Power Kite Forum

Snatch block

zloty - 26-2-2008 at 12:26 AM

Holt is very good for cruise but if You willing to spend $100 Winchard is way to go it will give You that peace of mind that it will not fail You in 30mph wind or 10ft in the air ;)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/slawek2006/1676149176/

Scudley - 26-2-2008 at 11:35 AM

That is a really nice piece of sailing gear. For kiting applications, I see it suffering from:

Does anyone make a commercially available quick release strop for handles. (Airush makes a quick release for two line bars, but the end would get snagged going through the blocl. I am working on one that uses a pinned type of larS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s head. Pulling the pin releases a free clean end of rope to run through the block. The snatch block stays with you attached to your harness. I unveiled it at GP, our local field, some looked at it with skepticism, others said "not bad", and others "Maybe after I"ve seen you use it for while. It really needs to be tested for unfailing release using a 500 lb. load. One good thing about the design, the parts are simple: a smooth aluminum pin with a lanyard attached; a length of rope; a few other common household items. It works well with Flexifoil handles. To put on Ozone handles you will need to remove Ozone's strop. If anyone is interested I will provide details when I am reasonably sure it will release without fail.

S

beachrights - 26-2-2008 at 04:09 PM

Interestingly enough I was at West marine today looking at the exact quick release that Zloty showed. The price was scary! In fact all the hardware is pricy! I passed for the same reason Scudley mentioned, I was worried about the line completely releasing. It looked like the shape could cause the line to stay connected.
I asked if they had a 2 piece quick release and they did but used the same snap hook as above. The wind was null today so I spent some time adapting my Flexifoil quick release from my bar to use on handles. I would like to use a pulley but as Scudley mentioned: it will be released if the pin is pulled.

What we all need is a 2 part quick release that can be used with a pulley that allows a user to hook and unhook without having to pull the pin. I like to use a harness for skudding but want to be able to jump unhooked.

Any homemade setups out there? Please let me know!

dave brown - 26-2-2008 at 06:20 PM

What about the Slingshot Shurefire spreader bar?
I was thinking about getting some type of shackle but
will the shurefire bar work?

krumly - 26-2-2008 at 11:15 PM

Beachrights -

I don't quite get it. You want to be able to hook or unhook your strop from the pulley without releasing the shackle. Either Zloty's Wichard or the Holt Allen snatch block pictured in an adjacent thread allow you to open the cheek plate to clear the line while still shackled in. You have to have the strop unloaded, of course, to do it.

Zloty is an awesome buggier, and obviously thinks the Wichard block is more bullet proof than the Holt Allen, while I think the shackle should never have a body attached to it. If his block came with a 2673 Wichard shackle, I might bite. But I don't buggy jump, either (I just get yanked out!)

If you want quick in-out with minimal line wear, maybe you want a spreader bar with roller instead of a hook. Peter Lynn made one, and I think Dakine still does. Look around and you'll find one. Regarding the Surefire spreader bar, check with Kent at A Wind of Change. He's used them and may still stock them.

krumly

torisspacedog - 27-2-2008 at 12:16 AM

I wear a climbing harness , attached to that is a carbiner with a wichard quickrelease. I either hook my chickenloop into the wichard or if I'm using handles I have a small pulley attached to strop and saftey attached to brake lines. It's always worked when needed for me.

zloty - 27-2-2008 at 12:33 AM

Ok so to clear all questions maybe I'm a little crazy but in the same time I wouldn't put my ass on a line and that is why I use this set up. Before I start jumping with this I did some research and testing. I did loaded this with 460lb and released it with not any problems ,however I should say I use it with mystic harness as hooks on mystic are narrow and quick release fit there perfect allowing me to swing all block from left to right without accidental locking like on other hooks. Later on I did test it wiping out and it work perfect. I should mention here that if You don't feel comfy with riding hooked in You shouldn't use it in the buggy unless You will spend few hours flying static with this setup. I use a snatch block as it is very easy to hook in and out when Your kite is landed or if You switch kites often in same session. Big plus of this set up is that it last me for long time. I have probably 8 broken holts in my bag and they last me only for a month each as they suck in contact with sand (ball bearings). My setup don't have bearings and it last me for roughly a 200 hours of abuse .so I have to replace it every year with my lines. When You release whole block get disconnected/detached from Your harness with strop and handless. Unlike holt It will stay on the strop when Your handless hit the ground (I did lost 2 holts that way) . As some of You wonder You will most likely release it on very small load anyway as You going for a ride after ejection.When You release all You have to remember to clear trajectory of the block so You don't get hit in face.After 3rd wipe out You should have it down.
As for a price You get what You pay for. 8 cheap blocks x $25 = $200( that would least me for a Year) and I could have 2 solid Years of riding with my peace of mind not to say how much time and gas I've spent as well.
Just my 2 cents.
Anyway I have my garage covered with broken parts and after 2 years of breaking stuff and I would like to share with You guys what works best for me. You might find that other setups suit You better.
I don't think I would be riding so well now if I would fly without block ,so all of You at least try it.You'll see that this is what You where missing all this time and You will never want to look back after that step.
All best
-Slawek

beachrights - 27-2-2008 at 03:38 AM

Sometimes the obvious is difficult to see. I forgot that dakine made the roller spreader! I was so fixed on trying to make a setup without that I had tunnel vision. Thanks for info Torris.

OreBeamer - 23-8-2008 at 10:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by zloty
http://www.flickr.com/photos/slawek2006/1676149176/

Which model is in the Pic?

How does this snatch block look?
http://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=RF6831
Any problems with the shackle wearing on the spreader bar hook or vice versa that anyone has experienced using this type of setup?

SCREWYFITS - 24-8-2008 at 12:20 PM

Hey OreBeamer,

This is the one Z uses http://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=RF6710

But that one you show has a shorter distance from the pully to the snap hook which is desired, I'd say that the 6730 would be the way to go in the series that you where looking at...
http://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=RF6730

There is a guy on eGay that sell them for $75 +/- plus he has "make offer" but I'm unsure how low he'll accept... if you find out please let us know... the item # is 140217010806 for ease of finding...:saint:

clintopher - 24-8-2008 at 01:10 PM

If you didn't want a snap shackle you could fix the block to a chicken loop such as this. Wouldn't have to worry about it not letting go under load. I've never flown handles with a strop though so I'm not sure if this setup would put your hands to far away or not.

OreBeamer - 6-10-2008 at 08:40 PM

Finally picked up a snatch block scored a good deal on a Ronstan RF6711(http://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=RF6711). It fits perfect on my Mystic spreaderbar.


I got to try out the Ronstan RF6710 at SOBB(Thanks Slav!) and it was like butta.. :frog:

snatch block.jpg - 157kB

NPWfever - 6-10-2008 at 09:26 PM

I have a D-loop on my handles, and it has a QR on it. It's perfect for my arm length, and I can hook in and out of my spreader bar hook, and pull the QR if I need to. And it's rigid, not like a strop, thats all floppy and hard to hook back in.

clintopher - 7-10-2008 at 02:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by NPWfever
I have a D-loop on my handles, and it has a QR on it. It's perfect for my arm length, and I can hook in and out of my spreader bar hook, and pull the QR if I need to. And it's rigid, not like a strop, thats all floppy and hard to hook back in.


Gotta pic?

NPWfever - 7-10-2008 at 05:32 AM

I'll post one when I get home from school, if I remember.