Mainsheet cam cleat and fairlead assy

[fred]

Problems in paradise lads...the mainsheet does not travel through the fairlead smoothly...I have to hand nurse it through....the sheet is old and a little rough...maybe that is othe problem but I can tell ya one thing... the main sheet does not pay out smoothly in a gust when I pop the cam cleat to let 'er travel...the thing will almost stop the boom from swinging when depowering the sail. And that can lead to a huge no-no and O'shit experience don't you think. Have any of you had this happen...suggestions on remedying it...Sailing happily in 15 knots I had a 30+ gust lay her on her ear (giggles and grins) with the water almost entering the cockpit over the port quarter. I let  her go and she rounded up....forgiving me...this time with the sheet finally yet grudgingly... paying out. I think the standard fairlead might also need to be bigger...I use 1/4 inch line.

[mrb]

I would be interested in how many parts to your main sheet. Is it one or two part. (number of sheves in main block).  I never had trouble with a two part, you may be right in suspecting your sheet being old and needing replacement.  Can you post a picture of your set up.

[skip1930]

Normally nobody I know sailing any Com-Pac Yacht does not use a fair lead. Nor do they place the sheet for the head sail between any standing rigging.  The traveling car holding the head sail sheet is set so the line is pointing from the car to the grommet to the center of that head sail. All sail sheets are on the outside of everything. Others may or may not agree.

skip.

[Billy]

yea the sheaves may be old, you can get some dry lube for the blocks that may help. but having the right size line for the block makes a big difference. Is the mainsheet too big for the fair lead?

Skip, sometimes I place the jib sheet b/w the shrouds, sometimes. It depends on what I'm doing. Usually I have a destination and before I leave the dock If I'll be heading into the wind I'll put them b/w the shrouds. It definitely points higher that way. Now if I'm going gown wind or just playing around, I'll run the jib sheets on the outside. I trailer my boat everytime I use it so I have to set it up one way or another.

check this out
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://councill.home.mindspring.com/sbjournal/sanpac/compac4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://councill.home.mindspring.com/sbjournal/sanpac/sanpac3.html&usg=__NCxG-0qPrgLRB8EaolUQSIODQF4=&h=316&w=400&sz=27&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=jmbx322eOz8oGM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=160&ei=cVi3TfPPFYHZ0QHn-5DlDw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcom-pac%2B19%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1916%26bih%3D863%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=357&page=1&ndsp=51&ved=1t:429,r:30,s:0&tx=85&ty=93

you can see the jib is going b/w the shrowds. But it does seem to get caught up with the clew folding at the end.

I just remembered, 16s only have one shroud per side, not two.

[KPL]

As a point of reference, here is a quick description of my mainsheet setup.

The sheet is tied to a pad eye on the port side of the transom.  From there it travels through the sheave of a double block (1) on the boom, then to a single sheave block on the starboard side (2) , then back up to the double block, then down to a bulls-eye fairlead / clam cleat on a swivel.(3) 

1)
2)
3)

[Bob23]

Fred:
   Almost sounds like your mainsheet is too thick...and being a little rough doesn't sound too good either. What is it made of? Not that polypropelyne stuff, is it? Invest in good braided line. My 23 has a rather old mainsheet but it still slides though everything pretty well except in very light air.
   What is the stock thickness for a 16's mainsheet, men? My 23's is 1/2" I think...or 7/16"?
   The only other thing my boat does that I do not like: On a regular basis, the starboard side block refuses to spin on it's base resulting in a twisted mainsheet between it and the boom. Then it does refuse to pay out smoothly.
Bob23   

[KPL]

My main sheet is 1/4" sta-set X from new england ropes.  Seems to work well.  It's slick, but still easy on the hands.  You can find it online for .40 to .50 /ft

Kevin

[Tim F]

I have the same main sheet arrangement as described above. My sheet is 3/16 though and I have no problem with it failing to pay out easily.

-Tim

[fred]

Thanks Cap'ns All

I am going to a new sheet of 1/4 and use the dry lube suggestion as well...I just like beefy stuff and I think it is 3/8ths and stiff

I said fairlead... meant bulls-eye fairlead / clam cleat ...no it aint polypropelyne stuff Bob..it's old braid.

Boys that sheet has to fly fast to suit me. Amoung us we'll git er done.

Yeah Skip the jib sheets are outside on my 16 but if I harden sail with wind on her nose I might try Billys method...

12 knots, good rum and purty girls to ya all.

Fred

[skip1930]

Fred said, "the sheet is old and a little rough...maybe that is other problem but I can tell ya one thing... the main sheet does not pay out smoothly in a gust when I pop the cam cleat to let 'er travel...the thing will almost stop the boom from swinging when depowering the sail."

I sail fresh water. Regardless, I am of the mind that all lines on my boat go into the wife's washing machine for the full Monty of wash, rinse, spin, and second rinse, and second spin dry. Then I spend an hour in front of the TV untangling that mess. Once that's done and no matter how stinky this next job is I soak the cleaned lines in the bathtub with a heavy dose of fabric softener.

The results are clean, bright, smooth, and like new lines that play out through the pulleys, sheaves, and jam-up nicely in the cleats.

Always was unhappy with the factory set-up at the end of the boom. Always seamed to twist the lines and provide too much friction to play out nicely in a light breeze. So I purchase a Gawhawer line line 4 purchase block at the All Sail Boat Show at Navy Pier in Chicago instead of those factory side by side blocks. MUCH BETTER!

skip. I think this is the only pictures I have of the in line block at boom's end. She sails well with just the 155% head sail hey?

[fred]

I wish I had the whole cluster of you lads here on Lake Wautaga...we'd have a fine club of sail-I-ors fer sure...thanks to you all...Kevin, Bob, Skip (shes a purdy thing Skip, thanks for the pics) Billy, Tim, MRB and KPL (thanks for the rig pics) you boys are a credit to sailing.

I'll get 'er traveling sweetly....

Seatime

[KPL]

Fred,
You should hook up with Ol' Bill on the siren owners group.  I believe he sails wautuga as well.  Siren is similiar to the Compac, and that group seems to have a similiar mind set.

sirenowners_subgroup@yahoogroups.ca; on behalf of; coolspringeve [Tinglebill@juno.com]  ---> Ol' Bill's contact info

I'll love to hit the lotto, upgrade to a 19, and travel around visit all the group members.  What a trip that would be....

Kevin

[fred]

Kev...I just wrote Ol Bill a speedogram...thanks for the contact...

Fred
You should hook up with Ol' Bill on the siren owners group.  I believe he sails wautuga as well.  Siren is similiar to the Compac, and that group seems to have a similiar mind set.

sirenowners_subgroup@yahoogroups.ca; on behalf of; coolspringeve [Tinglebill@juno.com]  ---> Ol' Bill's contact info

I'll love to hit the lotto, upgrade to a 19, and travel around visit all the group members.  What a trip that would be....

Kevin