BayAreaKiteboarding.com

I'm working on an idea and trying to find a suitable cam cleat that would fit the tiny diameter of typical kite line for kitesurfing.

So far I have found a cam cleat that can be used with line as small as 2-6mm but I'm pretty sure some kite lines go all the way to about 1mm in diameter, but more typically are 1.5-2.5mm. Any veteran sailors got any idea where I could find a micro-mini-über-tiny cam cleat, or if my diameter estimates are off and could go with what I've already found.

In my experience a cam cleat for something that small will not be a good idea. The amount of force required to hold will be extremely high and the amount of material to grab is so small that it will be crushed and damaged quickly. Line that small is more fragile simply because it has fewer fibers no 'squish'.

Just my $0.02

It might be possible to beef up the portion of the line that will land in the cleat to increase its diameter by sewing a sleeve onto that portion of the line. Also the ends of those mini cleats look like they touch each other, so in theory they would hold a 1mm line.

Maybe try a jam cleat instead of a cam cleat?

They tend to work better for smaller diameter lines.
http://www.willieboats.com/store1/image ... 0Cleat.jpg

J

(I know, a jam cleat is not nearly as attractive as a cam cleat, but they really do work. Really. And they don't chafe as much on small-diameter lines because the force is spread out over, say, 5 points rather than just one with the cam cleat.)

Thanks for the input guys. A jam cleat may work, I'll see if I can change my designs around a little to use one instead.

So... What's the idea you're working on?

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I'll let you know when it's patented ;)