361 Mid-ship cleat question

[tnathan]

Hello,

I had my 2001 beneteau 361 surveyed and the surveyor mentioned that the mid-ship cleat was loose and should be rebedded to prevent leaks. Frankly I would prefer to fill the deck througholes with epoxy and redrill. However, before I start yanking on things, does anyone know how to access the backing plate for the mid-ship cleat? Thanks.

Tim

 

[Gunni]

You will find two big nuts under the hull-deck joint inside. The cleats have threaded studs extending out of the base.

 

[tnathan]

Thanks. That's what I assumed, but it is awful hard to get to. I was able to barely get my fingers on one of the bolts, but I was hoping there was a way to get the molding out of the way to get a wrench on the bolts and see what I was doing.

 

[Gunni]

Don't know what the 361 configuration looks like so I'm not much help here. Remember the yard had to go find a little guy to get at the aft cleats when we were working on my cleats, which penetrate a teak toerail.

 

[joker460]

The 361 has a toe-rail like my 352 and I use that for locating a spring line. The spring line cleat on the 352 is not in the proper location.
I used a toe rail pad eye or you could use a toe rail cleat to fine tune the location.
https://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl...SyaTY0b7MAhWhzoMKHbq4BnUQxiAIAg&iact=c&ictx=1
https://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl...B0fj60b7MAhXp74MKHRZVBW8QxiAIAg&iact=c&ictx=1

 

[tnathan]

Thanks. That is a neat idea to add a pad eye to the toe rail. I have had good success running the spring line to the mid-ship cleat, but over time I think it takes the most stress of any of the cleats and wore itself loose. I just don't know how to access the backing bolts. Don't want a 1 hour DIY project to turn into 2K and 2 months of work to repair all the stuff I broke by not knowing how to do it right the first time.

 

[Gunni]

Once you get the correct tool and can get at the cleat nuts you should consider taking it completely off and making sure that it is not damaged and installing a nice backing plate with the hole centers properly drilled. You will likely find two fender washers for backing - inadequate. mid-ship cleats are commonly your spring line location and used to stopper the boat on docking, a big job.

 

[arf145]

I believe that the cleats are bedded in an area with no core, so unless it's so loose that the holes have been widened or something, redrilling might be overkill.

 

[tnathan]

hmm. Thanks. The surveyor went around with a rubber mallet banging on things and said the port midship cleat was loose (my spring line cleat). He said "You should rebed that to prevent leaks. Historically with my previous boats once I remove the cleat, I would gouge out the core fill the whole area with epoxy and then drill a new hole through the epoxy thus preventing core rot. And, as someone else mentioned, if I had a nice flat backing surface I would put a solid aluminum backing plate in. This repair seemed pretty bullet proof. I hate core repairs more than anything in the world.

I was assuming that there is core in there, but don't know without looking.

My concern was about whether there was some way to get behind the interior molding to access the backside of the cleat. I am a big guy and hate doing blind projects that will result in me loosing several bolts. Has anyone rebedded a midship cleat on a 361?

 

[arf145]

Not quite to point, but I have tightened up one of the midship cleats on our 331. I believe they are all "accessible" but sometimes frustratingly so. I forget the nut size but it's big. I found a socket meant for some car part that fit and had a handy offset to help.

 

[Philip_Oceanis 361]

Where are the midship cleats on a Beneteau 361? This model doesn't have factory fitted midship cleats.

 

[tnathan]

Thanks to everyone. I think I figured it out. There is a fairing board screwed into the top of the nav station. Once you remove the board I have enough clearance to get a wrench on the nuts. Thanks.