I have the original, factory pully system on my main sheet, which includes a cam cleat with notched face to engage the rope. There are times, when the wind is excessively strong, that I would like the cam to NOT ENGAGE the rope. I don't want it locked but to hold in in my hand so I can spill wind quickly. Does anyone know of a device that I could put in place on a temporary basis, that would hold the cams open and not lock down on the sheet? Dave
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A few inches of slightly larger line?
That's just a guess - I've never tried to hold one of those cleats open. Another approach would be to secure the cams in the fully closed position so that the mainsheet could not get between them.
That's just a guess - I've never tried to hold one of those cleats open. Another approach would be to secure the cams in the fully closed position so that the mainsheet could not get between them.
Main Sheet cam cleat
Dave, I'm not quite sure of your question but maybe I can offer you some kind of a solution if you're not happy with the direction of how the cam snubs the rope. I have my Main sheet set up so that it snubs the rope in the down position, and when I want to let it off, I pull the rope up. The cam cleat mechanism on the Main Sheet block can be reversed so that they can be locked in the up position. It's only a matter of taking the machine screws out and reversing the cam. I did that to my Boom Vang so that I could use it to raise/lower my mast with my Gin Pole. I can understand your concern right now with wanting to be able to let that Main Sheet off real quick in a sudden puff of wind, but the O'Day 23 is a real capable sailer and although you may not be quick enough at times to dump the wind, which can result in the contents in your cabin shelves all over the floor, you need to get into the habit of heading her up into the wind in those sudden puffs, which will give you the same results as using your main sheet to spill it. As long as you have "Way On", or the necessary speed and momentum going forward, heading up into the wind will always work for you. If you don't have enough way on, then you'll need to dump the main with your main sheet. I've talked to some guys who like to sail with the Main Sheet cam locked in the down position and when they need to release it, they pull it up. It's all in what you get used to, I guess. Joe
Dave, I'm not quite sure of your question but maybe I can offer you some kind of a solution if you're not happy with the direction of how the cam snubs the rope. I have my Main sheet set up so that it snubs the rope in the down position, and when I want to let it off, I pull the rope up. The cam cleat mechanism on the Main Sheet block can be reversed so that they can be locked in the up position. It's only a matter of taking the machine screws out and reversing the cam. I did that to my Boom Vang so that I could use it to raise/lower my mast with my Gin Pole. I can understand your concern right now with wanting to be able to let that Main Sheet off real quick in a sudden puff of wind, but the O'Day 23 is a real capable sailer and although you may not be quick enough at times to dump the wind, which can result in the contents in your cabin shelves all over the floor, you need to get into the habit of heading her up into the wind in those sudden puffs, which will give you the same results as using your main sheet to spill it. As long as you have "Way On", or the necessary speed and momentum going forward, heading up into the wind will always work for you. If you don't have enough way on, then you'll need to dump the main with your main sheet. I've talked to some guys who like to sail with the Main Sheet cam locked in the down position and when they need to release it, they pull it up. It's all in what you get used to, I guess. Joe
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