Adding cleats to the mast

[PaulDaniel]

I have have a lot of lines coming from the mast, and most of them I don’t need or use. Instead of running them back to the cockpit, I’d rather cleat them off at the mast.

Questions:
- What kind of cleat should I add? Would this be a good one? Open Base Aluminum Cleats | West Marine
- any other considerations?
- can y’all tell me which cleat and screws to use?
- The lines that I’d like to cleat are 5/16

 

[Davidasailor26]

A wide based cleat like that will probably not match the round contour of the mast. Part of the base will be sticking out ready to chafe lines or hands and legs. You’ll need something narrower and/or shaped to match the rounded mast profile.

 

[jssailem]

Something like these can work.
You can use screws or rivets to attache them. I prefer to drill and tap the hole for a screw.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

If using machine screws, use some TefGel or Loctite to avoid corrosion

 

[Joe]

The cleat you pictured is better suited for a mooring cleat, on the boat or dock. Dockside cleats are normally galvanized, whereas mooring cleats for the boat will usually be aluminum, or stainless steel. The open base design is preferred here. For a horn style mast cleat the smaller footprint design would be preferable. I like the resin composite type, horn with closed foot. But aluminum is good. The advantage of the horn cleat are price, narrow footprint and convenience for stowing the coiled line off the deck. For lines that eed adjusting more often there are other options, for instance I had a cam cleat on the mast of my Nacra to control the 2:1 jib halyard. You'll also see clutches on the mast when there's a winch involved.
To figure the right size, make sure there's room for the extra loop you'll slip over the horn to contain the coiled line.

 

[thinwater]

I'm not a fan of cleats on the mast. They can snag sheets and other lines at very inconvenient moments. I've had them on several boats.

I would use clutches on the mast instead. Faster, and you don't loose tension when moving from the winch to the cleat. The line tails are then stored either in bags or coils lashed to pad eyes on the deck.

 

[PaulDaniel]

I have an extra jib halyard and spinnaker halyard that I never use. I was planning to run them through clutches at the mast and then hang them off a cleat on the mast. This will somewhat declutter the cockpit.

I don’t want to just remove them because sometimes spare halyards come in handy. But I need them to be under enough tension so that they don’t get tangled in the jib furler.

 

[PaulDaniel]

Maybe cam cleats would be better because they are cheaper and would get the job done.