My cleat position

Posted By: Tedd
Date: 10/5/09 1:48p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Has one (pic) (Ted)

After reading your post, I was wondering whether your cam cleat jaws are in the correct position to enable you to lift or "rope wave" the sheet out from between the jaws. I used to sail a Hobie 16 that I could do the rope wave trick with very easily and I'm sure the load on the mainsheet was at least that of a Harpoon. I've included a blown up picture of my cam cleat. If you look closely, on the "S" shaped piece of metal to which the cleat jaws attach, under the large spring, there are two parallel tracks that enable me to adjust the position of the jaws. I don't know if you have the same mainsheet setup, but if you do, you might try different positions. But after rereading your post again, it sounds to me like the problem isn't the position of the jaws, but the high load the sheet is under. I don't often sail in heavy winds here in Central Washington state, but I do recall having this problem once when I did. That's why I installed the ratchet block and bought the gloves. But, as you say, this solution requires that I remove the sheet from the cleat before the wind builds. You might try a larger diameter line for you mainsheet. My 1/2 inch line easily fits through the stock blocks and gives me a much better grip to pull from. The only other way to reduce that load that comes to mind is to add blocks and create a mainsheet with more parts. hope this helps, tedd