Gear: Born to Rock Design Snatch Blocks
Super-light Snatch Block
Never mind the novel way in which this bit of gear is manufactured: from a purely functional standpoint Born To Rock’s 3D printed snatch block is also nicely configured so that it fits easily in your hand when clipping it on to, say, a genoa sheet while bearing off onto a reach. It’s also so light as to be buoyant, not a bad feature if it should happen to go over the side at the dock or in a drifter.
The key to the block’s strength is the soft lashing that not only serves as an attachment point, but helps bind the block together under load, thanks to the way it wends its way through a number of channels in the block's cheeks. Easy to open and close, it's also corrosion-free, ensuring smooth operation even after years of abuse or sitting at the bottom of a damp locker. As an added plus, the fact that the block is 3D printed in structural plastic means it can be fabricated in a wide range of sizes. From $95. Born to Rock Design, borntorock.com
