More advice for me, this time it's Cam Cleats

[Joseph Massimino]

The two Cam Cleats located next to the winches for the jib sheets, one on starboard, the other on port are looking pretty bad. One of them has one side that will not spring back. I would like to know what size line should be used on the jib for a C22? I can buy Cam Cleats at a local marine salvage store (new part) that have a stainless steel plate, and a guide for the line. They appear to be big enough for a 3/8 line. They would be screwed down by two screws, one straight through the center of each cam. Could I use them if they hold up to a 3/8 line, or should they be bigger? Can I install them on top of a teak block. The cam cleats that are there now have, what looks like, a fiberglass looking cam, and they appear to be mounted on a wood block. I guess I could look at other C22's in the marina where my boat is, but I value the advice I've been getting here.Thanks.. Joe

 

[David Bergevin]

Cams work good

The Cam Cleats on my boat have been placed on a plastic riser by Harken, I bought the cam cleats and risers from West Marine. I placed two on each winch.One each in the original position for the helmsman aft and one each forward for the crew position. Remember that the line will come off the winches differently on port vs. starboard, the line will wind around clockwise for both winches so be careful where you mount them.Through bolt them with a #10 machine screw and s.s.fender washer and a s.s.locknut for strength and security.I use 3/8" sta-set double braided line for my "heavy air" sheets and 1/4" for lite air sailing, I have no trouble with the cleats holding unless I don't put enough turns on the winch when it's really blowing hard.

 

[Dick of Sylvan]

Jib Sheets

Catalina rigging list calls for 3/8" Dacron (55 ft for genoa and 45 ft for (working) jib).

 

[D. Doyle]

Revelation

Wow guys, here I thought cam cleats was a neat idea that I came up with. My boat (used - 1975) came with standard cleats which means winding the line a few times after every adjustment. Also kind of a pain when changing a tack as they never seem to unwind all the way all the time. The previous owner had purchased a pair of jamb cleats but never installed them, but I was going to go for cam cleats as they seemed like they would hold a bit better. Now it looks like that was the way they were supposed to be all along. I wonder though, if I install the type with a guide for the line, even if it counters the angle of the line coming from the winch, isn't it a pain to feed the end through the guide each time? Without the guide, would the angle off of the winch be too great? Perhaps a block below the cleat with the proper angle to compensate.