Cam Cleats

[David1952]

HI, I'm considering running my main, jib and reef lines to my cockpit on a Cape Dory Senior Any recomendations or suggestions regarding
Harken vs Ronstan.
I'm looking at the Harken Standard Cam Cleat #150 vs Ronstan Medium c-Cleat # RF5010
The working loads are 300 lbs Harken vs 275 lbs Ronstan. I'm not sure what the working load would be on these lines.
Thanks again to all for the great advise.
David

[John Martin]

Hi David,

I am not sure I would use cam cleats for this application. They are mounted with only #8 machine screws. If you must use cam cleats, use the metal (aluminum) ones, and use the next size up.

A better solution would be to use rope clutches. Notice the working load difference between the two. This is what rope clutches are designed for.

I am glad to see you plan to bring the reefing line(s) back to the cockpit, smart decision.

Do you plan to use a halyard organizer and winch?

John

[David1952]

John thank you for the advise.
I currently do not use a winch to raise the haylards so I assumed I would not need one if I runs the lines aft.
I do not know the working load on the haylard lines on a Cape Dory Senior. But looking through this site I have seen pictures of Cape Dory's as large as 30' with cam cleats mounted on the cabin top. I do intend to mount a Halyard Organizer at the base of the mast and also mount some sort of cheek blocks or line organizer to turn the lines aft to the cockpit. If money was not an issue, I agree rope clutches would be the best way to go. Thanks again for the advise.
David Pydynkowski
Cape Dory Senior

[Steve Laume]

David, you are correct in that the CD-30 uses a cam cleat for the main and stay sail sheets on the cabin top. So does the CD-36 for that matter. The difference is that they are on the tailing end of winches that are also mounted there.

The halyards on Raven go to a winch on the mast and are then cleated off on a traditional cleat mounted after the winch. The exception is the stay sail. The halyard for it goes directly to a cleat on the mast. The reason this works it that you can take one wrap on the cleat and then jump (pull to the side) the halyard to tension it. This is pretty easy to do with a traditional horn cleat at the mast but I am not so sure you will be able to get enough tension on your main halyard with a cam cleat on the cabin top.

With rope clutches ahead of a winch you could serve all your halyards with one winch. If you use cam cleats, you need a winch for each line. Or you could just leave the halyards at the mast and not have all the clutter in the cockpit, Steve.

[David1952]

Steve,
Thanks for the advise. Looks like in order to do it right, I'd have to add a winch
and use rope clutches. Looks like it may not happen this year. Oh well, there's always
next year....Thanks Again David

[John Martin]

If you don't have one, get a copy of the Harken Catalog. It is a great resource for how to set up rigging. Look in the sections, Mastbase & Cabintop Blocks and Mainsail Reefing. As Steve stated above, It makes a difference where the cam-cleat is mounted, in front or behind the winch. I don't think you can get enough tension on your halyard, without a winch.

John