Removing unneeded cleats

[YVRguy]

My H34 has cleats on both sides of the cockpit that are unnecessary as far as I can tell. They are located between the winch and the dodger - exactly the place one would want to sit when heeled over a bit. I think they were originally used for tailing the winches but my boat came to me with self tailing winches so perhaps the winches were replaced, rendering the cleats unnecessary.

Anyway, I'd like to remove the cleats but I don't know how to patch the screw holes they will leave. Any tips are greatly appreciated. Also please let me know if there's a good reason not to remove the cleats at all.

 

[Allan12210]

I use one of the cleats to tie off my roller furling line.

When we sail in the ocean our safety lines (webbing) are secured at the bow cleats and back to those cleats. As soon as we are in the cockpit we clip our tethers on and can move up and down the length of the boat. When its pretty rough we put a wrap of the tether around that cleat so we can lean against it and be somewhat stable.

There have been occasions when the jibsheet was slipping on the self tailer and it was nice to have that cleat nearby.

My cleats are pretty close to the winch, so sitting there might not be that comfortable as sitting farther forward.

 

[thinwater]

I'm guessing you're right about the self-tailers; they were probably a retrofit and made the horn cleats obsolete.

However, many sailor with self-tailers like to have cam cleats (no fairlead) for the tails when it's blowing hard; it takes time to get the rope out of the tailer, while a cam cleat can be released in an instant. The cam cleat is only holding the tailing load, not the entire load. Another nice thing about cam cleats is that they won't take a chuck out of you backside. Considere if you could fit a cam cleat out of the way but where the angle is fair to the opposite side of the cockpit.

 

[topcat0399]

And if you do decide to remove them; the simplest way I know to quickly and effectively plugs the holes is to get appropriate stainless washers for for the existing bolts that hold the cleat. Counter sink the holes, prep with buytl tape per Maine Sails excellent instructions, and remount the screws.

Works like a charm, isn't very intrusive, and has your holes ready for when you want to put those cleats back on.

 

[Benny17441]

Epoxy and gelcoat.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

Does gelcoat happily adhere to epoxy? I thought I had read in the past that it didn't (I could be wrong, I don't have a reference at hand).

 

[Noel Hasty]

I think having another cleat is never a bad idea. I have used these when rafting up to other boats. But for me they are most useful as a place to secure a preventer. I loop a line around the end of the boom and secure it to one of these cleats. Not the most elegant practice, but it works for me and while running DDW (my least favorite point of sail) I can jybe single-handed without leaving the cockpit.

 

[kloudie1]

I use mine and couldn't be without 'em. Stbd side for spring line when in slip; port side for roller furling.. both sides for jack lines, as Allan describes. Self tailing Maxwell winches were standard on the boat.

 

[YVRguy]

Thanks folks. Now that I think of it my aft cleat on the port side has been doing triple duty: furling line, stern line and springline. Maybe instead of yanking those other cleats I should put them to work.

 

[kloudie1]

Wise man, Doug. I've never known a boat with too many cleats.
Mine aren't so much of a problem because P.O. installed two more big self tailers (Lewmar 43's) just forward of those cleats..