Foredeck cleat

[JBA]

Hello all,

My gernoa sheets get caught on my centerline foredeck cleat while tacking. Does anyone else have the same problem? Any solution?

Thanks, JBA

[Steve Laume]

You could keep some tension on your lazy sheet while tacking. Rig a line from somewhere on the bow to the base of the mast or make up a cleat cover.

A cleat cover could be made out of wood in two parts to fit around the cleat and be held in place with shock cord or a piece of light line.

It could also lessen the possibility and or severity of stubbed toes. It might be a bit of a pain to deal with when preparing to anchor but the benefits may out weigh the negatives, Steve.

[Neil Gordon]

I'd opt for just taking out the slack.

[pete faga]

Buy a catboat!

[Maine_Buzzard]

+1 on the cleat shoes. Shape wood blocks with a bevel on the front edge and a recess to engage the horn of the cleat. Drill holes crossways and install a bungee in a loop on two blocks. Tension it so you can pull the shoes off the cleats, but they are held on securely. The sheets will slide over the cleats forever more.

Used them racing on a Benetau 40.5, worked like a charm on spinnaker lines, genoas, and everything else. They also are toe savers, which is one more good reason to have them.

The crappy MSpaint is a result of a beer or two...

[tartansailor]

+1 on the cleat shoes. Shape wood blocks with a bevel on the front edge and a recess to engage the horn of the cleat. Drill holes crossways and install a bungee in a loop on two blocks. Tension it so you can pull the shoes off the cleats, but they are held on securely. The sheets will slide over the cleats forever more.

Used them racing on a Benetau 40.5, worked like a charm on spinnaker lines, genoas, and everything else. They also are toe savers, which is one more good reason to have them.

The crappy MSpaint is a result of a beer or two...

Well done; thanks.

dick

[JBA]

Thanks for the suggestions. I used to have a catboat so I know what you mean.
One consideration is that I singlehand most of the time. At this point, cleat shoes seem to make the most sense.

Thanks, JBA

[pete faga]

Jba. The catboat suggestion was just in fun. I never had my headsails sheet foul with the deck cleat but I did a few times had the sheet get wrapped on the mast cleat.!

[Joe Myerson]

The catboat suggestion was just in fun.

Pete,

Don't make fun of catboats! I grew up sailing them and sometimes miss my Marshall.

Seriously, keeping the lazy sheets somewhat taut is the best way to handle this.

--Joe

[Carl Thunberg]

It makes me wish I had a foredeck cleat just so I could copy your design.