In this article we take a closer look at some of the most interesting developments in pulley blocks for sailing in 2024. Manufacturers continue to refine designs through improved materials, new attachment methods and incremental engineering updates that increase reliability, reduce weight and optimise performance.
From soft-attach blocks to lightweight snatch blocks and titanium sheave systems, the pulley block market continues to evolve to meet the demands of high-performance dinghies, sport boats and larger offshore yachts.
Harken Fly Pulley Blocks
Harken continues to expand its range of soft attachment pulley blocks with the latest Fly Block series, currently available with 18 mm, 29 mm and 40 mm sheave diameters.
These pulley blocks are engineered to deliver high strength-to-weight ratios while maintaining a compact and low-aerodynamic profile.
The 29 mm and 40 mm models feature:
- Titanium sheaves
- Stainless steel ball bearings
- Composite fibre-reinforced side plates
This construction provides efficient load handling while keeping overall weight low.
Typical applications for these pulley blocks include:
- Foiling dinghies
- Sports boats
- Vang cascade systems
- Backstay purchase systems on larger yachts
Harken Fly Blocks
Morfblocks with Beckets
Following the initial success of their ultra-lightweight Morfblock range, Morfrac Systems is expanding the concept by introducing becket versions of their pulley blocks.
Rather than incorporating a conventional fixed becket, the design uses an additional Dyneema® strop attached to the same mounting point as the block. This approach:
- Eliminates unnecessary hardware components
- Avoids introducing additional weak points
- Maintains the simple structural concept of the Morfblock system
The result is a very strong yet lightweight becket solution that integrates neatly with the original block design.
Mofblock Light Range
Karver KRO Open Rings
Karver has introduced an interesting development with the KRO Open Ring system.
These rings extend the concept of traditional low-friction rings by incorporating a side opening, allowing them to be installed on an already loaded line.
In practice, this makes them function in a similar way to a snatch block, but without any moving parts. Originally designed as a fairlead for continuous furling systems, they are:
- Lightweight
- Mechanically simple
- Highly reliable
Their simplicity means they can be used in a wide range of control line or fairlead applications on modern sailing yachts.
Karver KRO Open Rings
Allen Brothers Ti3 Tie-On Pulley Blocks
Allen Brothers, based on the east coast of the UK, has a long history of producing specialist dinghy hardware. Their production process covers everything from design and prototyping to machining, moulding and assembly, allowing them to refine their hardware continuously.
Their popular 20 mm tie-on pulley block has recently been updated to the A2020Ti3 model.
The new design was originally developed for the high-performance paragliding market, where blocks are frequently attached using thin webbing straps. This led to the development of a more optimised block geometry.
Testing showed that this shape also improves usability with other soft attachments such as:
- Dyneema loops
- Lashings
- Webbing straps
Three versions of the pulley block are available:
- Plain bearing
- Standard dynamic ball bearing
- High-load version with stainless steel sheave
The development represents a clear evolution of the original Allen dynamic block design in the image below:
Allen Brothers Dynamic Blocks
Lewmar HTX Pulley Block
Lewmar has a long-standing reputation for producing reliable sailing hardware, and their pulley blocks are widely used by OEM boat builders.
Lewmar HTX pulley block range represents an evolution of the earlier racing series. The design focuses on robust construction using high-quality materials, particularly for systems that are frequently adjusted and subjected to high loads.
Key construction features include:
- Aluminium side cheeks
- Central plain bearing
- Side thrust Delrin® ball bearings
- Swivel head with grub screw locking system
Although Lewmar pulley blocks are not positioned at the lowest price point in the market, their consistent manufacturing quality and reliability make them a common choice for production yacht installations.
Ronstan Soft Attach Snatch Pulley Blocks
Ronstan has also expanded its soft attachment pulley block range, introducing soft attach snatch blocks available with 42 mm, 60 mm and 75 mm sheave diameters.
These pulley blocks use:
- A Dyneema® soft loop attachment
- A titanium dogbone (available as a replacement component)
The soft attachment system allows the snatch block to be installed or removed quickly, even after being exposed to significant load.
Typical uses include temporary sheet leads, where the soft attachment reduces:
- Deck wear
- Noise
- Potential surface damage
Ronstan Soft Attach Blocks
Antal Snatch Looper Pulley Block
Antal offers a comparable solution with its Snatch Looper pulley block, designed specifically for 2:1 mainsail halyard systems.
This block uses a relatively small sheave diameter compared to its working load, providing a compact solution for high-load applications.
The Snatch Looper is available with 46 mm and 54 mm sheaves.
Antal Snatch Looper Block
Antal OPF (One Piece Frame) Pulley Blocks
Antal’s main pulley block range is the OPF Series (One Piece Frame).
The design philosophy behind the OPF blocks focuses on removing traditional structural weak points such as rivets, screws and bolts.
Instead, the blocks are manufactured using one-piece CNC-machined aluminium frames, which are:
- Hard anodised
- Teflon coated
This creates a rigid and durable block structure.
Antal OPF pulley block range includes:
- Single blocks
- Double blocks
- Triple blocks
- Fiddle blocks with becket
- Versions with integrated cam cleats
This modular approach allows the system to cover a wide variety of sailing applications.
Ubi Maior X3M Snatch Pulley Blocks
In the high-performance segment, Ubi Maior offers the X3M soft attach snatch pulley block.
This series is available with sheave diameters from 32 mm up to 120 mm and Safe Working Loads (SWL) ranging from 1500 kg to 15000 kg.
Ubi Maior X3M snatch pulley block range is designed for demanding sailing applications where very high loads must be handled with minimal weight and friction.
Ubi Maior X3M Pulley Block
Just for interest, below is a comparison between the x3 snatch blocks featured above:
| Antal | Ronstan | Ubi Maior | |||
| Snatch Looper | Soft attach Blocks | X3M Snatch Block | |||
| Sheave (mm) | 46 | 9,5% | 42 | 9,5% | 46 |
| SWL (kg) | 2200 | 10,0% | 2000 | 50,0% | 3000 |
| Weight (g) | 230 | 39,4% | 165 | -6,1% | 155 |
| Price | 0,9 | -10,0% | 1 | 25,0% | 1,25 |
Assuming the Ronstan block as a benchmark, several observations can be made:
- Antal and Ubi Maior use slightly larger sheaves, which contributes to higher working loads.
- The Antal block delivers a 10% increase in working load while reducing price by around 10%, although this comes with a 39.4% weight increase.
- The Ubi Maior X3M offers roughly 50% higher working load and a small weight saving, but this is reflected in a higher price level.
- The Ronstan block remains a very compact and lightweight solution for the specified load range.
Pulley Blocks in Sailing: Key Trends
Across the sailing hardware industry, several clear trends are emerging in pulley block design.
The most noticeable development is the growing use of soft attachment systems, particularly using Dyneema loops or lashings instead of traditional shackles.
At the same time, manufacturers are continuing to refine their core pulley block ranges through:
- Improved material selection
- Advanced CNC machining techniques
- Incremental bearing system improvements
- More optimised block geometry
While many of these developments are relatively small individually, together they deliver measurable improvements in reliability, durability and performance year after year.
If you have any questions about pulley blocks or sailing hardware systems, feel free to contact us at [email protected]
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Best sailing pulley blocks in 2024