Hi Gordon, My M15 has a block/cam cleat that releases with an upward pull; I believe it's original equipment. It's much easier to change the fitting than the attachment point. Bill Riker M15 - #184 Storm Petrel -----Original Message-----
From: Gordon Gilbert <Gordon@FinancialWriting.net> Sent: Jul 16, 2010 10:21 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: M_Boats: Raising mainsheet block cleat for easier release
I was enjoying a fun, lively sail on Lake Michigan yesterday when a lull in the wind, followed by a hard gust, knocked me over a good bit. Part of the problem was that I was on the leeward side at the time, adjusting the jib sheet, away from my usual windward position (in gusty conditions, with one foot near the mainsheet cleat if I need to release it quickly). The low position of the cleat, and the downward pull needed to release the sheet, can make it difficult to release the sheet quickly.
The situation has me wanting to raise my mainsheet cleat higher off of the cockpit floor to facilitate quicker release from anywhere in the cockpit. I've tried doing this using a loop of line or shackles, but the problem with that is that the block, shackles and whatever else bang around like crazy when I'm reaching or running in light and/or sloppy conditions.
Has anyone developed a solution?
Thanks!
Gordon
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!