H34 mid ship cleats location

danm1 · Jun 24, 2022

My 34 came from the PO with a Genoa track cleat. Worked fine for spring lines and didn't require any boat surgery.

jssailem · Jun 24, 2022

Denise, if you agree that pretty much all boats deal with the same laws of physics, then location on the deck should be a foot or two in front of the center of rotation. For most sailboats that is just forward (about a foot) of the mast.

I used this information to locate my Mid-Cleats. Like you it was drill a hole, fill the file with epoxy so that the core is sealed. Then drill a hole through the center of the epoxy plug, use butyl tape around the bolts, install a solid backing plate ( I used a piece of 1/4 inch aluminum). I installed the cleats. They preform exceptionally well.

Ralph Johnstone · Jun 24, 2022

The exact term escapes me (too long ago and really don't give a rat's a$$) but the point you are after, is the one where when you apply an athwartship force to the hull, the boat comes up parallel to the float.

The best way to determine the correct point is to drape a line over the toe rail, have a couple of people stand on it, hand the bitter end to someone on the float, that someone on the float then applies a strong force on the line at right angles to the hull. When the line is fixed (stood upon) at the correct point, the boat will pull in parallel to the float.

jssailem said:
For most sailboats that is just forward (about a foot) of the mast.

According to @jssailem , that point is located about 1 ft. forward of the mass. A good place to start and see how the boat approaches the float athwartship.

Terry Cox · Jun 25, 2022

Hi Denise, different model, but I installed mid ship cleats on our boat that have worked great over the years. Hunter Customer Service recommended the toe rail to be the strongest place and no need to drill holes in the deck. Always a monkey drill before adding them, now a breeze docking solo. The cleat location is just aft of the mast base and slightly forward of the widest part of the boat. Wrote an article about the project here. Hunter 42 Owner Modifications and Upgrades

Ralph Johnstone · Jun 25, 2022

Terry Cox said:
Always a monkey drill before adding them,

Are you saying you employ monkeys to do the manual work on your boat

?

They're unionized I hope.

Johnb · Jun 25, 2022

Bonobos are a much better choice.

Ralph Johnstone · Jun 25, 2022

Johnb said:
Bonobos are a much better choice.

Yes, more suitable for the heavy work but God help you if they revolt for higher pay like a two banana minimum. You know they attack their enemies by throwing :poop:

at them ?

Stu Jackson · Jun 25, 2022

The suggestion that the midship cleat needs to be in front of the mast is incorrect.

The midship cleat should be at the widest portion of your boat. Indeed, it could well be a bit aft of that point.

My cleat is at the forward end of my inboard jib fairlead track, which is well behind the mast, and close to and a little aft of the widest point of my boat. I have been using it successfully for 25 years.

Here's a little experiment you can do, if you don't believe me. I got this idea when i had my C25 from 1987 to 1998 (when I bought this larger boat): forget about the midship location for a moment and use your jibsheet winch as a point for the springline. Loop a dock line over the winch, connect it to the stern-most cleat on your dock, and power slowly forward on it. You will find that it works. Further, loop a line through your jib fairlead car, move it as far forward as you can, and try this exercise with that. It, too will work.

Just find a good spot where you have, as you say you do, good access below.

Tally Ho · Jun 25, 2022

I found this photo of my O’Day 322, and I circled where my mid-ship cleats are located…definitely behind the mast on my boat.

Greg

Terry Cox · Jun 25, 2022

DeniseO30 said:
Now that actually help thank you very much!

You are most welcome, Denise. Please let us know how your project turns out with some pictures if possible.

Len Ingalls · Jun 25, 2022

I am basically with Stu Jackson,but I placed mine just fwd of the cockpit bulkhead. I can reach the cleat without leaving the cockpit. I use the "midship" cleat mostly for single-handed dock/un-dock. I place an 8" dia fender apprx. 1 ft ahead & another approx 1 ft behind this cleat. I don't care if the boat is not perfectly parallel to the dock when I use this cleat. It is simply to secure/release the boat at moment of docking/un-docking. I draw the midship line very tight (slightly squeeze the fenders). The boat may not be perfectly parallel,but she cannot pivot-even in a fair amount of wind. I fix that when I get around to carefully & safely put out the permanent lines. Nobody goes up on deck while I am docking/un-docking. / Len

Len Ingalls · Jun 25, 2022

If the dock doesn't have a tie point convenient to your midship cleat,you can use your stern line in a similar manner as in this video.

Ralph Johnstone · Jun 25, 2022

Tally Ho said:
definitely behind the mast on my boat.

Curious about mine and took a picture today. 5 ft. aft of the mast and nicely pulls in parallel to the dock.

The engine and fuel tank play heavily into the location of the mid ship cleat.

The only way to locate the best position for the cleat is to experiment with different locations by temporarily positioning a line in different locations. Every make of boat is different.

Ralph Johnstone · Jun 25, 2022

Stu Jackson said:
Loop a dock line over the winch, connect it to the stern-most cleat on your dock, and power slowly forward on it. You will find that it works.

What happens when you say that "it works ?

I know I'm missing something here because I thought the idea was to pull like hell (at 90° to the boat's centre line) on a properly positioned mid ship cleat and the boat will approach the float parallel to it. Cleat too far aft and the boat pulls in stern first and vice versa.

To my mind's eye, I see the boat powering forward and then I get lost.

jssailem · Jun 25, 2022

You can locate the mid cleat behind the mast or center point of rotation and make it work. The issue is ease of function.

The focus of the mid cleat as a docking tool is to move the boat in and out from the slip. If you put the line on a dock cleat, and put the engine in forward at idle you should be able to move the boat bow into or away from the dock by turning the rudder.

It is easier to accomplish when the line is ahead of the mast. If the mid cleat is behind the mast you can still accomplish the function it just takes more power.

Ralph Johnstone · Jun 25, 2022

Maybe I'm just too much of a cowboy here. Giddy up

.

I always use the midship cleat when coming into a dock. Mine or transient. Tie a conveniently short line around the cleat and lead it back to the cockpit. As you slowly come into the dock, step off the boat and control the boat with the midship line. The boat stays parallel as long as you stand there.. Tie the midship line off if you can find a spot and then leisurely tie off your bow and stern lines which of course have been laid out well before you come into the dock. Remove the midship line and tie the spring lines to the boat's miship cleat and then grab a bottle of Bombay gin and completely down it in front of the onlookers.

Mission accomplished.

Len Ingalls · Jun 25, 2022

Why does the boat have to be perfectly parallel to the dock when you are temporarily hanging off a "midship" cleat?
Priority one is to get the boat fastened to the dock,temporarily,while you safely put out the permanent lines & then straighten/position the boat . I don't recommend leaving a tight,90deg to dock,midship line out permanently.You should slack it at the very least,as a tight,90deg dockline at any position creates shock. Cheers/Len

H34 mid ship cleats location

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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