Flag halyard cleats on shrouds

[MJWB]

Looking around I see some folks appear to have attachable cleats fitted to shrouds and some like me on the mast. Apart from convenience or personal idiosyncratic choice, does anyone know any merits or de-merits to fitting these to the shrouds please? Many thanks.

 

[Poignard]

If you lost your footing climbing on board you might end up hanging by a finger.

That would hurt.

 

[[70521]]

I've always seen shroud cleats as a possible eye removing tool and they have no place on my, or indeed any, boat.

 

[lustyd]

It depends on the boat. On mine it's the only sensible choice, on my old boat I had them on the mast. Other locations would either cause noise down below, chafe of the halyard, or block the deck in a place I don't want the deck blocked. They are mounted at a safe height so one would need to really try to get an eye on them.

 

[Minerva]

Always looked perfect for snagging lines, clothes and body parts to me.

I tie my burgee halyards to my toerail, right next to the shrouds…

 

[geem]

Why would you catch an eye, clothes or body parts? My cleats are fitted above head hieght. Been like that for 10 years. Works perfectly well. Never had a snag on clothes eyes or body parts ?

 

[lustyd]

I tie my burgee halyards to my toerail, right next to the shrouds

If I did that, or I should say when I tried that, the courtesy flag banged on the shrouds and wore itself to shreds very quickly.

 

[johnalison]

I've seen them but agree that they look snagworthy. The one advantage I see is that the flag hoists would lie vertically and look a little better than when slanting, but not worth it for me.

 

[Poignard]

I

Why would you catch an eye, clothes or body parts? My cleats are fitted above head hieght. Been like that for 10 years. Works perfectly well. Never had a snag on clothes eyes or body parts ?

I think I would want a more stable platform in a seaway than a 28' monohull before I stood up by the rail with both arms extended over my head swapping courtesy flags.

 

[geem]

I

I think I would want a more stable platform in a seaway than a 28' monohull before I stood up by the rail with both arms extended over my head swapping courtesy flags.

Why would you do it in a seaway? Wait until are somewhere calmer. It's not that important.

 

[Stemar]

On Jissel, mine were set at a height that allowed me to sit on the cabin to mess around with burgees or courtesy flags. They faced inwards so they didn't snag the genny halliards, but never gave a problem snagging clothing or anatomy.

 

[RJJ]

Continuous loop tied to the shrouds with a couple of rolling hitches "in series".

 

[srm]

Depends where you fit them, I have probably used them on most of my boats where they have a fair run from block to cleat without any of the problems suggested above. Can not remember exactly which boats as once fitted in the correct place they work and are otherwise forgettable. Obviously they are always fitted (or moved to) locations where they are unlikely to snag body parts or running gear.

Just out of interest have any of the anti commenters above actually suffered physical injury from such a cleat or is it all armchair speculation?

 

[Boathook]

I've always seen shroud cleats as a possible eye removing tool and they have no place on my, or indeed any, boat.

All the cleats on my mast could do that depending upon your eye height.

 

[Boathook]

Depends where you fit them, I have probably used them on most of my boats where they have a fair run from block to cleat without any of the problems suggested above. Can not remember exactly which boats as once fitted in the correct place they work and are otherwise forgettable. Obviously they are always fitted (or moved to) locations where they are unlikely to snag body parts or running gear.

Just out of interest have any of the anti commenters above actually suffered physical injury from such a cleat or is it all armchair speculation?

I've had problems with my mooring cleats normally causing stubbed toes .... Never a problem with shroud cleats so far and I've been using them for many years.

 

[Poignard]

Just out of interest have any of the anti commenters above actually suffered physical injury from such a cleat or is it all armchair speculation?

I never have.

Neither have I ever been drowned, or run over by a train, but that doesn't stop me taking reasonable precautions to avoid it happening.

 

[Daydream believer]

Mine are continuous loop pre tensioned & run down to the top of the bottle screws. There are a couple of loops positioned so the burgees/penants can be easily fitted quickly. I sit on the cabin top with feet on the side deck to fit. They hoist to the centre of the spreaders & only when the wind is at one angle will they flip on the shrouds. If that happens at night I just wind them down to deck level & put a piece of twin around them to the shroud.

 

[Daydream believer]

All the cleats on my mast could do that depending upon your eye height.

Why would one need cleats on a mast? Surely the sensible thing to do is take all lines back to the cockpit ????

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Why would you do it in a seaway? Wait until are somewhere calmer. It's not that important.

Courtesy flags are meant to be flown on entering a state's territorial waters.

 

[Daydream believer]

Courtesy flags are meant to be flown on entering a state's territorial waters.

Not to forget the "Q" when heading home to the UK I believe