Cleats, Clutches & Jammers

This category covers the deck hardware that holds a line under load without a winch: cleats, rope clutches and jammers, for securing mooring lines, sheets and halyards wherever they need to be held fast rather than actively trimmed.

A cleat is the simplest option – a fixed fitting you cross and lock a line around by hand, standard for mooring and dock lines where quick, secure fastening matters more than fine control. A rope clutch (or jammer) grips a line under tension and can be released under load with a lever, commonly used to bank multiple halyards and control lines back to a single winch at the cockpit, so each line can be worked one at a time without needing a winch per line. Size cleats and clutches to your line diameter and expected load – an undersized clutch will slip under high load, which is dangerous on a loaded halyard, while an oversized one is harder to release cleanly.

Mount cleats where the line lies fair to the fitting, without a sharp side-load angle, which reduces wear on both the line and the fitting over time.

Frequently asked questions

When should I use a clutch instead of a cleat?

Use a clutch when a line needs to be banked to a shared winch (like multiple halyards led aft) or released under load with a lever; a cleat suits simple, individually-tied lines like mooring warps.

How do I size a rope clutch?

Match it to your line’s diameter and the load it will see – an undersized clutch can slip under high load, which is a safety issue on a loaded halyard.

Why does my line slip in the clutch?

Usually a mismatch between clutch size and line diameter, or worn clutch teeth/cam – check the manufacturer’s rated line diameter range before assuming the line itself is at fault.