An Antal snatch block has one cheek that swings open on the sheave axle, so you can clip it onto a line already under load instead of re-reeving the end — ideal for barber haulers, preventers, and quick sheet-lead changes underway. MAURIPRO carries the full Antal range, from the 46 mm Snatch Looper (2,200 kg SWL) to the 150 mm Maxi Snatch Block (6,500 kg SWL), fitting lines from 14 mm to 28 mm.
If you've ever had to un-reeve a genoa sheet mid-maneuver just to add a barber hauler, a snatch block solves exactly that problem. Its opening cheek lets you clip the block straight onto a line that's already rigged and loaded — no re-threading, no stopping the boat.
On a mid-size cruiser in the 30–45 ft range, that flexibility matters most for temporary or shifting leads: a barber hauler, a preventer run to the rail, or a mooring line eased through a snatch block to take load off a winch. This guide covers what an Antal snatch block does differently from a fixed block, when you need one, and how to size the right model to your line and load.
Antal snatch blocks at a glance
| Model | Sheave Ø | Max line Ø | Safe working load | Shop at MAURIPRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antal 46mm Snatch Looper (no Snap Loop) | 46 mm | 14 mm | 2,200 kg (4,851 lb) | Shop ANTLL046 — $280 |
| Antal 46mm Snatch Looper (Snap Loop) | 46 mm | 14 mm | 2,200 kg (4,851 lb) | Shop ANTLS046 — $360 |
| Antal 54mm Snatch Looper (no Snap Loop) | 54 mm | 16 mm | 3,500 kg (7,718 lb) | Shop ANTLL054 — $430 |
| Antal Snatch Block 90 mm | 90 mm | 16 mm | 2,500 kg (5,513 lb) | Shop ANT908095 — $530 |
| Antal Snatch Block 120 mm | 120 mm | 20 mm | 4,500 kg (9,921 lb) | Shop ANT908125 — $1,130 |
| Antal Maxi Snatch Block 150mm (Screwed Pad Eye) | 150 mm | 28 mm | 6,500 kg (14,333 lb) | Shop ANT928155 — $2,490 |
For barber haulers and control lines under about 3,000 kg, the 46/54 mm Snatch Looper covers most mid-size cruisers. Step up to the 90–120 mm Snatch Block for genoa sheet leads and preventers, and reserve the 150 mm Maxi for mooring or kedging.
What is a snatch block, and what makes Antal's design different?
A snatch block is a block built to be attached to a line that's already rigged, rather than one you thread the line's bitter end through before use. On a standard block, the sheave sits inside two fixed cheek plates; on a snatch block, one cheek plate is hinged and swings open on the sheave axle, so you can lay the line into the open sheave and close the cheek around it.
Antal's own product documentation describes the same opening principle across its snatch block line: the cheek plate revolves around the sheave axle to open the block, and a safety ball or pin locks it closed once the line is in place, so the block can't spring open under load. Every model in the range uses Delrin ball side bearings and a composite-fibre radial bearing on the sheave itself, per MAURIPRO's own spec sheet for the 46 mm and 54 mm Snatch Loopers.
When do you actually need a snatch block on a sailboat?
None of these are permanent installations — that's the point of a snatch block:
- Barber haulers and temporary sheet leads — clipped on for one point of sail, removed after.
- Preventers rigged for a downwind passage.
- Redirecting an anchor rode or mooring line off the deck edge, away from a chafe point.
- Adding a turning point to reduce load on a winch during mooring or kedging.
- Quick reeving where you don't want to un-thread a loaded halyard or sheet just to add a lead.
A snatch block goes in and out of service — it's the tool for a lead you didn't build in permanently, not hardware you leave loaded indefinitely.
Snatch Looper vs. traditional Antal snatch block: which design fits your setup?
Antal sells two distinct snatch-block designs, and the difference is in how the block opens. The Snatch Looper series (46/54 mm) uses a small pivoting gate — loop the line through and snap it shut — hanging from a becket eye rather than a fixed pad-eye base. It's the lighter option: MAURIPRO's listing puts the 46 mm Snatch Looper at 170 g without the snap-loop fitting and 230 g with it, both rated to 2,200 kg safe working load.
The 90–150 mm Snatch Block series is the traditional design — a two-cheek hinged pulley on a pad eye, either bolted through the deck (Maxi) or fastened with four screws. These carry more load: the 120 mm model is rated to 4,500 kg on 20 mm line, and the 150 mm Maxi tops out at 6,500 kg on 28 mm line. Choose the Looper for control lines you clip on and off often; choose the pad-eye series for genoa sheets, preventers, and any fixed, load-bearing mounting point.
How do I size an Antal snatch block to my line and load?
Start with your line's actual diameter, not the block's maximum rating. Antal's own spec sheet lists a maximum line diameter for every model — 14 mm for the 46 mm Looper, 16 mm for the 54 mm Looper and the 90 mm Snatch Block, 20 mm for the 120 mm Snatch Block, and 28 mm for the 150 mm Maxi. A line at the very top of a block's rated range runs stiffer through the sheave than one sized closer to the middle.
