Widget development

Clamcleat launch innovative accessories to widen application range

When it comes to widgets on boats, you cannot really beat the Clamcleat. It is a ubiquitous part of almost all dinghy systems in some shape or form - and is one of the kings of the Keep-It-Simple-Stupid (KISS) principle. A clever use of basic mechanics has resulted in a simple rope-holding widget that really has no equal.

Yet more lateral thinking has been applied and Clamcleat have announced a couple of new accessories that have been developed to add to the functionality of the cleat, without adding any complication to the KISS principle. Again they are simple, have no moving parts and are essentially maintenance free.

First up is the Keeper. This is a one piece plastic moulding which basically holds a line out of the cleat (so it can run free). Made out of spring grade and marine grade plastic it is forced apart as you flick a line up to release it out of the teeth. The plastic jaws then simply snap close preventing the line re-cleating itself and letting it run-free away from the teeth. When the line is pulled on, you are simply forcing the Keeper apart and the teeth come into play.



Sarah Walker, the Design and Manufacturing Engineer at Clamcleat who developed the Keeper says that preventing the rope re-cleating solves a long standing problem associated with the Clamcleat. “It will also help to hold the rope into the cleat under low loads and when the cleat is upside down – say under the boom,” she says.

This then opens up the Clamcleat to a number of new applications.

However the innovation doesn’t stop there and later in the year the Cage will be available. Walker explains that this is a rear fairlead, which together with the Clamcleat and the Keeper will enable the sailor to cleat and uncleat the rope from a variety of angles – not just in-line with the cleat.

Both the Keeper and the Cage can be retro-fitted to any SL211 Mk1 or Mk2 cleat - a simple case of taking the cleat off, and sliding it into the new items and then screwing, or riveting down again. The cleats can be fitted with a tapered pad (wedge) underneath, as normal, to position the angle of the line-lead to best effect.

The Keeper has a patent pending and has taken some time to get to a full production stage. “It has taken a lot of development to get to a solution that is strong enough to do the job,” says Walker, “but doesn’t require a great deal more effort to cleat than you would normally.” The demonstrator has cycled the Keeper for 70,000 times without any fatigue - only the rope had to be replaced.

With a tendency on dinghies to go to smaller and smaller lines as rope technology advances, the unit will be of interest as it brings new functionality to the 3-6mm line range of the Clamcleat.

The Keeper is available now and is priced around the £3 mark. Walker says the tooling for the Cage is currently being produced and the first units should be available in June or July. For more information see http://www.clamcleat.com

A close up of the Keeper


And with the prototype Cage