Did you know that you can customize Harken Ratchamatic blocks to better suit your strength and sailing style?

The magic of ratchet blocks is they allow you to hold loads with little effort and ease loaded sheets with good control. On Ratchamatic blocks, it’s all automatic; these load-sensing blocks roll freely in both directions under low loads and automatically engage the ratchet as loads increase. Shifting between ratchet and light-air modes is seamless. Unloaded main and jib sheets run out freely during mark rounding, and asymmetrical spinnakers free instantly during jibes.

What’s really cool is that you can customize the ‘engage point’ on your Harken Ratchamatic blocks; you get to choose if the ratchet engages at a high load, a low load, or somewhere in between. It all depends on how much holding power you desire. As a young Blockhead, you might want to set the block up to engage at a lower load level so instead of focusing on holding your line, you can focus on wind shifts, waves, puffs, lulls, or the fleet around you.

Watch the video to see how easy it is to adjust the engagement point:

Still hungry to learn more? Learn more about ratchet blocks in this article – Ideas that Click.

RECOMMENDED

Boat Tours, Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing

The Optimist: What Gear Goes Where?

Do you need to replace or upgrade a part on your boat? There can be a lot of

Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing

Hey You Blockheads: Free Stuff!

At Last!  4 Free Harken Parts Right Here—Just for Being a Blockhead. (Yep. They really are free. And

Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing

Literally and Figuratively, Riley Gibbs is a Blockhead

He’s a great sailor! If it foils, Riley sails it. Moths. A-Cats. Nacra 17s. SailGP F50s. He’s an

Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing

Naples Sabot: What Gear Goes Where?

Ever wonder how to replace a part on your boat? We’ve got a helpful resource for you! This


What exactly is a Blockhead? If you are totally obsessed with how to rig and sail your boat, you might already be one! Join the community of Blockheads to learn more about the sport, engage with others and share sailing experiences. This site serves as the hub for Blockheads globally, where you can discover how to join, media, tips and tricks, contests, and events. This program is all about YOU and we want to hear from everyone! Not seeing something? Your feedback is crucial, feel free to shoot us a comment or message.