I was once suspicious of a block that engaged (or disengaged) when I didn’t want it to. That is, until I swapped out the stock mainsheet block on my Laser for Ronstan’s Orbit 55 Ratchet Block.

When a few of the aluminum Ronstan Shocks landed in the palm of my hand, I immediately started to think about ways I could use them, on the boat and at home. If you’ve got a take-up line, a ...