Keylime 0 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Hi, I'm having trouble cleating of the gib lines while sailing in moderate winds on my Tasman 20. The cleat is level with the winch, so when the winch has a few winds in it, it is hard to pull the line down into the cleat. It happens on both sides. I have both winches set up to take the line clockwise - I could change this, but it is still hard to cleat. See pictures - ignore the arrow on one. Any thoughts on what to do here? raise the cleats? (might be wobbly) lower the winches? (might be hard to access..) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 642 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Why not use cleat on winch?? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aardvarkash10 959 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 48 minutes ago, harrytom said: Why not use cleat on winch?? ^ this. Failing that, shift the cam cleats to the inside of the cockpit coaming so you can pull downward into them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 The random bits on the top of the winch are designed to cleat the rope off to. You can still winch it in when cleated, you just get more turns on the winch. The cam cleats may be faster and easier. but if you are having trouble with them, lock the sheet off on the winch top. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eruptn 95 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 A new bracket under the winch cold see it lowered so the bottom of the which drum was at cleat height. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chariot 243 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 No need for the cleats. Use the top of the winch drum, that's what it's designed for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Keylime 0 Posted January 10, 2022 Author Share Posted January 10, 2022 5 hours ago, Fish said: The random bits on the top of the winch are designed to cleat the rope off to. You can still winch it in when cleated, you just get more turns on the winch. The cam cleats may be faster and easier. but if you are having trouble with them, lock the sheet off on the winch top. Very hard to use the winch cleats while the sheet is under strain and I’m on the other side of the boat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Keylime 0 Posted January 10, 2022 Author Share Posted January 10, 2022 2 hours ago, chariot said: No need for the cleats. Use the top of the winch drum, that's what it's designed for. Yea, and it works, but not adjustable while sailing and hard to use while the sheet is tight, the boat heeling and I’m on the opposite side of the cockpit Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Keylime 0 Posted January 10, 2022 Author Share Posted January 10, 2022 5 hours ago, eruptn said: A new bracket under the winch cold see it lowered so the bottom of the which drum was at cleat height. Yea, though wouldn’t be able to get the winch arm in. Thinking about raising the cleats up somehow Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 642 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 option 2 turn your jammers around so you cleat to windward,when your on the windward side you can uncleat them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Terry B 71 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 What Harrytom says👍 Years ago when I had my trailer sailor I read a good book on sailing single handed. So I set my sheets up as per what the book said: the leeward winch became a turning block, the winch on the windward side was the winch I used for the sheet. It meant I could adjust/release easily as I was sitting next to it. You can also set the sheets up as 1 continuous sheet so that no matter what happens the sheet is always in reach. I did this too - made it really easy as the sheet(s) was always within reach. The book was by Andrew Evans; Thoughts, Tips, Techniques and Tactics for Single Handed Sailing. It was downloadable as a PDF back then - you can probably still find it on line? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 11 hours ago, Keylime said: Very hard to use the winch cleats while the sheet is under strain and I’m on the other side of the boat That is a different question. If you are single handed and want to be able to control the jib sheet from the windward side (while driving), it is an idea to "cross sheet". As Terry says, use the leeward winch or a turning block to bring the loaded sheet to the windward winch. Then everything is in reach and it may be easier to cleat it off on the winch top. I've never done this (I can sheet on with the tiller between my legs, and I have big overlappers, so set the headsail and trim the main for balance), but it is a common method in solo sailing. The book that covers all of this stuff is "Single Handed Sailing" by Andrew Evans, who sails 'Foolish Muse'. Andrew is available to chat to on Sailing Anarchy and uses the handle 'Foolish'. Look in the single handed section on Sailing Anarchy. Singlehanded Sailing : Andrew Evans : 9780071836531 (bookdepository.com) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rgvkiwi 15 Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 I agree with others that your boat is setup for the winch top to be the cleat. Its actually the same as ours. We have a cleat and various other angle changes in the same area for spinnaker sheets and other things. I was confused on how to cleat off the headsail sheet with all that was there until I realised to use the winch itself. Could the cleat be for a spinnaker sheet or something else like on ours? Or maybe a cleat for when the winch isnt necessary, light wind, small sail etc. I do often do just that as well. Though I'm still learning our boat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marshy 30 Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 Try put a wedge under the cleat - it doesnt need to be the same height as the rope but the angled wedges you get from burnsco etc for the cleats will just tilt the cleat a little making it easier to get the rope in. https://www.burnsco.co.nz/ronstan-wedge-kits 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.