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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Jib track cleat

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fmarcelino
1st Mate

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USA
37 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/09/2014 : 07:14:28

Hello group,

I have a Catalina 25' and when I bought the boat it didn't come with a spring cleat. I came across a spring cleat that attaches to the genoa track and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them?

I was actually looking at them because it would be a great solution for a smaller boat like mine because it wouldn't be permanently attached to the boat. When I'm under way they could actually be removed so that they're not a trip/toe-stubbing hazard. When I'm returning to the slip, I can re-attach.

My questions are:
Are they any good?
Do they work as advertised? (i.e. Can I actually use them to secure the boat like a normal cleat)
Anyone have any experience with them? I believe the Catalina 25' has a 1 inch track.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Owner 1982 Catalina 25 (Bel Canto), 89 Merc 9.9hp outboard
Read about my sailing adventures on my photo diary at:
https://belcantosailingphotos.shutterfly.com/

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 09:23:50

The only downsides I've read about them is that they are expensive and under sail the jib sheet can hang up on it. Removing them each time you go sailing will remedy the latter point but could become a hassle, i.e. two more rigging/derigging steps each time you sail. Toe stubbing is unlikely unless you added inboard tracks. Consider jib cars with just a large loop (would not need to be removed) and attach a snap shackle to your spring line. After docking, simply snap the line to the jib car and tie off the line.
We had a spring line cleat on our dock and kept a line there running to the bow cleat and to our genoa winch. If you travel frequently to other marinas, I can see the benefit to having the cleats on the genoa tracks.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 10:37:27

Once the cleat is out of use (after leaving dock) then if it were slid all the way forward (in front of the jib cleat) or all the way (astern of the jib cleat) then would it be out of the way?

Paul

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 12:16:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Consider jib cars with just a large loop (would not need to be removed) and attach a snap shackle to your spring line. After docking, simply snap the line to the jib car and tie off the line.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This is exactly what I do.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4018 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 12:53:54

Funny that this came up but over the winter I scored 2 sliding cleats for the T-Track on E-Bay for $30. I even sent the seller an E-Mail asking him if the price was for one or for the two. He said it was for the set so they are now on my boat. That said they are mounted mid ship just aft of a stanchion for a spring line and so far this season the jib sheet has never gotten hung up on them nor do I have to move them. I also have never stubbed my toe on them. They are ridiculously over priced if you go to buy them new but if you keep an eye out you might get a deal. To answer your questions, Yes they are good, Yes they work as advertised. Yes a 1" track. Mine are from a Cape Dory and are aluminum with the hole under the horn so I can't comment on the ones from CD.

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 13:29:54

FHI
From Sailcare: 51 253 : nylon : 6-1/2" : 1" : $47.00

http://www.sailcare.com/special-cleats.shtml

Paul

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 14:01:13

I use a track mounted padeye instead of a cleat for the spring line. It's about 5 seconds more hassle to install a line on, but the jib and spin sheets never catch on it by mistake.

The same eyes (which are called "eye slides" by Schaefer Marine) are used for my spinnaker twing lines blocks when those get rigged.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 16:07:59

I had a low-priced aluminum pair, I think from Ronstan... They were never a tripping or line-catching problem. But I like the [url="http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1%7C2259971%7C2259991&id=92875"]stainless, open-throat ones from Schaefer[/url], which Defender has at a pretty good discount.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 16:21:40

Schaefer makes top shelf stuff

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5353 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 17:32:30

I use the cleats all the time - thanks again David. Even tho they are aluminum, they are holding up very well.
Scott, I'm glad you came across a pair at a great price.
I set up the jib sheet blocks and the cleats once, and just leave them alone - never in the way and definitely not a trip hazard.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 19:22:50

I have one of the Schaefer SS cleats that Dave B. linked. It's a work of art, and very useful. I only need it on one side of the boat, so I didn't spend the $$$ for a pair. The hole under the horn is very large, so it's very easy passing line through it. The less expensive nylon ones have much smaller hole (if any hole at all) so that's a consideration.

