Soft Attach Snatch Blocks

The versatile soft-attachment snatch blocks from Ronstan come in three sizes.

Ideal for keelboats, they feature fully machined aluminium cheeks and sheaves incorporating a full contact, self-lubricating composite bearing running on a polished duplex stainless steel hub, the new blocks are built to last and suit a multitude of demanding applications where high static and dynamic loads are encountered. Many different iterations of the soft attachments were tested before finalising the specifications of the Dyneema® SK99 cord shackle. Proprietary Nodus Factory splicing techniques and fibre surface coating ensure secure load transfer from the block and maximum durability.

Attach, detach and open. The soft attachment passing through the hub provides a simple means of attachment and a protective buffer between the block and boat surfaces. It is secured with a titanium “dog bone” that allows it to be easily opened when you need to detach the block. Soft elastomer retaining guides ensure that the block remains aligned within the soft shackle.

With the shackle open, a gentle rotation of the cheeks opens the head of the block so it can be fitted to a standing line. To close the block, rotate back to the closed position. A spring-loaded ball secures the assembly, with no additional external straps or bands required.