>From my perspective clutches for sheets are a little overkill and cost a lot. >If you got them laying around, there isn't any reason why they wont work. My >only hesitation is that they are set up to be easily tightened but to drop >them you have to "pop the clutch" which means you have to be able to reach >it. In contrast, a cam is cheaper and you merely need to grab the rope and >pull up if you have an emergeny. I have my halyards set up with a deck organizer, multiple clutches and a winch. THis way I save the money and deck space I would otherwise need for multiple winches. If the issue is single handling, I would be happier with cams or selftailing winches. In addition, I would spend some time thinking about deck organization. Running lines back to the cockpit etc. If you are singlehandling I would try to minimize the trips to the pointing part of the boat. :)
--- On Tue, 4/13/10, Mark Robertson <[email protected]> wrote: From: Mark Robertson <[email protected]> Subject: RE: [IC27A] How do you cleat your sheets? To: [email protected] Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 10:49 AM I have Lewmar rope clutches for the jib sheets on my boat and love them. They hold even in heavy wind. I bought them from West Marine. I noticed that Catalina Direct has them for a lower cost but I am not sure of the quality. >>> "Joe McCary" <[email protected]> 4/13/2010 7:29 AM >>> I often sail single handed or shorthanded. I currently have the Lewmar 16s winches (I have 2 Lewmar 32 ST, 2 speed, winches to install this spring. I use the standard horned cleat to tie off the sheets. It is a pain, but workable. I use the winches except in light air where I just pull and cleat. I have used the head-up and luff and then sheet technique when over powered, but that is one of the signs it is time to reef. I do enough single handing that I have purchased an auto pilot to help with just this problem. Joe McCary Aeolus II. #4795, West River, MD www.aeoluswestriver .net joe at photoresponse dot com On Behalf Of Doug Subject: [IC27A] How do you cleat your sheets? Now to my question. The stock winches are Lewmar 10s w/rubber self tailers with a cleat aft. I actually found it easier to not use the winch and luff the headsail and cleat. What is your upgrade? Have you switched to cam cleats instead of the regulate cleat? upgraded the winches? What do you find to be the best way to 'cleat your sheet', especially when single handed? Doug 5053 __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5023 (20100412) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset. com
