mainsheet cleats - do you use them?

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peterbye

New Member
I've never used the mainsheet cleats, perhaps I'm missing something...
Apart from ripping holes in the bum of your wetsuit what are they useful for?
 
This would be a good poll question if it hasn't been done already.

When I first started sailing Lasers at age 16, I used them on long races as my arms would fatigue and would occasionaly drop the sheet in the cleat to shake out cramps in my forearms. By 18 I no longer had the need for cleats. 25 years later I still don't use them and with the new rigging don't see any need for them any time soon.

I do, however, still use the bigger Harken ratchet block which has and advertised 50% more holding power then the little one. I found this helps on long races from keeping my arms from cramping as quickly and allows me to be playing the sheet.
 
I've had the opposite experience. Originally, I thought they were a pain in the butt (literally). But I have tendonitis in both arms and, after a summer of racing last year, my arms were in terrible shape from grasping, holding and pulling the mainsheet. A fellow racer - one who wins most of the races in my club - suggested I change my strategy. His advice was to cleat off the mainsheet on the long upwind legs and feather the tiller to get the best results. I tried it - and lost big time. But I kept at it and now, I generally cleat off the mainsheet. It's much easier on my arms. The cleats are still no fun to sit on, however.
 
No Dice, main cleats are weak. YOu cant sheet in and out on waves and, if you get hit with a big gust than you cant sheet out. Bad idea. I wouldnt think any olympic Laser sailors use them, infact i know they wouldn't
 
those cleats bug me, I like to be able to feel the wind in the sails, helps me race better.

-Eric
 
I dont use the cleats, and I have been told not to add them to my hull(by North Americans); however, I read an interview of Robert Schiedt the other day on his tacks, and he said that he cleats the main sheat at the end of the tack to have "free-hands". I had had never thought of or heard of a practical use for them (in racing) until I read that statement.
 
Well, youve got me there, but yeah , looking at micheal blackburns website, i was linked to a site about him sailing a laser across the Bass Straight, so about 14-18 hours of laser sailing in huge wind and waves. I'd sure hope you would have main sheet cleats for that!

http://www.sailfitter.com/course.html
 
Howdy Ya'll,
I've already posted my two cents worth on this subject in a earlier post about a month and a half ago or so. I use cleats and will continue to use cleats. I wasn't aware that Michael Blackburn and Robert Schiedt use them also. But there are times I use them and times I don't, with the smaller cleats mounted slightly forward (1"-2" or 25-50mm) then the normal mounting position you can get them in a place where they aren't such a pain in the arse nor do they tear up my hiking pants. It's good to be able to have a free hand for those adjustments to gear, glasses, hat, hiking strap or whatever. I also use it when I tack sometimes in heavy weather. Changed sides slap the main in the cleat hit the rail, feet under the hiking strap and then change hands with the tiller then pull the main back out of the cleat without worring about fumbling the tiller extension hand off. I may not be the most super coordinated laser sailing guru yet but I do what works for me and will continue to try different ideas and things that I think make sense. Cleats will stay on my boat. John Kolius uses them also along with other great sailors besdies the worlds best mentioned above I am sure.
Harken and Ronstan make the smaller cleats that work very well. Also it is legal to have a centermounted swiveling Main sheet cleat. I've got one and thought about trying it out on my older boat to see how I liked it but haven't got the mounting details figured out yet.
Best regards,
Fishingmickey
150087/181157
 
The center swivel cleat sucks. If you think keeping the mainsheet free of knots and get it to run free at a weather mark rounding is tough enough try getting the sheet to feed fast through the eye strap that guides it through a swivel cleat. I had one on my JY 15, (comes stock w/the boat) and I took it off. My J22 and J24 main sheet set up had a center mounted swivel cleat as well. They worked better, but the loads on the sheet were much greater, but I still would have some issues getting the main to run free quickly because it could get caught trying to feed through the eyestrap.

Mounting deck cleats forward of the regular spot on the Laser does have me thinking....

Also it is legal to have a centermounted swiveling Main sheet cleat. I've got one and thought about trying it out on my older boat to see how I liked it but haven't got the mounting details figured out yet.
Best regards,
Fishingmickey
150087/181157[/QUOTE]
 
Mullet Time has a point, I can't imagine winning races using a cleat. It causes every reaction to be slower.

I get sore elbows in long races over 15 knots of wind, I use to cleat off, but now I find that continuing to hold the sheet in your hand, and using your actual body weight to hold the force of the sheet is much better. This technique also helps to keep you out straight legged, and prevents your body from drooping into a bum drag.

I think the cleat is for the fun side of sailing. Not really for racing use apart from while putting the rudder down, or while having a chat between races.
 
I agree that the mainsheet becomes a part of you when sailing upwind and down in a breeze or really any conditions. If you're sailing around with a cleated off sail you are not working hte boat. However, having the cleat for quick uses like tacking or control adjustment could be nice you just have to be careful not to rely on the cleat too much.

JacksonAUS said:
Mullet Time has a point, I can't imagine winning races using a cleat. It causes every reaction to be slower.

I get sore elbows in long races over 15 knots of wind, I use to cleat off, but now I find that continuing to hold the sheet in your hand, and using your actual body weight to hold the force of the sheet is much better. This technique also helps to keep you out straight legged, and prevents your body from drooping into a bum drag.

I think the cleat is for the fun side of sailing. Not really for racing use apart from while putting the rudder down, or while having a chat between races.
Click to expand...
 
i took the cleats off my boat and epoxied the holes. its more comfortable hiking but i think i regret it because as it has been said - they are useful when one is not racing. nice website by the way.
 
I use my mainsheet cleats as line organizers. loosely popping the vang and sometimes the cunningham/outhaul in there keeps them from washing into the water and keeps them within reach. As my friend said, "the mainsheet cleats are useful for a lot of things, but not the mainsheet!"
 
Well how do you guys drink the beer? :D

Rigging rules kinda blow. They dictate the size/weight, narrowly, of a competitor. I'm used to a wide open rigging (in the 505), where you can make the boat fit the person not the other way around. But it is, what it is. And the new rules are a Godsend!
 
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