Talk:Block (sailing)

Request for expansion

I've added some more text to this page, but I feel it really needs some illustrations. These could be photographs or drawings. I'd like them to show:

A traditional wooden block, with rope grommet
A typical modern sailing yacht block with high-tech features
A typical non-nautical all-metal or other 'agricultural' block

In addition, there is scope to illustrate

Single sheave
Multi-sheave side-by-side and 'fiddle' blocks

There is another important set of illustrations needed, showing all the common tackles that these are used in - single purchase, double purchase etc, with the working end at this end and that and all related to the mechanical advantage. I think this second lot should not be here, but on the tackle page.

I'm putting this here as a reminder as well as a request: if I get around to it, I may be able to take photos to illustrate some of these. If anyone wants to beat me to it, or can draw them, please do! :-) --Nigelj 20:31, 5 Mar 2005 (UTC)

There is a very comprehensive set of tackle illustrations on a site linked from one of the rigging pages here (can't remember exactly where, unfortunately). It's from a 19th century seamanship manual, so copyright isn't a problem. I can probably find a decent photo with a block in from my recent Tall Ships' Race voyage. PeteVerdon 23:47, 29 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Generalize

We've got "Block (sailing)", but Blocks are used for other purposes. For example, Arborists use Blocks; they sometimes call them Rigging Blocks. I think this page should be made more general. Totoro33 (talk) 20:42, 22 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I see nothing to argue with. The steps are to announce your intent to broaden it, to consider a more general title, and to build consensus. You have, pretty much, done the first step. I support the broadening of the article. Fiddle Faddle 20:48, 22 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

US arborists might use "blocks", but in the UK tree surgeons use "pulleys", bought in climbing shops. A "block" is seen as something for fixed rigging, where the rope enters it neatly from a fixed direction. Climbing pulleys (and US arborist blocks) are different from this, they have wider flanges on the sheave and they have big wide side cheeks. If you use a "block" in a moving tree, you'll get stuck when the rope comes off. I hate people talking about blocks when they mean pulleys (or buying them in sailing shops), they're not the same thing and getting it wrong can cause accidents. Andy Dingley (talk) 21:28, 22 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

@Andy Dingley: That is, surely, an argument for a well written and more general article, Andy? Fiddle Faddle 21:37, 22 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]