I think they should be fine...

Posted By: Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35
Date: 6/18/09 5:29p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Halyard Cleats ... too small? (Gene Bragalone - 5.2 #485)

My halyards are 1/4" line. Perhaps your problem is that you're getting carried away with the figure eight loops. Forgive me if I'm being pedantic, but I've seen some otherwise salty dogs secure their lines incorrectly around horn cleats. The correct way to do it is to take one COMPLETE turn around the base of the horn, first and foremost, followed by one figure eight around the bottom horn. Then, before taking the next figure eight around the top horn, make a loop and twist it such that the remainder part of the line is behind the loop and parallel to the part already tied on. Place the loop over the top horn and pull tight. That is all you need! The rest of the halyard can be coiled and stowed between the taut halyard and the mast or, as I do, in a bag that I attached to the centerboard trunk (one on each side.) It is also important to make sure that the coiled line can run free in an emergency if you had to blow the halyards in a hurry. There is no additional benefit to taking more than one loop on each horn. The key to making it slip-free is the one complete turn around the base before the loops. If you do multiple loops, but neglect to take the one complete turn about the base first, I guarantee it will slip. Of course, if this much line won't fit comfortably on the cleat as I described, then it is too small. This is how I "learned the ropes", at least.