Clutches, Cams, or Clams?

[Bash]

Originally Posted by GorillaToast

Would cam or clam cleats provide enough holding power for the halyards on a 20' non-racing boat in inland waters? I know many folks on larger boats run these lines thru clutches prior to the halyard winch, but are they necessary on a small boat?

I would not run a halyard to a clam cleat, but would not have a problem with using a cam cleat on that size boat. I agree with delmarrey, however, that jam cleats are the bee's knees.

Not that delmarrey said anything about bees. Or knees.

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by GorillaToast

Cam cleats would be the least expensive and easiest to use, but I can see that if I'm running more than 4 lines back to the cockpit, 4 cam cleats (even if they are staggered) will take up more space than a 3 or 4 line clutch. Guess I'll dig deep into the wallet for a 4 line clutch.

They wont take up more room if you stagger them fore and aft by an inch , so one overlaps the other slightly with enough room for the lines to pass between them

Cheers
Oz

[S/V Alchemy]

Seems like overkill to me for a 20 footer, but there are some aspects of clutch operation that are nice for the single-hander. They are certainly tidy.

[GorillaToast]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Seems like overkill to me for a 20 footer, but there are some aspects of clutch operation that are nice for the single-hander. They are certainly tidy.

Must have seemed so to the manufacturer as well, as this boat came with no winches or cleats.

I will be single-handing most of the time.

[Pblais]

Clutches are great and I have six of them but on a smaller boat you have to run line organizers and fair leads and mast blocks to keep the leads true and the added turns can be a problem in the very light loads of a small boat. The added friction makes you lose the feel in your hand. In a bigger boat they just pull like heck.

I would think Jam and Clam cleats would be cheapest. You just can't screw up with those. Cam's have more parts but would handle the loads you need to deal with but I think they cost more. I use them with the staysail traveler, my furling lines and on the davits. For a traveler I really like them.

You probably don't have self tailing winches and a jam would I think be the most solid.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by GorillaToast

Must have seemed so to the manufacturer as well, as this boat came with no winches or cleats.

I will be single-handing most of the time.

Then maybe it's your "treat" to yourself. Like you could easily rig a line and a bungee cord for limited self-steering, but the smallest tillerpilot would make it more "restful"!