RIGGING HARDWARE

Cleat

The fitting a line is made fast to — horn, cam or jam, each with its own way of holding and releasing.

INSPECT BEFORE LOAD · NEVER EXCEED WLL

Rope, splices and hardware are only as good as their condition. Inspect before every use and retire on evidence.

Specification

Types	Horn, cam, jam, clutches
Materials	Stainless, aluminium, composite
Line range	Matched to cleat size
Holding	Friction or jaws
Release	Progressive (horn), instant (cam)
Common error	Line outside the rated size range

Technical parameters

Horn 150 mm	Line 8–12 mm
Horn 200 mm	Line 10–16 mm
Cam small	Line 4–8 mm
Cam medium	Line 8–12 mm
Cam large	Line 10–14 mm
Base	Through-bolted with backing plate

SelectMaintain

Overview

A cleat is where a line stops. The horn cleat is the traditional T-shape: the line is turned around it in a figure-eight and finished with a locking turn, holding by friction across several wraps. It is secure, it releases progressively, and it needs a hand on the line to release under load.

Cam and jam cleats work differently. A cam cleat uses two spring-loaded jaws with teeth that grip the line and release with an upward pull; a jam cleat wedges the line in a V. Both allow a line to be released instantly and one-handed, which is why they dominate control lines — and both will damage a line that is too small for the jaws or repeatedly released under full load.

The matching problem is the one that causes trouble: a cleat rated for a range of line diameters, used with a line outside that range, either slips or chews the cover. The teeth and the jaws are sized, and the size matters.

Safety notes

A cleat must be through-bolted with a backing plate where it takes real load. Screws into laminate will pull out.
Match the line to the cleat's rated range. An oversized line will not seat; an undersized one slips or is chewed by the jaws.
Never release a heavily loaded line from a cam cleat by hand without a wrap on a winch first — the line will run.

Using it well

Fit a cleat slightly larger than you think you need; a too-small cleat is the more common mistake.
Angle the cleat to the line's lead so the first wrap takes the load cleanly.
Wash cam cleats in fresh water — salt and grit in the spring is what makes them slip.

Suited to

HalyardsSheetsDock linesControl lines

Typical applications

SailingDock workControl lines

Figures are typical catalogue values for new equipment, quoted for comparison and planning. They are not a guarantee for any specific product or any specific load. Always work to the manufacturer’s stated working load limit and to the regulations that apply where you sail.

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