the better. The two speed systems are nice.

 

[PabloPicasso]

This looks nice, what do you reckon? (Except for the price)

 

[Resolution]

Pretty much exactly the standard system we had on Sigma 33s. Works OK, but critical to get the angle on the exit jammer right, so that you can ease the main quickly when needed. We had so many cases of a gust overpowering the boat because the mainsheet man could not get the sheet out of the jammer.
I eventually replaced ours with two part system ending in one of those lovely rocking spinlock jammers that were always easy to release.

 

[William_H]

I am assuming a relatively small boat with just a 4 to 1 system. The bottom block will probably be a double sheave with a cam cleat built in. This can be side by side sheaves or as in my system one above the other with a smaller sheave above having less motion. Utility Blocks Series 50 & 60 | Ronstan Sailboat Hardware AUS (I think it is pictured upside down) I am not sure of the advantages of one over the other. With the one above the other block the sheaves at the top can be single sheaves spaced along the boom.
One trick is to hang the top sheave or sheaves on a wire strop. In my case about 40cms long. This means that I save 40X4 cms (1.6m ) of rope in the buying.
The other problem I have ongoing is that salt and dirt encrust the sheet so that it will not run out easily. I have to soak it in fresh water occasionally. I think therefor that a heavier rope while nicer to handle would be worse in this regard. Possibly some types of rope are better than others. So I use 10mm polyester.
I would suggest however that you do not condemn the blocks you have, they may be ok with just new rope. ol'will

 

[RJJ]

"One trick is to hang the top sheave or sheaves on a wire strop. In my case about 40cms long. This means that I save 40X4 cms (1.6m ) of rope in the buying."

Good shout. Also less windage ?.

More significant, on the downside, is its a heavy old bit of hardware flying loose when you gybe, which (depending on layout) may or may not be a hazard. And you have added two additional points of failure (assuming the rope itself doesn't fail) into the system at the wire swages. Once you paid for the wire plus swages, is it really a saving?

I would also take the opportunity to think whether and how to use the mainsheet as part of MOB plans.

 

[Catalina36]

This looks nice, what do you reckon? (Except for the price)View attachment 94466

Pleased to see you're looking at Garhauer, whichever system you go for. Excellent quality gear, you won't be disappointed. Years ago I tried to get my local chandler to be a UK agent for them as there wasn't/isn't one but at the time he had cashflow problems so couldn't take it on. He was amazed at the quality and price of some of the kit I'd bought though.