I have it all the way back on the track, behind the car. I would have to remove the car before I could remove the cleat. It would be a pain , and a risk of going overboard, so I just leave it in place when sailing. It has absolutely never caused any fouling of the jib sheets, or anything else. Never tripped or stubbed my toe on it either.

The Defender prices is very good. I paid $100 for it at WM four years ago.

Edited by - TakeFive on 06/09/2014 19:24:08

fmarcelino
1st Mate

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USA
37 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2014 : 21:14:37

Thanks everyone for the input.

I went ahead and ordered one from West Marine to see how it works.

Looking forward to actually having a spring cleat. All of the videos that I've seen and instructions that I've looked at all mention using a spring line that I currently don't have.

Hopefully this will solve that issue.

Thanks again everyone.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2014 : 05:18:33

One thing I'd suggest - use it in applications where the majority of the force is parallel to the track. (Most spring lines fit that description.)

I would avoid using any track cleat in a situation where the force is completely perpendicular to the track. The track is less strong in the transverse direction.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2014 : 05:44:25

My fav SS parts supplier:

[url="http://marinepartdepot.com/ststttreyesl1.html"]

Click to view[/url]

Paul

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2014 : 07:34:47

I have a cleat on a car on the genoa track of my C-25, and I run a 12' spring line from the dock (piling) to keep the boat stable fore and aft.

Some clever sailor wrote on the Forum years ago that he rigged each dock line secured by a knot to the dock and with a loop on the running end of each line. Upon docking, each loop was simply laid over its respective cleat. Since there's only horizontal force on each line, the large loops never slip off. I had been tying beautiful clove hitches on each cleat prior to hearing about that idea, but since then I just lay each loop over its bow, stern, or spring-line cleat and the job is done!

On your floating docks, you can rig each line pretty short since there is no rise and fall of your boat relative to the dock with the tide. In your photos it seems you need to dock bow-first, so you would want the spring line cleat up at the forward end of the genoa track to keep your bow off the dock, and that would hopefully be out of the way of the jib sheets. I dock stern-first and my spring line is aft of the jib sheet block and cannot interfere.

If your new spring line cleat does catch the jib sheets, I would make a smooth plastic cover for it out of a butter dish cover, or something that shape! Snap the cover on when casting off the spring line. The jib sheets would slide over the smooth cover. If you're not handy with tools, you could order a custom cleat-with-cover from Harken for $1000 or so. I'd prefer an old butter dish cover for $0.10!

Happy sailing!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2014 : 10:22:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fmarcelino
 I went ahead and ordered one from West Marine...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The Schaefer? From the Evil Empire? Oh well, what's an extra $18...

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2014 : 11:27:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 My fav SS parts supplier:

[url="http://marinepartdepot.com/ststttreyesl1.html"]

Click to view[/url]

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I'll repeat my prior warning: If you buy from them, be sure to use a credit card. They shorted me an item once, and they never responded to repeated emails about the problem. It was like there was nobody there at all - just no response to ANYTHING. In the end I had to have my credit card company chargeback for the missing item.

If I had paid by Paypal, I would have had to go through their lengthy arbitration process.

So do business with them if you choose, but expect NOTHING in the way of customer support. Your only recourse is to have your credit card company reverse charges.

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2014 : 14:31:58

I wouldn't buy parts like this from a company who can't tell you the maximum working load. Schaefer does, marinepartdepot doesn't (and doesn't even tell you who made it).

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cat30
1st Mate

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73 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2014 : 06:41:55

Garhauer makes mid-ship cleats- always good quality.
cost about $45

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2014 : 09:37:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cat30
 Garhauer makes mid-ship cleats- always good quality.
cost about $45
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">But not with an open throat, which I want on any dock-line cleat.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4018 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2014 : 16:22:39

Has to have the open throat in my opinion with the pin forward or aft of the cleat. This is one of my E-Bay cleats with the spring line that is always attached to my dock. When docking its a simple matter to just dropping the loop over the cleat. The bow and stern lines are also permanently on the dock. No adjustments needed to tie up the boat.

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