Issue · 01 / The Listicle

7 Reasons Sailors Are
Switching to Olli™ Block

The world's first snatch block engineered to never fail at sea.

Olli Block — hero product shot

1.

It's machined from a single block of aluminum — no side plates, no failure points.

Traditional snatch blocks are assembled from multiple parts. Under load, side plates crack, splinter, and turn into projectiles. Olli Block is CNC-machined from a solid 6082 aluminum billet. No assembly. No weak points. Nothing to break apart.

→ See it in action

CNC block — solid billet closeup

2.

You can rig it in 10 seconds — even with the line under tension.

Forget releasing pressure and starting over. The two shells open with a simple rotational movement the moment you unclip the Dyneema® soft shackle. Snap it onto a loaded line, keep your trim, and get back to sailing.

→ See it in action

Rigging action — hands on deck

3.

The opening mechanism carries zero load during use.

This isn't a workaround — it's an engineering decision. The release system is completely unloaded during operation, at any declared working load. It exists purely to open the block. Nothing more is asked of it.

→ See it in action

Exploded diagram — load path

4.

It protects your boat every time it makes contact.

That perimeter edge isn't cosmetic. The Scratch-Resistant Reinforced Polymer rim absorbs every knock against your deck, cabin top, or shroud. No scratches. No impact noise. No damage — to the block or to your boat.

→ See it in action

Polymer rim detail — deck contact

5.

The sheave is made from aerospace-grade materials.

The contact surfaces are Solef® PVDF and Delrin® 100ST — self-lubricating, corrosion-proof, used in aerospace and high-performance marine engineering. They don't need grease. They don't rust. They perform identically on day one and day one thousand.

→ See it in action

Sheave macro — material callouts

6.

It does the job of multiple pieces of hardware.

The central hole doubles as a low-friction ring, a spliced loop attachment point, or the foundation of a 4:1 purchase system — no extra hardware needed. One object. Endless configurations.

→ See it in action

3-up configuration diagram

7.

It comes with a 4-year warranty and a Dyneema® soft shackle already in the box.

Built by Italian aerospace engineers who designed Olli Block after a near-accident caused by a degraded block in strong wind. They didn't look for a better option on the market. They built one from scratch — and they stand behind it completely.

→ See it in action

Packaging — block + shackle
As seen in YACHTING WORLD SAIL SEAHORSE BOATS.COM GIORNALE DELLA VELA
Olli Block on deck, sea light

30-day trial · free worldwide shipping > €349

Try it for 30 days. If it's not what you expected, you get a full refund.

Free worldwide shipping on orders over €349. A Dyneema® soft shackle is already in the box.

→ Shop Olli™ Block