question about mooring and bow cleats on C27

[David Bradford]

Folks,I could use some feedback for those of you here with experience with the Catalina 27. I'm looking at a 1976 version, that seems to be in pretty good condition. My only worry are the bow cleats. If I get this boat, I'm going to have to keep it on a mooring, and the two bow cleats, which are on the rail / gunnels seem very small, and not up to the task of holding on the morring line.Has anyone here moored their boat for an extended period of time, and were there problems with the cleats? Any feedback would be appreciated.Thanks...

 

[JM]

Upgrade

My 76 came with a previous owner upgrade of a stout center cleat between the two front cleats. It was properly backed with an aluminum plate as were the two side cleats. That said, if that is all you are worried about, it is an easy enough upgrade to do yourself. I am in a slip but have spent many a night moored out at Catalina Two Harbors with no problems. Of course that is a pretty protected anchorage.

 

[Dave]

Cleats

Dave: I have a 76 CAT27. I have smaller cleats on either side of the bow and on the stern. I also have a sliding one on the rail about midships. I too moor and have had no problem to date with the cleats. I use a series of spring lines (fore and aft) so the loads are distributed. The boat is moored in a blow hole and is constantly hit by 50 knot plus winds in the winter....To date no problem.

 

[LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com]

Easy upgrade

As JM said, it's a pretty easy thing to upgrade/reinforce those cleats. If they just have the standard washers as "backing plates", then you'll definitely want to reinforce them. You can probably have some nice plates made by a local fabricator for a good price.LaDonna

 

[Ray]

bow cleas

Dave. I have 78 C-27 moored in NE River and have had no problems at all with bow cleats. However I would like to see some type of chock to eliminate chaffing on the gunwale area but other than that no problem at all.