Blocks with ball bearings

Deine Fragen / Unsere Antworte

How do I know what rope diameter a block can handle?

Every block specifies a recommended rope diameter – stick to it, even if a thinner rope would technically still fit. A rope that's too thin will cut into the sheave and lose strength; a rope that's too thick will jam and increase friction so much that the advantage of the ball bearing is lost.

Ball bearings or plain bearings – what's better for my boat?

Ball bearings run much smoother under load and are the better choice wherever you move the rope frequently and under tension, for example on the mainsheet. Plain bearings are more robust against dirt and require little maintenance – useful in less stressed areas such as a vang turning point.

My ball bearing block runs stiff after winter – what should I do?

Usually, salt crystals have settled in the bearing gap. Rinse the block with fresh water, let it dry, and then apply a drop of creeping corrosion protection oil directly into the bearing. Afterward, turn the sheave by hand until it runs smoothly again.

Can I directly replace a plain bearing block with a ball bearing block?

Often yes, but first check the mounting dimensions and housing width: ball bearing blocks are sometimes slightly wider than comparable plain bearing blocks due to their design. The breaking load of the new block should also at least match that of the old one.