Fairleads - which way round

[MM5AHO]

I'm replacing some fairleads (storm damage ripped 2 out last summer), and note that they come marked "R" and "L". Presumably right and left.
But does this mean that the left marked on is a port side?

I note that if my assumptions are right, then the "slot" in the top is at about 90 degrees to the angle the rope would lie at.
This might be to stop the rope jumping out? It would mean that the rop has to be "bent" into the fairlead. If they were fitted the other way, then the rope could be just "laid" into the fairlead, but might later jump out if flicked by tension?

Is that right?

Which way round should they be?

 

[PeterWright]

Your assumptions are right!

The purpose of a fairlead is to keep a rope in a particular position. The last thing you want is to allow it to jump out through the slot when things get a bit bouncy! It doesn't matter that you need to "bend" the rope to get it in the slot, your warps should be unloaded when you are putting them into the fairlead.

The most effective fairleads are circular and have no slot, but the cost is the inconvenience of having to pass the end of the warp through when setting up. Look at those in a sailing barge's rail, or indeed on a ship.

 

[VicS]

Your first assumption is correct although not all fair-leads are handed in this way. The ones on my bow are not although the ones on the quarters are.

here is one of Lakesailors pictures... of an incorrectly labelled one which he bought

and his diagram of how they should/should not be fitted. Correct on the starboard side, incorrect on the port side

 

[lustyd]

I assume at least some of you are joking. Right and left refers to the exit path of the rope rather than port or starboard. Right exit will go starboard aft and port bow, left will go starboard bow and port aft. Of course when you lead a line from these to a cleat on the pontoon around amidships then it all goes out the window anyway.

 

[lustyd]

here is one of Lakesailors pictures... of an incorrectly labelled one which he bought

Label looks good to me, that's a right handed one.

 

[VicS]

Label looks good to me, that's a right handed one.

Look back at lakesailors post on the subject and you can read all about it Round about Feb 2010.

He wanted one for the starboard bow. What was supplied was for the portbow, although the chandlery label said Stbd

 

[lustyd]

Look back at lakesailors post on the subject and you can read all about it Round about Feb 2010.

I

The diagram is correct but the photo is definitely a right handed fairlead.

EDIT, just read the old post. The mistake is using Port/Starboard to describe something that is left/right.

 

[MM5AHO]

Thanks for the help.