Mid ship cleat

[Mechone]

Just another way of installing a cleat without drilling into boat.
I machined up 2 aluminum pieces.
Cleats fold up out of way.

 

[helmfam]

Genius. How strong do you think that folding cleat is? That would be my only worry.

 

[Mechone]

They are 316 stainless and feel strong time will tell ,that was another reason for not drilling into boat ,just incase they turn out to be crap. However I think the way they are made I don't see any problems

 

[Will Gilmore]

Beautiful solution. I've seen folding deck mounted cleats that look similar. I would guess you'll have the toerail fail before the cleat does.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Will Gilmore]

I see, it is the mounting blocks you made, not the cleats themselves. They look great and appropriately overbuilt. Have you electronically isolated the aluminum from the steel to prevent electrolysis?

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Mechone]

Actually no I did not , I don't think it will be problematic. I've worked with metals for 40 years and have never seen really bad electrolysis . The toe rail is aluminum to aluminum and there is lots of stainless bolts rivets thru aluminum on mast ,bow roller etc and I'm in fresh water.

 

[jssailem]

Looks solid to me. Nice metal work. There is a strong bend in the line through the chock. Will be interesting to see if that becomes a chafe point. I look forward to your posts over time.

 

[thinwater]

Nice job!

a. Why aren't cleats rated for strength? Seems obvious.
b. Most chocks feature a tight bend that reduce rope strength 50% or more. Some of the most elegant designs avoid the use of chocks by positioning the cleats intelligently. My last boat didn't use chocks. All the cleats were at the edge.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Most chocks feature a tight bend that reduce rope strength 50% or more. Some of the most elegant designs avoid the use of chocks by positioning the cleats intelligently.

A tight bend is a tight bend, whether around a chock or around a cleat.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Mechone]

I guess I could of mounted on the outside of the of the toe rail eliminating the bend .I have since threaded the rope thru pvc hose to help with chafe and there is a roller where it goes thru

 

[Mike H.]

We want midsheet cleats on our First 35s5. I may copy your design. Very elegant solution. I'll never understand why they didn't install midsheet cleats. So useful.

 

[Ron20324]

... Why aren't cleats rated for strength? Seems obvious.

I believe the strength is in the mounting more than the cleat itself since it is in sheer with the load.

 

[Ron20324]

A tight bend is a tight bend, whether around a chock or around a cleat. QUOTE]

When I bought my B323, I was in a sailing club that does raft-ups every other weeekend or so, and mid-ships cleats are a must for the spring lines. I added O.E.M. deck cleats from the Beneteau parts site. Backing plates were 3/8"

 

[Mechone]

A little update ,I have had no problems whatsoever ,no chafe and have used this cleat to stop the boat dead coming into the slip numerous times this season. The boat is over 12,000 lbs

 

[Stu Jackson]

Single Handing 101.1 Midship Cleats Pictures http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4921.0.html


Some other solutions.

 

[Mechone]

Single Handing 101.1 Midship Cleats Pictures http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4921.0.html


Some other solutions.

I guess you missed the title of the thread..most people are quite a where they can drill thru the boat ,

Single Handing 101.1 Midship Cleats Pictures http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4921.0.html


Some other solutions.

The point of the thread was not to drill into the boat ,I know I could have done the obvious