To everybody,

Allow me to row against the current so to say.





After having done a significant amount of experimenting with fittings myself I have personally concluded that Harken fittings are not worth the added cost. Over time I learned that the right selection of components from different suppliers is both cheaper and superior in performance.

The only parts for which Harken is favoured in my opinion are the mainsheet systems and the simple all metal blocks. The latter is incidently also the cheapest mini blocks or all suppliers. I refering to the 3 digit series microblocks. As they have all metal sides these blocks tend to withstand line abrasion extremely well, much better then the modern plastic blocks. This is especially important when the line loads are skewed, like with the spi halyard/retrieval lines. And for some reason Ronstan and the others just don't have a very good mainsheet system.

In the way of ratchet blocks; Ronstan smartratchets (post 2005) and Riley autoratchets are excellent and better then the Harken blocks that tend to hold less and wear out quicker.

In the way of cleats , especially the ones with guide rails, I strongly prefer the Ronstan fittings. They just work better and none of them has ever failed me, the Harken ones have a less then stellar rep sheet in my book.

Also for the larger (plastic) blocks I'm now exclusively using the RWO, SailSure and SailSafe blocks, there are just at the same level as the best out there but halve the cost. Same for plain metal hardware like chainplates and eyestraps etc. Shackles etc are halve Wichard and halve RWO.

Also I've replaced many (micro/mini) blocks by simple inexpensive stainless steel rings (probably Wichard or RWO). These foul up less as they allow slighlty bundled up lines to pass anyway and unless there is alot of load on the line they tend to add only very little friction.

I think Ronstand RF5's (180 swivel cleat) and RF57's (360 swivel cleats with a base) are the best out there. I dislike the harken versions of them alot. The harken versions use alot of (plate) metal and this tends to wear down the lines or go "cling-clong". The Ronstan versions have all plastic housings and the excellent line guides which are simply better then the Harken metal versions.

I found the Harken cam cleats to often fail at the springs, resulting in a "dead" cam.

Additionally I really dislike with a passion the harken recirculating ball traveller systems. They always get stuck with sand and salt. The same for the spinlock cleats. Ronstan has the same "enhanced expression of disapproval" but also the 19 mm I-tracks with stainless steel wheeled traveller cars with stainless steel ball barings. I use this both for my mainsheet traveller and the selftacker rail. I love both to bits and I NEVER EVER use water to clean them out, this is just not necessary as they always work even when they had been totally submerged in sand and salt. They are also the most smooth running traveller systems I have ever encountered. For F16 mainsheet traveller system be sure to use the 6 wheeled traveller car as that one will hold up to any load you can put on it. Interestingly enough the 19 mm I-track system is also the most inexpensive traveller system available. The best and the cheapest !

For cordage I swear by the Marlow high grade 3 and 4 mm dyneema (500 kg and 750 kg breaking load). I used these for everything except the mainsheet and downhaul system. For the latter two (and only the portion that I hold in my hands) I use swiftcord. These dyneema lines are also rather inexpensive compared to D12 and other fashionable lines. I dislike spectra and kevlar lines with a passion as they have always failed on the least opportune moments. Dyneema has always pulled me though. I'm hanging of these 3 mm 500 kg dyneema line as traplines for about 7 years now and no mishap yet. Also these dyneema lines are easily stitched which is a good alternative to splicing the lines.

All these things safe time, effort and money.

I hope this help some people.

Wouter