Cams are ideal for controls on modern boats where crew move from cockpit, to trapeze, to weather rail. |
Racing crews know weight placement is crucial
to good boat speed, so they are constantly moving to keep the boat in
perfect balance.
One problem this cause is that they are not
always in an ideal position to adjust control lines, particularly to re-engage
line into the cam cleats from an oblique angle. The traditional solution has
been to use cams on swivel bases which will face the crew in any position, but
for minor controls swivel bases are heavy and expensive.
The solution is a cam fairlead. These blocks
are specifically designed to allow lines to be released and engaged, even when
the pull is at a severe angle to the cam. Harken offers two cam fairleads. The
375 fits the
150 Cam-Matic.
The 476 is
designed for the 468 and 471 cams.
Both fairleads feature a tough fiber-reinforced plastic body that is low friction and chafe resistant. The carefully designed
entry shape encourages lines to enter the cam with only a slight downward force
on the line and operates well at angles approaching 90 degrees. The polished
stainless steel guide posts prevent line wear and are very low friction.
Mounted aft of the cam, the fairlead allows
engagement and release of lines from a wide variety of angles. This is ideal
for controls on modern boats where crew move from the cockpit to a trapeze or
to the weather rail, yet the weight and expense of swivel cams is not
justified.
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