Cam cleats for Jibsheet

[jwcolby54]

I thought I would move from a normal cleat to a cam cleat for the jib sheets

Something like this:

RF58 | Ronstan Sailboat Hardware World

However I was told that the tension on the line would not let it release. I was under the impression you just jerked the sheet up and the cams released.

Do I misunderstand the purpose of the cam cleat?

[roverhi]

Cam cleat should work fine especially if the sheet already has taken a few turns around a winch. Have seen a few boats set up that way and didn't hear any complaints. Mainsheets on most boats are secured with cam cleats. At the end of a four part tackle probably wouldn't put the force on a main sheet that genoa sheet could have on it, however. Would not use a cam cleat that has a fairlead before it. With a sheet, you need to be able to pop it free and pull the sheet upward off the winch. Also a fair lead will be subject to hangs ups of the rope passing through it. You want a Jib sheet to run as free as possible without having to deal with hockles in the line getting jammed anywhere.

Personally have always been able to pop the sheet out of a cam cleat and have had some with a lot tension on them, enough to distort the cleat. CLam cleats are another story, however.

Assume you

[savoir]

It will only work if the sheet is around a winch between the sail and the cleat. The cleat should be the plain type on a raised base with no swivel or fairlead. It is common to mount them on the cockpit backrest beneath the winch.

[jongleur]

I agree with roverhi if you do use cam
cleats, don't have the fairlead type like
you showed.

I would, though, say that
a OI 33 might be a bit big to use those
types of cleats. Think about the amount
of stress on those (what?) 3/16 or 1/8
bolts.

Of course, best would
be self-tailing winches, next best is a
proper cleat with at least 1/4 bolts.

But try it and let us know how it goes.