Docking cleat ripped off deck in storm

[Revv up]

On my Hunter 18.5, big storm rolled through while we were tied off at the dock, luckily my wife noticed the stern port cleat was ripped out before we ran for cover. The cleats have 2 - 1/4 X 20 bolts holding them to the deck but.... there were no nuts or backing plate and no access to the back side on any of the 3 cleats on the boat (1 centre bow and port and starboard stern)

It looks like It came from the factory with these cleats just threaded to the outer fibreglass deck, one phots shows the cleat and 6” of tyrap in the hole before it bottomed out

The next shot is directly below pointing the camera up, notice the tyrap did not protrude through,

I’m not sure how to fix this but I know I don’t trust the other 2 remaining cleats. The bow one should be an easy fix by drilling through and adding a backing plate.

 

[Sailavie1]

If you can, check to see if there is an embedded aluminum plate under the fibreglass. It may be hard to see but that is how they are supposed to anchor cleats and other parts to the deck. If there is, you will just need to drill and tap larger bolts into it.
If not and you can’t access the area inside, you will need to cut an access hole on the back rest close enough to reach behind and install backing plates. The hole can be covered up with a deck plate like this.

 

[jon hansen]

if you don't mind me asking, what style mooring line was being used? three stand or braid?
three strand will stretch up to 40%, braid, not so much

 

[Revv up]

If you can, check to see if there is an embedded aluminum plate under the fibreglass.

Thanks, you were absolutely correct..... the factory bolts were just a tad short to get a good bite if they even penetrated into the aluminum plate. I poked around and thought I could spot aluminum about 3/8” below so I ran a tap through and got longer bolts. You saved me a ton of work I wasn’t looking forward to.

The rope was double braided so that will get changed out to braided with some of those rubber snubbers.

 

[jssailem]

Well it is evident that the original design was not sufficient to meet your needs.

Perhaps it is time to engineer a better solution. What stops you from drilling straight through the existing holes, putting a solid backing plate on the inside then through bolting the cleat to the deck with longer bolts?

 

[justsomeguy]

Perhaps it is time to engineer a better solution.

Um, he just did.

 

[jssailem]

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Introduced the 18.5 and bought the last built as a former dealer. Yes to encapsulated aluminum embedded in the fiberglass. I thought it was said bolts were too short. Try a longer one to see if it bed the cleat in.

What were the speed of the winds, any slack in the dock lines and style dock line used? A photo whervboat is docked would help