[C320-list] upgrading mainsheet jam cleat

Tue Feb 12 12:35:44 PST 2008

I've never been a big fan of leaving the sheet on the drum the entire time.  If you have to dump the main, that means it's already almost too late and you don't want to waste time unwrapping it.  I admit: a line clutch isn't the best alternative either (hence the jam cleats that come installed on the boat).

  That said, I am used to sailing on boats with very large mainsails and traveller systems, and have to change my mindset somewhat when sailing my own C320...but the concern still remains the same.  The traveller on the C320 is not a large one, and does not always sufficiently dump the main enough - oftentimes you need to ease the sheet as well.  It's just easier and faster if it is not in the jaws of a self tailer.  

  Of course, installing an adjustable backstay and a cunningham will help with the angle of heel in the puffs, so I may end up feeling comfortable leaving the sheet in the jaws on the drum.  I'll have to wait and see how she performs with the new rigging installed.

  Maybe I'm just over thinking things and shouldn't heel the boat so much, take in a reef when it blows and not spill my dark & stormy!

  -Matt Curtis
  Tortuga, #541

Pat Moriarty <patm at psiurethanes.com> wrote:
  I am totally with you on this. If the sail will drive the boat at say 
5 knots and that might take 10-15 HP do you think you can hold onto 
that much HP without a winch or cleat. First thing I tell new people 
is don't pick up a line unless it is on a cleat or winch or you can 
get a severe burn. I know the sailors will do it all the time and I 
do too but that is after you learn when you can get away with it. I 
have the old style single ended main sheet and have always sailed 
boats that way so it is just a natural system to me. Don't think I 
could relearn the new arrangement and in the last regatta in SD the 
two boats we sailed on ran the system as a single ended main sheet.

Pat #130At 11:38 AM 2/12/2008, you wrote:
>Mine's pretty-much always on the winch regardless of point of sail.
>
>-Jeff
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Dave
>Rabinowitz
>Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:12 PM
>To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>Subject: Re: [C320-list] upgrading mainsheet jam cleat
>
>This may be a bit off-thread, but, do folks leave the mainsheet on on the
>winch while sailing, or just use the jam cleat? I can see using the winch
>occasionally to close-haul the main, but do you leave it on the winch? I
>was wondering what the proper sailing style was...
>
>thanks
>dave
>Windchill #445
>
>On Feb 11, 2008 9:45 AM, Denny Browne wrote:
>
> > The jam cleats are really only there in case you need to remove the
> > mainsheet from the winch to put a halyard temporarily on it. The boat's
> > delivered with a little clip that you can flip over top of the jam cleat
> > to
> > keep the sheet from accidentally falling into the cleat. This clip usually
> > breaks off in the first day or two.
> >
> > I've placed two large Harken cam cleats at the aft edge of the cabin top
> > directly behind where the mainsheet exits the line organizer on each side.
> > My mainsheet is double ended so it can be trimmed from either side. This
> > works very well when sailing off the wind and at the dock but you need the
> > winch to pull the sheet tight enough to control sail shape when sailing
> > upwind.
> >
> > Denny Browne
> > A Cappella #935
> > Redondo Beach, CA
> > denny at dennybrowne.com
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> > [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Matt Curtis
> > Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 4:27 AM
> > To: c320-list at catalina320.org
> > Subject: [C320-list] upgrading mainsheet jam cleat
> >
> > Has anyone upgraded the mainsheet jam cleat to some other system? My
> > wife
> > hates the jam cleats, and I must admit I'm not a big fan, either. I have
> > been thinking about installing rope clutches. One of my concerns is that
> > the space on the mounting area is a bit limited on theside where the jam
> > cleat is located. Does anyone have Aany thoughts or experiences to share?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > -Matt Curtis
> > Tortuga, #541
> >
> >
> > Matthew Curtis
> > mcurtis_6775 at yahoo.com
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
> >
> >

Pat Moriarty
PSI Urethanes Inc
PH: 800-888-5156 Fax: 512-837-8733
Please visit our web site at
www.psiurethanes.com

Matthew Curtis
mcurtis_6775 at yahoo.com

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