Re: More cleats and clutches

DAVID_KAUTZ@HP-Sunnyvale-om5.om.hp.com
Wed, 10 Mar 1999 12:03:33 -0800


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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That sounds like a great feature - The clutches I have experienced (25 or so
years ago) with were all on larger old boats on which I crewed. The clutches
allowed one winch to serve several lines - I don't recall any ratcheting
feature, my memory is that they kind of "self released" if you pulled on the
line, the handle had to be pushed back down to lock. Between winching, tailing,
and operating the clutch it was more of a "three-handed" activity!

Incidentally, I want to say that I think it's great that you are involving the
entire family in sailing. When my kids were small, I stopped sailing, thinking
it was the best thing to do for them at the time. In retrospect, I think that
sailing, either as a family or involving them in the junior program at a yacht
club would have been a much better environment for their weekend activities than
the ones they chose themselves. The way some parents carry on at soccer and
baseball games makes even the Potter Yachters look civilized in comparison!

Dave Kautz
P-15 #1632 Tilly Lucy
Palo Alto, CA

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: More cleats and clutches
Author: Non-HP-eric (eric@winternet.com) at hp-boise,shargw7
Date: 3/10/99 10:50 AM

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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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It has been rumored that David Kautz said:
>
> 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.

Many rope cluches, including the ones I installed (can't recall the brand,
sorry), allow you to trim (pull) the line without adjusting the clutch.
Easing requires the clutch to be released.

-- 
Eric L. Pederson
P-19 #970, Necessity
Bloomington, MN