Raise main sheet cam cleat

[1st Sail]

I need some opinions. With 2-4 crew in the cock pit the main sheet extending from the cam cleat on the lower block is always across someone's legs. Worse yet if you need to release or adjust the sheet you have to angle the sheet lower to release the cam cleat. Again you are always pulling the sheet across a crew member's legs. Is there any reason you could not add a short line approx 6-12in. from the traveler to the main sheet block snap shackle. This would put the lower block and cam cleat above every's legs/pants when seated in the cock pit. If you need to release the sheet quickly the cam cleat is approx. at waist level and the angle of the sheet to release from the cam keeps the sheet above and away from the crew while seated.

Thanks,

Dave

[mastreb]

I need some opinions. With 2-4 crew in the cock pit the main sheet extending from the cam cleat on the lower block is always across someone's legs. Worse yet if you need to release or adjust the sheet you have to angle the sheet lower to release the cam cleat. Again you are always pulling the sheet across a crew member's legs. Is there any reason you could not add a short line approx 6-12in. from the traveler to the main sheet block snap shackle. This would put the lower block and cam cleat above every's legs/pants when seated in the cock pit. If you need to release the sheet quickly the cam cleat is approx. at waist level and the angle of the sheet to release from the cam keeps the sheet above and away from the crew while seated.

Thanks,

Dave

Reverse the main-sheet so that the cam cleat hangs from the boom. That's what I do. So I reach up to the boom to release or tighten the sheet. Problem solved.

[c130king]

Reverse the main-sheet so that the cam cleat hangs from the boom. That's what I do. So I reach up to the boom to release or tighten the sheet. Problem solved.

So, doesn't this just move the issue from the line being across everybody's legs to across everyone's necks...

[40Toes]

Reverse the main-sheet so that the cam cleat hangs from the boom. That's what I do. So I reach up to the boom to release or tighten the sheet. Problem solved.

How do you reach the boom when.... lets say, wing on wing? You would need arms like an Orangutan

[Highlander]

Reverse the main-sheet so that the cam cleat hangs from the boom. That's what I do. So I reach up to the boom to release or tighten the sheet. Problem solved.

So, doesn't this just move the issue from the line being across everybody's legs to across everyone's necks...

Well @ least your P/H would be less groped !

J

[Highlander]

Reverse the main-sheet so that the cam cleat hangs from the boom. That's what I do. So I reach up to the boom to release or tighten the sheet. Problem solved.

How do you reach the boom when.... lets say, wing on wing? You would need arms like an Orangutan

Yes , could be a real problem if yer lost the mainsheet O/B , now where's the boat hook Honey I gotta go fishing !

J

[Highlander]

Yes I do not see why you could not do this but use at least 1/2" line or bigger i'd say 6" should be good to try it out for starters I beleive my Garhauer mainsheets have an adjustable cam cleat so as you can change their angle exit .
With 4 on board I'd have one of each controling the Jib sheets, Genny sheets, Mainsheet , vang & outhaul , you steer the boat everyone gives advice on sail shape trail & error keeps the crew interested great learning curve ! for everyone involved envolves the whole crew into one line of thinking which is great when the sailing gets really good then theirs no second guessing

J
PS lets us know how it works out !

[mastreb]

Reverse the main-sheet so that the cam cleat hangs from the boom. That's what I do. So I reach up to the boom to release or tighten the sheet. Problem solved.

How do you reach the boom when.... lets say, wing on wing? You would need arms like an Orangutan

Well, I'm 6'5" with a 6'8" wingspan, so perhaps this is less of an issue for me I also have cleats on the jib track that I tie the main-sheet off to when it's far out, and when I forget I've been known to pull the boom in by grabbing the block lines until I can reach the sheet. I really like having the cam cleat on the boom though--there's a lot less problem with people sitting on sheets and with all that mainsheet line laying about in the cockpit.

[parrothead]

Dave,

Last season I tried exactly the modification you have described - raising the mainsheet block 12" above the traveler to make the sheet easier to handle with more than two persons in the cockpit. I actually made up a wire pennant for the purpose, using the handy DIY bench at West Marine, and neatly wrapped it in vinyl tape. The result, however, was that when executing a tack or jibe, we had the mainsheet block swinging across the cockpit - and any time the sheet wasn't fully under tension, the weight of the block was such that it tended to put enough slack into the rig that it could swing in a pretty wide arc.
The good news is that I figured out the down side of the mod before anyone got smacked in the face ... so now I have reverted to this rig, where the mainsheet block is snapped onto a long u-shaped shackle that's attached to the traveler - resulting in just enough extra height to make it reasonably easy to uncleat.

Doug

[Crikey]

I'm also liking the bottom end length extension, if for no other reason than to avoid playing with someone elses junk! Matt, if I had your reversed solution I would probably end up growing to your height, and reach, through some darwinian process from trying to reach that extra level (6'5" phew!).
Considering all this though, there is a good case for taking into account novice, or inexperienced crew, and making all sheets occupy different colors.

Scenario 1. Ahoy swabbie tighten the vang and relieve the preventer!
Scenario 2. oy! Grab hold of that blue rope and pull it, then grab the red one and let it out bloody fast!! (Don't forget to say DUCK!)

Scenario 3. Would of course include special instructions for the Admiral ...... Err honey would you mind ....?

Whatever works for you(all)

Ross

[cruasder]

Hi Guys
I made up a bracket and bolted it on to the bottom of the pedestal then bolted a clamcleat on it to be at the bottom and just forward of the wheel the sheet is always there and untangled when needed and you can back go to the original if you are teaching the apprentices

Cheers
Art

[bscott]

When racing J24 we always played the traveler in gusts and rarely eased the main sheet--the windward traveler sheet was hand held (uncleated) by a crew member for rapid release. The reason we did this was to maintain tension on the boom to keep the main flat. Releasing the main sheet in gusts causes the main to elevate and have a deep draft which will create excessive heeling and slow the boat . As soon as the gust finished, the traveler is returned to its original location. The traveler trimmer kept the boat on its feet and maintain speed and heading.
Since the is not a racing boat and the crew is usually "casual", holding the sheet is probably not an option but releasing it from the cleat is doable and the crew member will feel a sense of accomplishment when asked to participate. Just make sure you have extra sailing gloves aboard.
If you single hand the alot you might consider Harkens small boat windward sheeting traveler cars that can be trimmed from the pedestal. Very pricey but a definate admiral pleaser.

Bob