Hello Fellow Sailors: I own a Catalina C22 sailboat and I am thinking of running most of my lines to the cockpit for easier and safer sailing. I am thinking of using heavy clam cleats rather than the expensive line clutches for the main and jib halyard. I plan on relocating the winch from the mast to the top of the cabin. I also am wondering if a regular cleat would be wise in addition to the clam cleat. It would be rigged so the line would pass thru the clam cleat to the winch and once tight, I would remove the line from the winch and tie it off on a regular cleat. Has anyone ever tried this on a boat the size of a c22??? I presently do not need to use the winch when hoisting either main or jib. I place the line around the cleat and then pull sideways on the line. As I release the sideward tension; I pull on the line to take up the "slack" at the cleat. I repeat as needed to tighten the halyard. I would appreciate all comments from the experienced sailors out there. Sincerely, Byron
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No clam cleat
A clam cleat release mechanism is you placing additional tension on the halyard or line. Placing in front of a winch or behind, if you use the winch to add tension to the line, how are you going to add more tension for release. There will be times when you will use the winch and only a jam or clutch cleats will work. A clutch in front and a jam behind! You said also tying off on another cleat. Unless you have other plans for the winch, letting the halyard on the winch and tying on a cleat is the simplest way to go. You’re right the winch is not much help on the mast when the handle is in the cockpit, but when the winch is near the cockpit where the handle is, think of the possibilities
A clam cleat release mechanism is you placing additional tension on the halyard or line. Placing in front of a winch or behind, if you use the winch to add tension to the line, how are you going to add more tension for release. There will be times when you will use the winch and only a jam or clutch cleats will work. A clutch in front and a jam behind! You said also tying off on another cleat. Unless you have other plans for the winch, letting the halyard on the winch and tying on a cleat is the simplest way to go. You’re right the winch is not much help on the mast when the handle is in the cockpit, but when the winch is near the cockpit where the handle is, think of the possibilities
V Cleats/Clam cleats
When I first bought my boat the jib halyard was ran back to the cockpit and ended in a "V" cleat or clam cleat I used it for a couple of years before replacing it with a clutch. It work fine and never slipped or let go. As for the winches on the cabin top most of the serious racers of a C22 will replace the winches with ratchet blocks then move the winches to the cabin top this way they can cross sheet to the winch on the high side of the boat. Esp works well if the crew isn't the strongest.
When I first bought my boat the jib halyard was ran back to the cockpit and ended in a "V" cleat or clam cleat I used it for a couple of years before replacing it with a clutch. It work fine and never slipped or let go. As for the winches on the cabin top most of the serious racers of a C22 will replace the winches with ratchet blocks then move the winches to the cabin top this way they can cross sheet to the winch on the high side of the boat. Esp works well if the crew isn't the strongest.
Do you mean CAM cleats?
All of my lines (both halyards, jiffy reefing, cunningham) run to the cockpit and are held with cam cleats mounted on the aft of the cabin top. It works great. I see no need to have standard cleats as well. We have a winch above each of the coaming boxes but they don't get used much. I also have cam cleats for the genny sheets also mounted, on risers, above the coaming boxes and a cam cleat for the furler, again mounted above the starboard coaming box on a riser. I do have a couple of regular cleats mounted on the mast and a couple at the transom just in case I should ever need to tie off a line to them. I've been using this arrangement for 6 years without any problems.
All of my lines (both halyards, jiffy reefing, cunningham) run to the cockpit and are held with cam cleats mounted on the aft of the cabin top. It works great. I see no need to have standard cleats as well. We have a winch above each of the coaming boxes but they don't get used much. I also have cam cleats for the genny sheets also mounted, on risers, above the coaming boxes and a cam cleat for the furler, again mounted above the starboard coaming box on a riser. I do have a couple of regular cleats mounted on the mast and a couple at the transom just in case I should ever need to tie off a line to them. I've been using this arrangement for 6 years without any problems.
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