While my boat has been on the hard, my halyard turning blocks were "liberated" by a thief. I will need to replace them before launch. My '85 C36TR has the pinned mast collar setup.
I am currently looking at these two options from Catalina Direct:
Has anyone recently replaced theirs? I’ve reviewed the two forum discussions below, but I’m looking for updated advice/feedback on whether to stick with these CD parts (one is up-sized from OEM) or if there's a better third-party alternative that fits the pinned collar better. If I call Garhauer directly, will they know which CD parts I'm asking about, since their site's version of the "30-13" Lou mentioned in his post differs from the CD part with the "upside down standard shackle?"
Forum references already reviewed:
Any insights on fitment or performance would be greatly appreciated.
J. W. Bell
S/V Adagio
1985 MkI TR #462 M25
MKE, WI
My inclination would be to go with the smaller blocks. I think they are similar to our factory supplied blocks on our 2005 C36 and have never posed an issue. Our mast collar is "busy" with blocks and it would be busier with larger ones. I like the set screw feature on the CD blocks to keep them oriented. We currently don't have that.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
Paul, thanks for the reply and input. Which, in turn, aided my other conversations.
For anyone else who may ask in the future:
I did chat to both CD and Garhauer about them, and they said both will work. The F8107 (Mast Block 40-LS-us) is the closest to the OEM replacement, with the bonuses of a slight 1/8" increase in size (2 1/2") and ball bearings. The T2087 (Mast Block 60-LS-US) increases this to 3 1/4", which would be considered an upgrade and have better purchase and roll, just a bit better with UHMWPE/HMPW halyard lines. The mast on our MkI is using only four of the possible six pin locations. We are not space-constrained and opted for the upgraded part based on CD and GH feedback. Our deck organizers appear to have been swapped out by PO to a larger size as well. I will report back if I have any issues with this new arrangement.
FWIW, during this past holiday, several parts, including these, unfortunately not travelers, were selling on the GH site at a discount to CD.
J. W. Bell
S/V Adagio
1985 MkI TR #462 M25
MKE, WI
One note on this, in hindsight, since I didn't mention it in the previous posts, is that the collar posts&pins for our shackles appear to have been replaced at some point and were upsized from 1/4" to 5/16", which gave us other options. Garhauer will, if asked, modify/customize the shackle on the blocks (the price change is minimal), allowing you to upsize from the 30s to the 40s or larger if you want the larger-radius block.
I would likely have been happy with either configuration of the 30s or 40s, though I recently sailed on another boat with much newer and smaller OEM-sized (non-Garhauer) blocks and other newer 'performance' deck mods, and their lines were harder to use. That owner sailed on ours with the 41-year-old OEM layout and slightly larger, better-performing blocks, and is now looking to update their blocks (& seriously considering Garhauer over a local brand) in a similar way. This performance/use improvement for us has prompted conversations (upgradeitis) about where else to remove friction and make the systems easier to use for us as we get older.
J. W. Bell
S/V Adagio
1985 MkI TR #462 M25
MKE, WI