Line Clutches

[Godefroy]

Here is a question for those that have done the upgrade, or have a boat new enough to have them as standard: what do you think is the best way to arrange line clutches?

I am giving some thought to removing my cam cleats for the traveler and those wretched rubber "self-tailing conversion" boots on my working winches, and replacing them with some number of clutches. I'm trying to figure out how I would set them up to maximize effectiveness for the winches I have, while not spending a <b>huge</b> fortune.

Off the top of my head, I would say:
- A double* near the port winch, for the port jib sheet and the furler line
- A single on the port side of the companionway, for the port traveler line
- A double on the stbd side of the companionway, for the stbd traveler line and the mainsheet
- A single* near the stbd winch, for the stbd jib sheet

I have no experience with them yet, but would I want to plan ahead and make the ones marked with *'s a triple/double to allow for spinnaker sheets, as well?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. In this horrid 100+ degree weather with 90+% humidity, about all we can do is work on improvements.

 

[LuzSD]

I will give you a very untechnical answer but it might be worth hearing.
I amone of the main trimmers on a boat we crew on 2x a week. I also enjoy doing so on our boat when my husband and I switch off. I would not want to deal with a clutch under pressure for our traveler and many times that is the case. Though cam cleats sometimes do feel like a pain, I only want to pull up to release and be able to let it go or move it quickly... and I have had do that often. I have experienced some clutches under load unable to be unlocked and that is never anything I want to find out in a pinch.

If I misunderstood your purpose, please excuse me. I am not at all technical about this yet, but I know what I do and what would work for us.

 

[Stu Jackson]

- A double* near the port winch, for the port jib sheet and the furler line
- A single on the port side of the companionway, for the port traveler line
- A double on the stbd side of the companionway, for the stbd traveler line and the mainsheet
- A single* near the stbd winch, for the stbd jib sheet

I have no experience with them yet, but would I want to plan ahead and make the ones marked with *'s a triple/double to allow for spinnaker sheets, as well?

It appears you are missing the purpose of clutches or sheetstoppers. Oddly enough, they are NOT for sheets!!!

Jib sheets - never. I would keep your Winchers and add a simple regular cleat if you felt it necessary. We sailed our C25 for 12 years and I really liked them.

Spinnaker sheets? I don't know, but doubt it.

Furler line - overkill --- use a block and a cleat or a ratchet block and a cleat.

Traveler control lines --- cam cleats 'cuz they need to be released under pressure - the previous reply was spot on.

Mainsheet -- now there's a very good application for one BUT, BUT, BUT only if you have a lousy fair lead from the traveler car. I put one on 'cuz Catalina has and keeps using stupid clam cleats for the mainsheet to the cabintop winches and the fair lead is from above which creates wraps and overrides - a stupid, stupid, repetitive design "flaw" - but I learned the use of the sheetstopper replacement from a bareboat Beneteau in the BVIs. However, the sheetstopper is ALWAYS OPEN when sailing. It's just an expensive bullseye fairlead!

There, we just saved ya a lotta moolah!:dance::dance::dance:

 

[Godefroy]

Great! Thank you guys for the input. I had seen them at WM, and my mind started working on 'em, trying to figure out (1) what are these for, and (2) how could they make my boat better (if at all).

I shall stand down from those clutches - they seemed like an excellent way to organize lines and maximizing the usability of my winches.

Thanks for the course correction - I'm sure there will be a few more yet to come.