Wichard 36020W Soft Snatch Block 12mm Rope Size Marine Sailing Block

Wichard

<h3>Over a Century of Precision Forging from Thiers, France</h3><p><strong>Wichard</strong> is one of the most storied names in marine hardware, with roots stretching back to 1919. Founded in Thiers, France by Henri Wichard, the company initially specialized in the manufacture of forged safety parts for industrial markets. In the early 1970s, it took a decisive turn by working with legendary sailors of the era — including Moitessier, Tabarly, and Alain Colas — to develop its first boat fittings. That partnership between world-class seamanship and precision metallurgy defined a brand that has never looked back.</p><h3>Why Forging Makes the Difference</h3><p>Every Wichard product is drop-forged in France, ensuring a grain structure that is significantly stronger and more reliable than traditional cast stainless steel. Wichard's forged 316L and HR (High Resistance) 17.4 PH stainless steel products offer superior working loads and a high &quot;elastic limit&quot; — qualities that matter enormously when hardware is under the dynamic stresses of offshore sailing. This entire range of stainless steel marine hardware products, made in France, offers security, performance, and reliability — and their mechanical strength and resistance to corrosion have forged Wichard&apos;s reputation over several decades.</p><h3>A Complete Range for Every Sailor</h3><p>Wichard offers a wide range of nautical equipment including shackles, links, nuts, carabiners, blockers, pulleys, mooring hooks, tiller extensions, safety tethers, deck attachment points, bollards, stays, rails, knives, and other sailing and hardware accessories. Whether outfitting a coastal cruiser or a performance racing yacht, Wichard's catalog covers virtually every critical connection point on board.</p><p>At the core of the lineup are <a href="/15004-wichard-shackles-200937">Wichard Shackles</a> — one of the widest ranges in the market. Wichard provides a wide range of shackles, including self-locking, captive pin, thimble, key pin, high-resistance (HR), titanium, and soft shackles, designed to meet various marine needs. The self-locking shackle range features Wichard&apos;s patented locking mechanism, which prevents accidental opening under load.</p><p>Equally essential are Wichard&apos;s deck fastening solutions. Their <a href="/200384-eye-bolts-ring-bolts-wichard-15004">Eye Bolts &amp; Ring Bolts</a> are crafted from precision-forged 316L stainless steel, ensuring exceptional strength and corrosion resistance — perfect for a variety of applications, from securing lifelines to attaching towing points. Complementing these are <a href="/15004-wichard-eye-straps-pad-eyes-200385">Eye Straps &amp; Pad Eyes</a>, including the well-known folding padeye models. Wichard folding pad eyes offer a smart solution for fastening stays, blocks, and lifelines, boasting impressive working and breaking loads regardless of the load angle, with a folding design that allows for flush mounting and minimizes injury risk when not in use.</p><p>For crews who demand the highest standards of personal safety, Wichard&apos;s <a href="/200889-safety-parts-accessories-wichard-15004">Safety Parts &amp; Accessories</a> include harness tethers, jacklines, snap hooks, and offshore knives. Wichard snap hooks have multiple uses — sheets and halyards, mooring, safety and security — and are popular for industrial lifting applications as well as regatta and cruising conditions. Rounding out the range, Wichard&apos;s <a href="/200892-sailing-parts-accessories-wichard-15004">Sailing Parts &amp; Accessories</a> encompass everything from tiller extensions and boom brakes to blocks and rigging hardware — the connective tissue of any well-found sailboat.</p><h3>Trusted Worldwide</h3><p>Wichard products are now fitted by all major yards, used by the most demanding sailors, and sold on 5 continents through the company&apos;s global distributor network. Over the decades, Wichard has continuously expanded its portfolio and expertise, acquiring companies such as Facnor (furling systems) and Sparcraft (masts and rigging) to bolster its presence in the marine industry. For anyone who takes the sea seriously, Wichard represents the gold standard in forged marine hardware.</p>