I just acquired "Wind Rose" 1994 C36. I hate the stock jam cleat that is supposed to hold the main sheet on the cabin roof and I'm replacing it with a pair of rope clutches. (want an additional stop for the #2 mainsail reef point)My question is how to mount the clutch set. There's room on the little reinforced raised area on the stb side of the companionway, but what is the reinforcing material thats glassed in? The jam cleat was fastened with two 1/4' machine screws that just screwed down into that reinforcing block, whatever it is.
Maybe its a block of aluminum with the holes drilled and tapped into it??
In that case do I have to drill two (actually four) new holes and tap them?
(the old holes don't fit the new clutch set.) Or do I just drill all the way through to the cabin interior and use cap nuts on the inside?
Anybody had this issue?? I suppose if I just go ahead and drill, I will find out. But I'd rather know before hand.
Thanks
Sam
Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida
First, your idea is a very good one. I took the very same idea from a bareboat Beneteau we had in the BVIs years ago. I think that mainsheet jam cleat (actually called a "clam" cleat) is a horrible idea, even though Catalina continues to use it on new boats.
See reply #2, here: [url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,105.0.html[/url]
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Stu,
Do you know that if I remove the "clam" cleat, can I replace it with another stock Gauhauer rope clutch that I have on my stb side that holds the main halyard. Will the holes match up so that I could screw the new clutch into the same backing plate? This sounds too simple.
Richard
1994 C36 Tall Rig M1.5
Waukegan Harbor
Lake Michigan
Only YOU can tell what the dimensions on the clam cleat and the sheetstoppers are. I simply can't do it from here! :)
Since you've read my link, please note I suggested that you can use at least ONE hole from the old one to put in the new one.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Sam,
Yes, there is a piece of aluminum glassed into the cabintop, and yes, it is easy to drill and tap it for the second bolt for each new rope clutch. I'd match whatever rope clutches you already have. I did the same thing you are contemplating on by my 36 and my 400. On the 36 I used Garhauer, and on the 400 I used Spinlock. They both work INFINITELY better than the OEM clam cleat.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
Tom, you're the man! That's the answer I was looking for.
However, I think I'm going to use Spinlocks on my 36 as they just look a lot tougher. Even though it might look a little weird next to the originals.
So now off to buy a tap. Hope I don't have to buy a whole set.
Thanks a lot.
Sam
Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida
We swapped the original clam cleats (what were they thinking?) for large cam cleats with fairleads mounted on risers so we could still snap the mainsheet in or out of the cleat as needed, from almost anywhere in the cockpit. They've been excellent for singlehanding since I can bring the sheets back to the helm and adjust from there without going forward, a boon in heavier weather. Install required new holes to be drilled and tapped into the imbedded plate, but they were a great improvement.
Dave C
"Corvus"
Mk II #2116
Hello,
I have an '88 Mark 1. It has a single clutch, a jam cleat and those miserable clam cleats, with the clutch and jam cleat mounted on a teak pad. Does anyone know if there is an aluminum plate embedded under that on a Mk 1?
Thanks,
Neil
C36 # 863 Undine
Rockland, Maine
Neil, there may be, and there may not be. Everyone told me there was one on my boat, but there wasn't when I installed my sheetstopper (clutch) when i removed that %(*&^$@ clam cleat. Go take a look at your boat. BTW, there's a clam cleat for the mainsheet on the new C355 - gag...
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)