Hi,

I went down the coast and sailed in winds at about 25 nots (great fun). My problem is i cant cleat off the main when my arm gets tired. I know im not ment to cleat it off but since im only 16 my arm gets tired in strond winds? I think tyhe cleat is too high to lock off but when i put it down a hole i can unlock it can some one give me some view's of how to over come this.



Thanks, from Julian



(p.s i sail a hobie 16 for 2 years and in most races finish in the top 10 percent)

Try turning into the wind momentarilly to relieve the pressure on the sheet. Cleat and then return to normal course. Be ready to uncleat when it gusts.

Good luck

Greg

H14, H16

Ease the jib halyard to get some big time rake. You should be able to two block with lots of twist in the main. Jib traveler out 4 inches and main traveler out 6 inches. Cleat the main all you want, just be ready to ease in a gust.

You need to angle your cleat, so you can get your main cleated from the wire. Some blocks have adjustments for the angle of your cam cleats. I had to angle my cleat as far as it would go and install an angle base under the cleat to be able to cleat from the wire. Be sure you can pop the sheet loose when the gust overpower your boat.



In high winds, travel out a little and sheet tight.



David

I tryed the pulling in to the wind and blocking it but since i live in canberra australia this doesn't work to well but I think this technipue take's practice. I sail on a lake which isn't very wide say 50meters but very long. I put the cleat down a hole and was to low to uncleat, even if i was on the tramp I couldn't uncleat it. My crew and i have tryed to tamper with the block to change the angle but didn't turn out so well so is there some thing to angle the cleat/block better?

Julian,



Go ahead and move your cleat to where you can cleat it. It is a bit of an Art Form getting it uncleated. You have to learn to pop the line to get your main uncleated. I usually head up first a little before I uncleat the main. If you are being overpowered on a regular basis, travel out further.



I would rather have my main a bit difficult to uncleat than hard to cleat.



David

Jules, You did not mention if you are using good sailing gloves, such as Trophy. Gloves will really increase your ability to hold a mainsheet while going to strong weather.



You can also wrap the sheet around your hand an extra loop, but I'd only recommend this if you are good at detecting a puff and can release it quickly.



Good sailing!

The gloves im using are gill good gloves but thats not my problem, the problem is i cant cleat the main and cant realy hold on to the main sheet for to long. Like im not paying you out o any thing im just wondering if im missing some thing? Well i appreciate all the help you people have given me thanks again.



From Jules

Another shot in the dark. My main will not cleat unless I am pulling in on the sheet as I lift it up. The jaws don't open unless I pull at least a few inches of sheet across them. You may not have the same kind of cleat. Good luck.

Greg

H14, H16

You didn't say what kind of main sheet system you were using.



Some of the older Seaway blocks had cleats that were difficult to engage under a load. If you're already block to block, or holding all your arm can stand, you'll have to back off quite a bit, before cleating. You might be able to replace just the cleats with the newer harken cam-matic or going down to a smaller 3/8 size sheet if you're using 7/16.

Sorry for the taking so long but I had no time. Well the block has no name but i knoe its a harken. It looks old say 10years.

I tried most of those techniques and well they didn't work as well as hoped I went over with my girlfriend and she said she wont sail with me ever again (I bet she will). Well would you suggest a new block? Because im thinking it could be that.



From Jules

Sounds like it might be an older system. You might take a look at a new set of blocks first, to see if this could help your problem. You might be able to replace just the cleats, if you can find them. I don't know if ordering from www.murrays.com would be a cost effective solution in your area, but I'm pretty sure they carry them.

I had to bring this thread up again. While sailing this weekend I had some trouble cleating the sheet. Also I was hearing scraping from the traveller car. While sailing back to shore for lube I realized I couldn't recall the last time I had lubed anything other than the traveller. With the boat rigged I went around and sprayed silicon lube on every piece of hardware. Presto chango...I could now cleat and uncleat smoothly and easily.

I feel like...you know...Duh

Greg

H14, H16

Yes its always good to clean and spray your block i do this almost every time i go out. But thats not my the problem, its that the cleat is in such a position i cant cleat from trapeze and well the only time i can is when im traping off the back off the boat down wind.



From Julian

Jules,



Fellow Aussie here from Far North Queensland. Does your mainsheet system have a ratchet block? Is it functioning properly?



I now sail a Taipan not a Hobie 16. My last boat was a Hobie 16 and the ratchet block was r.s. . I also had trouble holding onto the mainsheet for any length of time.



My Taipan has an excellent Ronstan ratchet block that functions as a ratchet block should and it makes a HUGE difference. The ratchet block should rotate freely in the direction the sheet travels when you sheet on but not rotate in the reverse direction thereby taking a heap of the load off your arms. When you ease the sheet sufficiently it slides over the top of the stationary block. There is a switch on the block so that you can turn the ratchet on and off. Off for light conditions.



Just an idea, hope it's some help.



Berthos.

hey



no i dont think it has, the block looks about 10years old and its probaly the original. The boat when i first bought it, it looked like it had all the original gear and so far i have replace a whole lot of things. I think the problem is the angle of the block i cant move the cleat higher or lower but i dont know how to reangle the block. If any one can help it would be a great help.



Jules