Clamcleat alternatives?

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dukes4monny

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I need to replace my clamcleats which are used for cleating the genoa.
I cannot get the required size (4" hole centers), so before I start filling and re-drilling holes etc. I was wondering what alternatives others are using for genoa cleating on a 27' yacht?
Yes I would like self tailing winches, but my budget doesn't stretch to that for this season.

Thanks.
 
The trouble with camcleats is that you have to pull in a bit before you can let off the sheet. In a blow when you want a quick release then this is not ideal. Before I got ST winches (wonderful things) the sheet just came round the winch and was turned off on an ordinary cleat. On somebody else's boat I saw S-shaped cleats that were very quick to release but I've not seen them for sale.
 
I use same on my 27 footer. First thought on buying boat 4 years ago was that they would have to go.......No way they could be trusted when the wind got up.

Well, they're still there.......Never slipped once and just brilliant when single handing. When they do wear [further,that is, now 25+years] I would certainly replace with same.

Different diam. sheets, perhaps?
I've also thought it should be possible to sharpen up the teeth/serrations with file/rasp/knife etc.,but have'nt had to try yet.
 
Use conventional horn cleats.
The cleat should be offset about 15 degrees to the centreline of the winch so that the sheet, coming off the winch, arrives at the cleat at an angle to it. On conventional winches this means that when looking from cleat to winch the sheet comes off the right hand side of the winch and the centre line of the cleat is offset to the left.
Take the sheet from the aft horn back to the forward horn and then a simple figure of eight. This will never jam and takes a split second to release.
 
Re. MoodySabre........Clamcleats just lift up and out? mine do, no pull required.

Re.Saltyjohn.......Horn Cleats best for ultimate security, but a lot slower than Clamcleats.
 
My existing clamcleats are worn, but because they are plastic I cannot really 're-cut' them.
They have 'let go' on a few occasions last season, so I need to replace them.
I think that part of the problem may be that they are mounted flush and parallel on the top of the cockpit coaming which makes it difficult to cleat as they need a downwards 'tug' to cleat properly.
As Moodysabre suggests, I might go with a normal horn cleat or if I replace with new clamcleats I might sit them on a 'plinth' to aid cleating.
 
I'm curious to know why speed is an advantage when releasing the jibsheet from the cleat.
When I tack I release the sheet from the cleat before the tack and then wait for the appropriate moment to flick the sheet off the winch drum. It's getting the sheet off the winch that's important, the way I sail, not releasing the sheet from the cleat.
I can see that in dinghy sailing it can be important to release the jibsheet instantly but not on a keelboat with winches.
 
On most occasions, quite agree, speed is not vital.
However, I do mostly singlehand, and if/when things do get a bit rushed, I can push the tiller over immediately and pick the sheet out of the cleat, with no bother of stretching or change of position or untying/unravelling, as the boat comes around. The sheet doesn't really need thinking about until tack is done,when I ensure a free run for next tack.
Also very easy to pick up from cleat when trimming sail,and to re-cleat, with one hand.
Works well for me, but there again.........May just be the peculiar way I sail.....
 
I just Googled Tugmans Hitch and You tube showed the demo of this 'quick release' hitch. I'm not too sure about the laws of libel or slander but anything that finishes with a clove hitch after 3 or 4 round turns could never be called quick release and would definitely be a no-no when single-handed on my Centaur.

Alan
 
There's no clove hitch involved in a tugman's hitch - a clove hitch can jam, a tugman's hitch cannot.

I've used them for decades on all sorts of boats, from a Manta 16, to Bavaria 42, from 54 foot gaff cutter, to multihulls....on many occasions single-handed.

Works a treat, and was good enough for Geoff Pack.
 
[ QUOTE ]
On somebody else's boat I saw S-shaped cleats that were very quick to release but I've not seen them for sale.

[/ QUOTE ]

Although these are too big, I was wondering whether this is the type of thing: S cleat
 
Hi Dave,

On my Jag 27 I have these after the winch, they work very well.

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Thanks Vince........funnily enough I was just looking at a similar offering by
Plastimo and was just about to ask if anyone uses them........you read my mind /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Do you happen to know what size / make yours are?

Dave
 
That style of cleat works great - just a quick wrap needed. (Get the right size for your sheets - they need to be able to grip under the tapered horn). I have horn cleats on mine which are perfectly adequate, just a bit slower. I rarely bother with OXO, since an O and half an X does the trick /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Clamcleats -- horrible things, my new(ish) boat has them; yet something else add to list of things to replace when I get round to it
 
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