I need to ask (bring up) once again the impossible way of maintaining this boat under moderate to heavy winds single-handed due to the CLAM cleats Hunter supplied for the jib sheets. This winter my first upgrade is to convert these to CAM cleats with a fairlead. Then, when I'm READY ABOUT I can release one sheet and sheet in on the other, without having to chase the line forward and press it into the CLAM with my extra (at this point third) hand. It's incredibly frustrating to have a stalled tack. Am I overlooking something with these cleats, or is this really how they're engineered? Other than this ... LOVE the boat!
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Steve Wright
Autopilot
I have an autopilot, Navico TP-800, it steers and I crew the boat. Press the button and it tacks 90 degrees. The best $$$ I have spent on the boat.
I have an autopilot, Navico TP-800, it steers and I crew the boat. Press the button and it tacks 90 degrees. The best $$$ I have spent on the boat.
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Joe R.
amen
Steve is right about the auto pilot. I also find the clam/jam cleats to be worthless so I tend to use the winches with a simple wrap around the side cleats. It does require standing up to attend to the jib sheets after pushing the button to tell the auto pilot to tach, but the action is smooth even in high wind. Some of the guys have changed to a cam cleat like you are wanting to do. That would free up the starbord winch should you need to raise the centerboard.
Steve is right about the auto pilot. I also find the clam/jam cleats to be worthless so I tend to use the winches with a simple wrap around the side cleats. It does require standing up to attend to the jib sheets after pushing the button to tell the auto pilot to tach, but the action is smooth even in high wind. Some of the guys have changed to a cam cleat like you are wanting to do. That would free up the starbord winch should you need to raise the centerboard.
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Mark Kissel
Change 'em.
Eric, Even though my wife accompanies me on most sails, I still singlehand. Her job: sunbathing, my job: sailing the boat. I use my jam cleats in the garage. They do a great job of holding the straps on a couple of garden tools. Change over to cam cleats and enjoy sailing with only two hands. With only 95 square feet of sail, the jib can usually be handled fairly easily without the use of winches. Mark Kissel s/v Kittiwake H240
Eric, Even though my wife accompanies me on most sails, I still singlehand. Her job: sunbathing, my job: sailing the boat. I use my jam cleats in the garage. They do a great job of holding the straps on a couple of garden tools. Change over to cam cleats and enjoy sailing with only two hands. With only 95 square feet of sail, the jib can usually be handled fairly easily without the use of winches. Mark Kissel s/v Kittiwake H240
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Ken Shubert
Me & Otto
Otto is the ST1000+ autopilot and he sure comes in handy. The jam cleats have been a nightmare for all of us and it's a shame that Hunter still uses them. The SpinLock XA-3 power clutch looks ideal. It will put the brakes on the halyards and also keep them in the right places. Or am I the only one that gets them crossed half the time? The cam-cleats seem to be wider than the existing jam cleats which means only 2 will go in the space the existing 3. Mine are actually 3 separate single jam cleats --- what poor engineering! Ken S/V Wouff Hong
Otto is the ST1000+ autopilot and he sure comes in handy. The jam cleats have been a nightmare for all of us and it's a shame that Hunter still uses them. The SpinLock XA-3 power clutch looks ideal. It will put the brakes on the halyards and also keep them in the right places. Or am I the only one that gets them crossed half the time? The cam-cleats seem to be wider than the existing jam cleats which means only 2 will go in the space the existing 3. Mine are actually 3 separate single jam cleats --- what poor engineering! Ken S/V Wouff Hong
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Dan Ebert
10-4 on Cleats
I agree the lack of design for tacking with the clam cleats, which was supplied with my H240. My wife works the jib most of the time, but when I solo and the boat is heel over hard, it is a bear to get to the leeward side and take care of everything (need three hands). I don't thing I should spend more loot for a auto-pilot because of poor design from Hunter. I thought of putting cleats and winches in the cock pit area, but again more cash and I don't know if there is enough support. This has been the only thing I really don't like about the boat.
I agree the lack of design for tacking with the clam cleats, which was supplied with my H240. My wife works the jib most of the time, but when I solo and the boat is heel over hard, it is a bear to get to the leeward side and take care of everything (need three hands). I don't thing I should spend more loot for a auto-pilot because of poor design from Hunter. I thought of putting cleats and winches in the cock pit area, but again more cash and I don't know if there is enough support. This has been the only thing I really don't like about the boat.
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Brian Kile
S-hand h240 jib rerigging
After reading Eric's and replies, this is one of my few moans as well, regardless of whether Otto is on the boat. The 2 problems I see are: 1. the obviously lousy jam cleats that jam when you're tacking and release otherwise and 2. that you can't tune the jib from a windward seat, or single hand without Otto. Why anyone would design rigging that you can't centrally control is beyond me. On my cat I could rudder-main-jib all while hiking out! for 1. pls describe how you changed over to cams - did you keep the jams intalled to avoid filling ugly holes? The cams are by design more prone to rip out...how did u successfully reinforce the mount? for 2. is there a solution out there that lets the crew sit windward and have fingertip control? I've been playing with the idea of crisscrossing them over to opposing winches... or placing a cleat aft of the winch. Any ideas, theories, actual trials? Thanks, brian
After reading Eric's and replies, this is one of my few moans as well, regardless of whether Otto is on the boat. The 2 problems I see are: 1. the obviously lousy jam cleats that jam when you're tacking and release otherwise and 2. that you can't tune the jib from a windward seat, or single hand without Otto. Why anyone would design rigging that you can't centrally control is beyond me. On my cat I could rudder-main-jib all while hiking out! for 1. pls describe how you changed over to cams - did you keep the jams intalled to avoid filling ugly holes? The cams are by design more prone to rip out...how did u successfully reinforce the mount? for 2. is there a solution out there that lets the crew sit windward and have fingertip control? I've been playing with the idea of crisscrossing them over to opposing winches... or placing a cleat aft of the winch. Any ideas, theories, actual trials? Thanks, brian
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Steve
Tiller tammer
Install a simple inexpensive Tiller Tammer and it will free up both hands to make for Jib tacking and trimming requirements on all points of sail...
Install a simple inexpensive Tiller Tammer and it will free up both hands to make for Jib tacking and trimming requirements on all points of sail...
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Daniel[author]
Best is cam cleats
I have a H240 with furling jib. The jam cleats were useless. So I installed cam cleats which work great. I placed them just to the outside of both winches. Just used bolts and nuts, through the fiberglass. The vector of the force is horizontal and thus does not need additional support. They work great. Enjoy
I have a H240 with furling jib. The jam cleats were useless. So I installed cam cleats which work great. I placed them just to the outside of both winches. Just used bolts and nuts, through the fiberglass. The vector of the force is horizontal and thus does not need additional support. They work great. Enjoy
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