Blocks:
Don’t buy or use cheap blocks; they are the worst investment you can make, as they will be an endless source of trouble. Don’t use blocks with sharp edges to the shell, as they will soon fray and strand your gear. It is a common practice of riggers to put on a block the swallow of which will just carry a certain sized rope; consequently, when the cordage gets wet and swells, it sticks, and the sail won’t come down. This generally happens in bad weather, when you want things to run smoothly. Always have the swallow bigger than the rope, by at least one size. For instance, if using a 12-thread rope, have the block made to carry a 15-thread.