I can keep my "headknocker" cleated under most conditions.

Posted By: Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA
Date: 10/29/08 10:10p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: adjust the angle (pic) (Rich McDevitt P 15 # 2531 Minnow SF Bay)

I haven't seen any reason to change to the rear sheet cleating. I have long used a mid-boom block and cleat on both my original gunter rig and on the lateen rig. To mount the Ronstan RF5 block/cleat properly, the sheave has to be moved to its alternate position so the assembly can be mounted with the free end of the sheet forward. I normally keep the sheet cleated and the slack sheet close at hand (or in my hand if conditions are challenging). A quick pull on the sheet is all I need to release it for a gust. If the boom is far outboard, recleating may require the whipcracking action Rich describes, but that is easily done. Note that the slack sheet from the middle of the boom does not cause the problems that are encountered with the taut sheet to the bridgedeck block/cleat.