Installing Spinlocks on a 23.5

[fokker416]

Hello all,

I'm awaiting delivery of two swiveled spinlock cam cleats to replace my stock cleats for the jib sheet on my 1993 23.5. I know a few of us out there have replaced the cleats on the jib sheet with a spinlock. Do any of you have some advice or lessons learned from this project I should look out for before I start? Thanks.

 

[DJN51]

Go to boat info at top of site.Owners mod It will take you to Rick Webbs mod on 23.5.I followed his install,worked great.

 

[fokker416]

I saw them. Did you put the wood in like he did, or did you connect it directly to the deck?

 

[DJN51]

I put the wood as it keeps sheets off deck,and covers holes from cleat.There is a alum plate so screws need to be tapped.I also added wood under halyard ,keel uphaul sheave to get lines off deck.Keeps them a lot cleaner.If you have furler and plan on changing forestay check out {forestay failure} in forum.Had wear at T-ball,had mine rerigged as sesmith did.Lots safer.

 

[timothy_c]

I'm thinking of the same modification to my boat

Has anyone tried singlehandling in heavy air, under race conditions, using the spinlocks? I've been racing my boat, Psychotic Squirrel, on KY lake. We have days we start out in the morning on glass wondering if there is enough beer in the coolers and end up scrambling for dear life in the afternoon with 27 Kt sustained winds. I've become adept at running my boat all by my lonesome with the original winch and horn cleat. If it will make my life easier I'd like to go to the PX cleats in place of the horn and add a cam cleat placed on the doghouse bulkhead below each of the winches...

Anyone have any experience / suggestions ???

Capt. Tim
SV. Psychotic Squirrel

 

[DJN51]

Tim,Solo my 23.5 on Lake Michigan.No problem with spinlocks.Jib sheet can be adjusted by just pulling thru spinlock Simple uppull releases sheet,downward pull locks it.Can be adjusted to 3 ways depending on wind.Turn 60 in Jan,one the best things added to boat.Never use winches except to hardening up main.Why the camcleats?

 

[timothy_c]

Thank you for the input. I was wanting to add the clam cleats for the heave air days when I wanted to use the winch or if I have crew that dosent have the upper body strength. Basically keeping another option open if necessary. I've seen a few 23.5's rigged with the horn cleat and the cam set-up as I described. when I singlehand I spend too much time away from the tiller gettin' a half-8 or full-8 on the horn.