For Steve and Mark: Cleat Closure

[Bill Welsch]

Mark and SteveThanks for your help with the 240 jamcleat issue. After reviewing Mark's photos and Steve's article on the subject, I bit the bullet and bought a couple of the spinlock PX's with risers. Wow! Went out for a trial run singlehanded and was that fun being able to adjust the sheets with a flick of the wrist.Although the cleats (I guess they are actually clutches, right?) seem to be well made my only worry is that they are more mechanically complicated than the jamcleat and therefore--per Murphy's law--are subject to all manner of calamity. Will keep everyone posted on how they do long term. Nevertheless I am very excited and feel they were worth the $30 a piece.By the way, I elected to use the aft most existing bolt hole and drilled the second hole midway between the two existing holes. I simply replaced a bolt in the third hole after putting on marine sealent. Doesnt look too bad.I was so excited about the darn thing that I grabbed a couple of folks on my dock (one owns a 240 another a 260)and showed off my work. Modest, huh?Thanks again for the help.Bill Welschs/v Renewal

 

[Jeff Davis]

Pictures?

Sounds great. I sure would like to see pictures of your installation.

 

[Mark Kissel]

The hardest part is...

...sometimes just getting the motivation to change or do something different to the boat. I have many to thank here for providing wisdom, insight, guidance, and encouragement.Keep us posted on how well they work and hold up.Mark KisselKittiwake/98H240

 

[Mark Cooper]

Drilling holes

Just a few questions about your installation as I am very excited about trying this on my own boat.1) Are they really bolted? Or is is something you have to drill and tap? Can you reach the bolts through the access panel below?2) Were you able to use one/both bolts from the original cleats to complete the installation?I'm curious because I have neither looked closely at the Spinlock PXs nor the existing cleats on my 240.

 

[Bill Welsch]

Cleat installation (for Mark in Texas)

Hey Mark:To answer your questions, yes there is an access panel which makes the bolts very easy to get to.Second, the original bolts were a bit too big so I went with slightly smaller ones for the cleat. (Its a little hard to explain, but one of the PX cleat requires a smaller head--be sure to get flat headed bots--while the other can tolerate a slightly larger bolt if you use your drill to make the hole in the cleat a bit larger). Thus I ended up using two different size bolts but wanted as much strength as possible.Once I figure out how to do this digital picture deal I will post some photos.Good luckBill Welschs/v Renewal

 

[Rick Webb]

Pictures in the Photo Forum

There are some pictures of the PX cleat installation on my 23.5 in the Photo forum. I believe they are in the general interest section. The cleats are designed for those silly metric fasteners. I would use them if they can be found. I got in a hurry and used my dremel to make the holes work for the 1/4 X 20 screws that came out of the factory installed cleat. On mine the holes lined up and I did not have to drill and tap new ones. Be sure to use the right size drill bit if you do tap new holes. It sounds elementary but my neighbor who is a doctor and therefor a fairly bright guy figured a 1/4 inch tap needed a 1/4 inch hole, makes sense right? It was one of the best modifications to the boat I have made and was actually quite simple to do.

 

[Ken Shubert]

Seizing Woes

Be careful when you tap that aluminum plate. Use some tap lubricant like silicon oil or...... something. 2 of mine lined up fine but the other 4 had to be drilled and tapped. Actually it's mounted by 5 screws and a broken tap at the moment. Be sure and 'bed' it with some sealant too. Spinlocks!Pretty clever, those Brittish.KenS/V Wouff Hong