Hey fellas,

I finally upgraded me ol`Seaway blocks to the Harken 6:1 setup. In an effort to minimize trial and error can anyone tell me a good starting point for the adjustable cleating angle?


Thanks

Dave

Set up the boat. Sails up and rig tensioned. Sheet as normal and test on the beach. Depends on mast rake, so no fixed adjustment is good from boat to boat. Higher jaws are safer, but harder to get in the cleat while on the wire. Lower will cleat as you sheet, but requires a good snap of the line to release.

One to two holes up from all the way down.
BTW: It's almost impossible to uncleat if you go ALL the way down. You will likely flip in the first puff. Best to start two holes up and see how that works.

Thanks Guys,

I`ve clearly set it too low to start with and it is fair to say that you`ve probably saved me fom an uneccessary swim in Lake Huron in May - one degree above freezing.

Dave

Lake Huron??? So, THAT'S where you sail. For some reason, I thought you were from the Thunder Bay area.

That would be me

second to the lowest - tried for a while the lowest possition but had trouble with uncleating in situations where you need to release fast...


Patrick

I have mine set on the next to lowest setting too and it still seems way too high. When I am trapped out, it feels like I have to pull the sheet over my head to be able to cleat it. This is surprising to me since I think my traps are set a little on the high side as I get more comfortable with trapping.

Have you changed from the old mainsheet system (two bails on the boom)? If so, try putting the upper block on the forward bail.