Yes! I have three of these blocks on my boat: two for the halyards and one for the mainsheet
in the factory jam cleat position. I like the tension I get on the boom with the mainsheet block
position in the factory spot, and when I'm at anchor I just unreave the sheet from that
block and tie it over to the rail, totally out of the way.
My last trip was the first one with the new halyard controls, and I loved it. With the
sail slugs, I never leave the cockpit raising or dousing.
Derek Jensen
p-15 #694 "El Nino"
Portland, OR
TillyLucy@aol.com wrote:
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> The part in question is the Ronstan RF5 "Pivoting Base Block with C-Cleat".
> It's West Marine part # 545046 and costs $31.99. I actually use it for the
> jib halyard, but it would work just as well for the main halyard. The
> advantage to this arrangment, in my opinion, is that it allows you to control
> the halyard from the cockpit without any penalty in setup time as a result of
> having to feed lines through turning blocks, rope clutches, etc.. The turning
> block and cleat are mounted on the mast and stay rigged, whether the mast is
> up or down. Francesca and I have been making good use of this arrangment,
> sailing up to the dock at Redwood City (a downwind approach) under jib only
> and dropping the jib, while seated in the cockpit, about a boatlength off the
> dock and gliding to a stop. I don't know if anyone else noticed our
> accomplishment, but I was impressed.
>
> Dave Kautz
> P-15 #1632 Tilly Lucy
> Palo Alto, CA
>
> In a message dated 9/30/99 7:05:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time, hlg@pacbell.net
> writes:
>
> >
> > Incidentally, Dave Kautz is using the same Ronstan part as a main halyard
> > turning block and cleat. It is mounted on his mast and can be cleated and
> > uncleated from the cockpit.
> >
> > Harry Gordon
> > P14 #234, Manatee
> > Mountain View, CA