Has anyone rebuilt their original cam cleats aft the winches? Are the factory ones Harken? I am trying to figure out if the originals can be rebuilt, if they are worth being rebuilt or upgraded. What are some budget brands you all like also aluminum vs composite? I see Harken, Schaefer, Nautos.
Cam Cleat rebuild or replace
- Thread starter thetailwind
- Start date
Harkens can be rebuilt easily, and should until the teeth wear and start losing grip. The bearing are susceptible to UV.
PROTIP: use dish soap to hold the tiny bearing in place in the races during assy.. Then hose off to get rid of the soap.
PROTIP: use dish soap to hold the tiny bearing in place in the races during assy.. Then hose off to get rid of the soap.
I'd like to know what the 'correct placement should be on the cam cleats... My Port cam is inboard and FWD of the winch (about 45 degrees), this results in the nuts/washers being attached on the inside of the hull under the coaming; vice the starboard cleat which is inboard and AFT of the winch (same rough 45 degrees), so the washers/nuts end up on the inside of the cockpit storage pocket on that side.
I'm wondering if I should epoxy fill these holes all together and just get self-tailing winches (expensive), but not end up needing the cam cleats...
I'm wondering if I should epoxy fill these holes all together and just get self-tailing winches (expensive), but not end up needing the cam cleats...
Luke, The cleats on the jib winches are located slightly different on each side because as you wind the sheet clockwise, you want the cleats placed so the sheets naturally come off the winch and route to the cleat. I use jam cleats on my boat and as you can see in the photos, the jam cleat is located slightly forward on the port side, and slightly aft on the starboard side.
On previous boats with Harken cam cleats, I found the elevation blocks work nicely.
Don
On previous boats with Harken cam cleats, I found the elevation blocks work nicely.
Don
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Thanks Don, that's what I figured... depends mostly on orientation of the sheet as it comes off the winch, maybe also the preferred seating position of the skipper or person handling the sheet/winch. I looked up the 1 inch risers for Harken carbo-cleats, only about $8 for a 1 inch riser. I want to get these positioned and marked before I paint since I will re-applying non-skid around them, but not under them. I'm also contemplating leaving them off all together if I go with ST Winches, but that is a far more expensive upgrade than new cam cleats!
I thought about adding self tailing winches to my current C-22, and one of my C-22's had self tailing winches. They definitely add to the "cool factor", but for trimming the sheet, just not practical on a C-22. Now on a "new design" C-22, they solve the problem of the narrow cockpit combings.
Don
Don
to be honest I didn't know they put cam cleats on at the factory. I installed them myself but didn't know the factory ever did.
Then again maybe that's one of the new boat things.
I used composite the reason being was given to me by a harken rep I talked to at the Annapolis boat show I went to a few years ago. Anyway the way he put it to me was the aluminum bit the line better and more consistently BUT would wear out my lines faster. Vise versa the composite didn't hold quite as good or whatever but didn't tear up lines as fast but also the cleat wouldn't last quite as long. I wont argue it either way this is what was told to me by harken rep not my opinion. I decided on the composite did that around 6 years ago and haven't looked back so take it for what it's worth.
I'm sure everyone has an opinion on whats best I honestly don't have on I'm sure they all have their good and bad qualities I like what I've used but I haven't used every brand and type to give an opinion on all of them.
Then again maybe that's one of the new boat things.
I used composite the reason being was given to me by a harken rep I talked to at the Annapolis boat show I went to a few years ago. Anyway the way he put it to me was the aluminum bit the line better and more consistently BUT would wear out my lines faster. Vise versa the composite didn't hold quite as good or whatever but didn't tear up lines as fast but also the cleat wouldn't last quite as long. I wont argue it either way this is what was told to me by harken rep not my opinion. I decided on the composite did that around 6 years ago and haven't looked back so take it for what it's worth.
I'm sure everyone has an opinion on whats best I honestly don't have on I'm sure they all have their good and bad qualities I like what I've used but I haven't used every brand and type to give an opinion on all of them.
I know '87-'95 ("new design") boats like yours and mine came with jam cleats, not cam. Not sure about other years.
So what brand are the New Design cam cleats? I would like to rebuild if it makes financial sense.
The "new design" boats came from the factory with conventional aluminum cleats. Not the best set-up in my opinion. I've seen the Capri-22's with a similar narrow combing like the new design C-22's where they used jam cleats on the backs of the seats like shown in the photo below. Easy to set, and easy to release. I actually like my jam cleat set up on our C-22 MK-II, been doing the job for going on 14 years, and they are zero maintenance.
Don
Don
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Here's something to just screw up everyone's perspective... Last night I took out my coil of 3/8" Sta-set I got for my headsail sheet. I put a few wraps around my new Andersen 10 winch that happens to be the same size as the stock ARCO 6 winches.... anyway, the line really didn't 'like' making coils that small around the winch and twisted a little with each coil around the winch. Now, maybe the line will relax a little as it gets broken in from use, but my immediate thought was "just get a bigger winch drum". So that strengthens my notion to get self-tailer.
Now keep in mind, I got 3/8" for the sheet as it was a recommendation from other sailors that the bigger line size is easier on the hands of a sheet you handle frequently, but really just 5/16 or 8mm would handle the load just fine and wrap better around the smaller winch.
Now keep in mind, I got 3/8" for the sheet as it was a recommendation from other sailors that the bigger line size is easier on the hands of a sheet you handle frequently, but really just 5/16 or 8mm would handle the load just fine and wrap better around the smaller winch.
Yup, jam cleats below the winches, came that way on just about all the original versions of the Capri-22. Cam cleats were used for the traveler.
Don