AFAIK the cleat is aftermarket only, hence some masts have 'em, and some don't.
I have an older fish also and would like to add a cleat to the mast. Can anyone tell me where I should position it? (i.ee how high above the deck once the mast is in place?The mast cleat is good rig for racers and rec sailors. It reduces the down thrust on the base of the mast and thereby reduces the wear at the bottom of the mast hole. Also, with less friction, it makes it a little easier to tack and jybe. But Wavedancer is right on - be sure to run the slack end of the halyard thru the deck eye an back to the deck cleat so you don't lose your rig if you capsize.
Alan Glos
I have an older fish also and would like to add a cleat to the mast. Can anyone tell me where I should position it? (i.ee how high above the deck once the mast is in place?
Thanks!
I followed Wavedancer's recommendation from a while ago and just used a horn cleat.
Minifish2, thanks for that feedback. I'll keep it in mind for my next bare mast.
The option to release quickly is interesting. If you tied a boom vang with the halyard tail, can you still lower the halyard quickly?
That's been my frustration - a horn cleat on the deck, then a boom vang, and another horn cleat on the mast makes on the water changes with the halyard difficult.
Great advice--thanks to all...I guess everyone has their own vang variation, but the way I tie it, it doesn't matter what kind of mast cleat I'm using, or whether there is any at all. Whether with a cleat or not, I use two separate tie-offs on the deck horn cleat - one 'half-cleating'straight from the mast before the vang, and another tie-off to the cleat after. Adjusting between races is pretty simple, just push down on the spar at the gooseneck and take in the slack, to tighten, for example. I should take a picture. Then again others have their own preferences and I'm not suggesting mine is best for anyone else but me - whatever works.
Yes, please take some pictures. I'd like to see your set up.I should take a picture. Then again others have their own preferences and I'm not suggesting mine is best for anyone else but me - whatever works.