Why not the pin?
Why not the pin?
The pin in it's current shape will catch the mainsheet occasionally on jibes.
Since the pin's only purpose is to hold the tiller and the rudder downhaul line does the same thing, it's not needed...
I've tried 12 strand spectra, 12 strand vectran, marlow prestretch, generic double braid low tech and swiftcord. The last three all work about the same IMHO. I had the same problem with the 12 strands as the original poster (using purchase and cleat)
I use a purchase, with the cleat as a turning point (ACME tiller) - all purchase is above the rudder
Why not the pin?
Pic worth a 1000 words ?
So this must be 2K
Cleat is clamcleat - plastic
There is a second method of leading the downhaul out the back and over the top of the rudder head. That works too..
Thanks! It looks like the clam cleat is big enough for two pieces of line to pass through. Is that correct?
... but there is a significant contingent that do rig it in the down position before launching and attach the rudder/tiller/extension as a unit in the water. I prefer this myself - ease, safety, etc, etc.
I used to have the exact same problem..was one of my pet gripes with the Laser...just watch a fleet of Lasers leaving the beach...everyone hanging over the back of the boats fiddling with purchase and rudder tie down.
I decided to get the new micro cleat after speaking to others who had tried many other ways...pins..big cleats...etc
I fitted the cleat and so far I am happy with it...prethread rudder down haul through it on the beach (rudder up) and back through hole in it (purchase hole) figure 8 stop knot to finish off. Set off from beach give the down haul a good pull to cleat it tight. Then couple of loops to take up excess line...dead quick and tight as a drum...
You just need to remember to uncleat on beach arrival as the rudder if it hits bottom cleats on harder even more... so i uncleat offshore as i come in ready..(although i gybed by accident the other week when I managed to pull the tiller out of the head and went for a quick swim in the ensuing capsize!!)
see http://www.lasersailing.com/shop/uks/product/5204 for details
yes i believe so..its the line that comes in the UK spec XD kit pack..you have to remove the standard rudder line and then thread the XD spec line thru the rudder hole and tie a couple of stop knots...I don't form a loop around the cleat as part of the tie down (only to get rid of excess line so it doen't end up in the traveler/ mainsheet blocks) I just use the cleat to really pull and cleat off. This hasnt come undone yet and has to be physiacally undone to get it to uncleat (it cleats on the pull towards you..some other cleat on the pull up of the line but some friends who have used these have had them come undone) This cleat is fairly new in the clam cleat range..I heard it was developed specially for laser (hence the purchase hole in it...its also very very small and with a strong grip)
If you are also new to sailing and feel you can't judge the depth of the water by eye, you may need a different method too.
There is a second method of leading the downhaul out the back and over the top of the rudder head. That works too..
I don't tie any knots when launching. My setup is a loop of shockcord tied and taped to the tiller end by the universal and a bowline tied in the end of the downhaul. When launching I jam the downhaul in the cleat, then thread the shockcord through the bowline and loop it back over the tiller end against the universal. Takes 2 seconds, never comes undone and keeps the line tight in the cleat (and therefore the tiller tight in the stock). I think i got the idea from an earlier thread on laserforum, but can't find it now.