Notice: All requested changes to your boat must be submitted in triplicate to the designer. Initial submissions are to be made at headquarters in person for disapproval, and then, resubmitted in 60 days for final disapproval!
Some folks will disapprove of this because of its unnatural feel, but I prefer having the mainsheet aft on my boat. This allows me to sail with one hand on the tiller and mainsheet while the other is free to hold a sandwich or to hang on to the boat depending on if I’m scared or hungry.
To do this, on a smaller boat, you will have to add a swivel block. It needs to be below and off to one side of the tiller handle. This allows the tiller to move freely.
There are several options for mounting the swivel block. On the Gig Harbor SCAMPs, and many small boats, the top motor mount through-bolt is a great place to attach the block. It can be secured with a shackle and piece of angle metal (aluminum or stainless). Or it can be attached where needed with a padeye to the inside of the transom.
In my case I had added a 1" x 1/8" x 24" piece of stainless angle, with holes drilled along its length. I secured it to the upper gudgeon mounting bolts. This was more work, but I have found it useful to secure other items like a rigging knife, flashlight, electric flare, whistle, and of course my swivel block.
This picture shows a 5/16” Swivel Block, such as Racelite’s RL-321-A, or Ronstan’s RF30100, secured using a Racelite stainless Spin Strap RL-318 (all available from Duckworks). The Spin Strap is attached using the upper motor mount through bolt. This also shows my final configuration bridle with no traveler, but a fixed point where I clip on a block. Balanced lugs don’t benefit from a moving traveler. The pros of no traveler, is the mainsheet doesn't get tangled on the stern horn cleats, as often.
This is a good way to hold your mainsheet and tiller with one hand. The reason to hold it this way is you can quickly release the sheet from the swivel cleat with a short tug forward. The line comes up from the jam cleat and then loops back the way it came. The trailing end then drops down to the sole of the boat. My next improvement is to make a bag or net, that will go crosswise from thwart to thwart, to hold this extra line.
Note that my swivel cleat, in other photos, was centered on the cross bar, because that’s how it came originally. I have since replaced it with a wider rowing seat with storage added under it. To make it comfortable to row, I had to move the swivel cleat over to the same side as the swivel block. This has had no effect on its operation and works just fine. So feel free to move the swivel block and jam cleat where it works best for you.
This shows my setup with a single purchase for light air days. The line runs up from the swivel block to the boom’s block and is tied off to the bridle.
Looks very familiar! If you have watched RogerBarnes tie off / cleat his main sheet my boat came the same. It was the first thing to go. From my racing days I have to have a quick release cam cleat, the same one you have there is on my ILUR. I built a semi round extention right where the origional cleat was, in fact that semi round block of wood is held with the same screws that held the cleat. The swivel cam is screwed onto the top and has somewhat the problem you know of. It is too low. To engage the cam cleat you have to take you hand lower that the cam. I can see that being slightly harder here as it appears lower than mine. Regardless, it is sweet when the unexpected gust hits, as long as the sheet is always in your hand. I know just how sweet your Mod is - congrats!
Amazing and elaborate set ups. I applaud your imagination and workmanship!
Looks very familiar! If you have watched RogerBarnes tie off / cleat his main sheet my boat came the same. It was the first thing to go. From my racing days I have to have a quick release cam cleat, the same one you have there is on my ILUR. I built a semi round extention right where the origional cleat was, in fact that semi round block of wood is held with the same screws that held the cleat. The swivel cam is screwed onto the top and has somewhat the problem you know of. It is too low. To engage the cam cleat you have to take you hand lower that the cam. I can see that being slightly harder here as it appears lower than mine. Regardless, it is sweet when the unexpected gust hits, as long as the sheet is always in your hand. I know just how sweet your Mod is - congrats!