Add spin sheet cleats on boat with wooden cockpit combing

[Guest Mike Quinn]

Hi. I coach High School sailors on J22s. We have 2 boats, both with wooden cockpit combings. We want to add cam cleats for our spinnaker sheets, but are trying to figure out how to best do this with this layout. Is the best approach to cut out a section of the wooden combing where we want to mount the cleats? Or is there a better tried and true method?

[jkohne]

Did not interrupt the combing to place cam cleats for spinnaker cam cleats as you desire.  Placed a teak block large enough for the cam to sit on next to the outboard side of the combing and attached directly to the deck below the teak block with two long stainless bolt through cam and block and fastened with nuts under the deck.  Made the block tall enough to be flush with top of combing.  Worked very well. 

[Joe638]

Need to check the technical rules, but I don’t believe one is allowed to cut the teak combing or feed a line through the teak combing.  Although this may have changed.  So the teak block is the way to go.

[TyeDyedGary]

I am in an area where there are over twenty active J-22s. More then half have a notch cut in the combing, but all have a block (teak or man made material) raising the cam cleat above deck level.  Don't forget to use a good sealer under the lifting block and use fender washers under the deck.