Adding Cam Cleats to Typhoon

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Jim Kingrea

Adding Cam Cleats to Typhoon

Post by Jim Kingrea »

I would like to add cam cleats to my Typhoon for better control of the jib sheets, but I don't know if the cleats will work properly with the coaming boards.Has anyone added cam cleats to their boat, and where did you position the cleats and were you able to adjust the sheets in a heavy wind when the boat was heeling.
Thanks
Jim Kingrea
'Nipper'



jkingrea@flash.net
sloopjohnl

Re: Adding Cam Cleats to Typhoon

Post by sloopjohnl »

jim,

my typhoon weekender came originally equipped with cam cleats for the jib only. the jib tracks are located on the cabin top almost out to the very side. the cam cleats were located at the edge of the aft end of the cabin top in line with the jib tracks. last year i replaced the originals (1976) with new harken cleats of equal size. the originals had in integral bullseye fairlead which worked well so i purchased the same style from harken. the mounting holes did not line up but a little marine tex solved that problem.
the genoa sheets are lead to the genoa track on the toerail, from there to the winch and are then cleated off at the cleat attached to the coaming. these cleats could be replaced by cam cleats, but i have left mine for originality and they also serve other purposes.
Capt. Mike

Re: Cam Cleats to belay jib sheets

Post by Capt. Mike »

Dear Sailor:
Cam cleats can be eazily be added to the coamings. The beauty of Spartan cleats is they do not have to be hitched in most normal conditions. A simple single round turn is enough friction to hold the sheet. A full hitch is only needed in situations where security is foremost. I have never had a sheet let loose under strain unless a crew member accidentally hit it. Back to your upgrade and refit. A two hole cleat is most practical in this applicaiton. On my Ensign, I fabricated a piece of wood which acted like a spacer to raise the purchase point for a better fairlead. The wood and cleat was then fastened to winch base. In this application, it worked exceptionally well. Whether this can be done on a Cape Dory is questionable. One option would be to tap the bronze winch base for mechine screw or either though bolt it. Another option would be to fabricate a block of wood that screws to the coaming upon which the cleat is screwed. Screws can be successfully used here because the force vector is predominately perpendicular to the screws. In the racing application like an Ensign this maybe is practical- I personally would never substutite the existing cleats on my Cape Dory for cam cleats. Many happy repairs.. Capt. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Jim Kingrea wrote: I would like to add cam cleats to my Typhoon for better control of the jib sheets, but I don't know if the cleats will work properly with the coaming boards.Has anyone added cam cleats to their boat, and where did you position the cleats and were you able to adjust the sheets in a heavy wind when the boat was heeling.
Thanks
Jim Kingrea
'Nipper'
Don Carr

Re: Adding Cam Cleats to Typhoon

Post by Don Carr »

Although I have a CD25, the sheeting setup is the same. As in another post in this thread I have never had a problem with the coaming mounted bronze cleat with one turn. You might check out Bristol Bronze which makes a neat Herreshoff bronze jam cleat which would just replace the standard cleat you already have. It lookes like a normal bronze cleat but has a "V" in one end just pull the sheet in and the purchase will hold it there.

Fair Winds.
Don



carrd48@netzero.net
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