Maybe this is a common mod for 309 owners. It's certainly the most effective of the few mods we've made to our Hull #82, Stray Cat, thus far.
I found the small cleat on the port side for securing the roller furling line to be pretty lame. Particularly lame in a situation where the wind has increased and you've decided to furl in your genoa by 20% or so. Assuming I'm sailing into the wind, I'll slack off the genoa sheet a little to take a little pressure off, then undo the furling line from the cleat and tug in the genoa to the desired position. Then make the furling line fast to the cleat again...with my arm extended out while trying to hold how many pounds on the furling line?!?! Not handy.
We added a cam cleat (I won't mention brand and size cuz even though I think I sized it right...to each his own), just behind the port sheet winch. A block attached to the be lower portion of the sternrail leg allows the furling line to make about an 80 degree bend from its fore and aft path to the cam cleat. Wow! Not rocket science, but an improvement that has stood the test of time, and is super effecient. I can make my genoa changes from the helmseat under most conditions. Easy to release, tug, and reseat in the cam cleat. Note that the cam cleat does NOT have the extra part/guide that would inhibit pulling the line completely free of the cam cleat.
As with all such mods, careful planning goes a long way. On my old boat I installed a thing or two only to find that the mod interfered with something, allowed me to trip on it, or just wasn't very handy. We haven't found a downside to this mod.
It's easy enough to work out the positioning of the block and the cam cleat, but I would be glad to provide the measurements of my locations if anyone wants.
I found the small cleat on the port side for securing the roller furling line to be pretty lame. Particularly lame in a situation where the wind has increased and you've decided to furl in your genoa by 20% or so. Assuming I'm sailing into the wind, I'll slack off the genoa sheet a little to take a little pressure off, then undo the furling line from the cleat and tug in the genoa to the desired position. Then make the furling line fast to the cleat again...with my arm extended out while trying to hold how many pounds on the furling line?!?! Not handy.
We added a cam cleat (I won't mention brand and size cuz even though I think I sized it right...to each his own), just behind the port sheet winch. A block attached to the be lower portion of the sternrail leg allows the furling line to make about an 80 degree bend from its fore and aft path to the cam cleat. Wow! Not rocket science, but an improvement that has stood the test of time, and is super effecient. I can make my genoa changes from the helmseat under most conditions. Easy to release, tug, and reseat in the cam cleat. Note that the cam cleat does NOT have the extra part/guide that would inhibit pulling the line completely free of the cam cleat.
As with all such mods, careful planning goes a long way. On my old boat I installed a thing or two only to find that the mod interfered with something, allowed me to trip on it, or just wasn't very handy. We haven't found a downside to this mod.
It's easy enough to work out the positioning of the block and the cam cleat, but I would be glad to provide the measurements of my locations if anyone wants.
