Abstract: An adjustable system is described for control of a genoa sheet on a sailboat. The sheet is passed through a pulley or lead block carried by a car which is slidably mounted on a track. The block and car have complementary interfitting parts to enable the block to be removed from one car and secured to another car on a second track.

Abstract: A resilient support is provided for maintaining a pivotally mounted yacht fitting in an upright position. The support is in the form of a conical section made from a resilient polymeric material.

Abstract: A cam cleat includes a pair of spring loaded cams or pawls rotatably mounted on a base. The cams have specially formed teeth and open and close in opposite rotary directions to releasably grip a line therebetween. The cams or pawls are rotatably mounted on a shaft and the case by a plurality of rotatable bearings to substantially reduce the effort required in opening and closing the cams and to reduce the spring force maintained on the cams, resulting in substantial advantages in performance. An alternate single cam version is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sailboat swivel base for supporting a block and a rotatable arm includes a central rotatable post for supporting the block and a separate annular bearing system, located axially outwardly of the post, for rotatably supporting the arm against bending movements that would otherwise cause distortion, undue wear, and sloppiness in the base. The separate bearing system comprises annular sets of rotary bearings in the base that confine and support opposite sides of the end of the arm, the bearing sets being carried in annular recesses between the arm and the base.

Abstract: A plurality of adjacent sheaves are disposed around a common shaft. Each sheave carries a plurality of ball bearings engaged between an inner race of the sheave and the shaft. The ball bearings in one sheave are exposed on one side and bear against an adjacent sheave around the shaft such that friction between a sheave and the shaft and between adjacent sheaves is minimized.