Hey rob,

I'm using a 75mm ratchet, but the lead gives the sheet only a very modest deflection of the sheet back up to the winches... The only ratchets I use that have close to or slightly more than a 90 degree turn are for my furling lines back at the cockpit - which see relatively light loads - and the spinnaker halyard at the base of the mast... And all those lines have rope clutches before the blocks, so the loads are only temporary, and never sustained or greater than what I can pull with my own two hands... I know I'm getting weak, if I ever have to put my furling lines on a winch, something's wrong then... (grin)

I try to use hi-load Harken blocks for everything else that doubles back, such as the blocks that get clipped to the toerail for a boom preventer, asymetrical downhaul, or a pole foreguy...

Good luck with that storm this week, buddy - hope it makes a big curve back out to the NE for you guys...

best regards,

Jon