Then check safe working load against what the line will actually see, not its breaking strength. A barber hauler or preventer rarely approaches a genoa sheet's peak load, so the 46/54 mm Looper (2,200–3,500 kg SWL) is plenty for most control-line duty on a 30–45 ft cruiser. Reserve the 90–150 mm pad-eye series for loads closer to your primary sheet or halyard — mooring lines, kedging rode, or a genoa sheet lead you're temporarily redirecting.
How do I install and rig an Antal snatch block safely?
For the pad-eye Snatch Block series, match the mounting base to your deck hardware: the 120 mm model is available on a 99 mm four-screw pad eye (ANT918125) or, at 150 mm, on a 120 mm screwed pad eye (ANT928155) sized for through-bolting into a backed deck point. Use a backing plate under any load-bearing pad eye — Antal's safe working load figures assume the mounting point itself doesn't fail first.
Before loading the block, confirm the cheek plate is fully closed and the safety ball or pin has engaged — the lock is what prevents accidental opening, not the closed cheek alone. On the Snatch Looper series, snap the gate shut around the line and give it a firm tug to confirm it's seated before you put load on it, and check it again mid-passage on high-cycle jobs like a barber hauler you're adjusting on every tack.
Which should I choose?
For barber haulers, preventers, and control lines on a 30–45 ft cruiser, the 46 mm or 54 mm Antal Snatch Looper covers the job at a fraction of the weight and cost of the pad-eye series. Step up to the 90 mm or 120 mm Snatch Block when you need a fixed, load-bearing mounting point for a genoa sheet lead or mooring duty, and reserve the 150 mm Maxi for the highest loads — heavy mooring lines, kedging rode, or load redistribution during a tow.
Expert notes from the rigging bench
We keep a 54 mm Snatch Looper in the cockpit locker on most 35–45 ft boats we rig — it earns its keep doing something different every trip, from a barber hauler to a spare turning point re-leading a preventer mid-passage.
On boats using a snatch block for mooring or kedging, we check the pad-eye's backing plate at the same time we inspect the block — a strong block on an under-backed pad eye is still a weak link.
We've seen more Snatch Loopers left unclipped mid-tack than actually fail — the gate needs a firm, deliberate snap to seat, and a half-closed gate looks closed until it's loaded.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Loading the block before confirming the lock is engaged. The opening cheek or gate is also the weak point if it isn't fully closed and locked first.
- Sizing to the block's maximum line diameter instead of your actual line. A line at the top of the stated range runs stiffer and wears the sheave faster.
- Mounting a pad-eye Snatch Block without a backing plate. The safe working load figure assumes the mounting point can take the same load — an unbacked pad eye is usually the real weak link.
- Leaving a snatch block permanently loaded. These are built for temporary, shifting leads; a genuinely permanent lead needs a fixed or pad-eye-mounted turning block.
Frequently asked questions
What is a snatch block used for?
A snatch block lets you add a turning point to a line that's already rigged and under load, without un-threading its end. On a sailboat that means barber haulers, preventers, temporary sheet leads, and redirecting anchor rode or mooring lines away from chafe points.
What's the difference between an Antal Snatch Looper and a traditional Antal snatch block?
The Snatch Looper (46/54 mm) opens via a small pivoting gate and hangs from a becket eye, favoring low weight. The 90–150 mm Snatch Block series is a hinged two-cheek pulley on a fixed pad eye, built for higher loads and a permanent mounting point.
What size Antal snatch block do I need?
Match your line's actual diameter to the block's max-line rating first — 14 mm for the 46 mm Looper up to 28 mm for the 150 mm Maxi — then confirm the safe working load covers your line's actual load, not just its breaking strength.
Can I leave a snatch block loaded permanently?
It's not what they're designed for. Snatch blocks are built for temporary or shifting leads that come on and off; a genuinely permanent lead is better served by a fixed or pad-eye-mounted turning block.
What's the difference between a snatch block and a regular block?
A regular block has two fixed cheek plates, so you thread the line's end through it before use. A snatch block has one hinged cheek, or on Antal's Looper series a pivoting gate, that opens so you can clip it onto a line already under load.
Recommended gear
Antal 54mm Snatch Looper (no Snap Loop), ANTLL054 — the lightest option for barber haulers and control lines up to 3,500 kg.
Antal 46mm Snatch Looper (Snap Loop), ANTLS046 — a quick-release snap-loop fitting for lines clipped on and off often.
Antal Snatch Block 120mm, ANT908125 — the pad-eye design for genoa sheet leads and preventers up to 4,500 kg.
Antal Maxi Snatch Block 150mm, ANT928155 — the heaviest-duty model, rated to 6,500 kg for mooring and kedging duty.
Shop all Antal Snatch Blocks →
You may also be interested in
- Choosing Sailboat Blocks: A Buyer's Guide to Sheave, Bearing, and Working Load
- Ball-Bearing vs Plain-Bearing Blocks: Friction, Load & Longevity
- How to Size a Mainsheet Block System by Boat Length & Load
About the author: Written by the MAURIPRO Rigging Team — MAURIPRO Sailing has outfitted cruisers and racers since 2003, and our rigging specialists spec and maintain deck hardware, including blocks, clutches, and cleats, on boats in the 30–45 ft range. Facts in this guide are drawn from MAURIPRO's own live product listings for the Antal snatch blocks shown and from Antal's published product documentation for the opening/locking mechanism.
Last updated: August 24, 2026.