An important difference between cam cleats and clutches, especially to a
person sailing solo, is that a line in a cam cleat can be trimmed with
one hand, trimming (other than a uncontrolled release) a line in a
clutch requires two hands. Clam cleats and vee cleats, especially those
with integral fairleads are also "one handed" but the pull needs to be
better aligned with centerline of the cleat.
Running the main halyard aft REQUIRES putting slugs on the sail. If you
have the standard bolt rope (having had both, I personally prefer it
that way on the P-15) you have to be at the mast to feed the bolt rope
into the slot as you pull the halyard.
I wouldn't get worried about hardware breaking due to overload on a
Potter. Even the lowliest Racelite block is likely strong enough to lift
a P-15 right out of the water. Similar hardware to what comes standard
on a Potter is used on boats with greater sail area. I'd expect a screw
to strip out or a pop rivet to pull out long before breaking a block or
a line.
Best regards,
Dave Kautz
P-15 #1632 Tilly Lucy
Palo Alto, CA