What size folding cleat for spring lines?

[Cool Beans]

http://cruisermarine.com/accon-stainless-steel-folding-cleats.html

Not advertising, just as an example. . .

The 6" is $47, the 8" is $99. The bow and stern cleats on my 33ft Ranger are 8". Should I pry open my wallet for the folding 8", or would 6" suffice? Is this a good option? The optimal position for a spring line cleat is at the widest beam, about 2/3 of the way back on my boat. . .right in the center of the side deck. Genoa sheets are clipped to the toe rail, so no genoa track cleats. I did think about putting the tracks back in, but I'm unsure if I'd trust that setup to hurricane force winds.

Thanks!

 

[arf145]

I'd go with the 8". Those are nice looking folding cleats! I like the fact that you're just dealing with bolt holes and not cutouts.

 

[Scotty C-M]

My centerline cleats are 8". I use them all the time, especially when docking shorthanded. Smaller would not be as good for me.

 

[Ron20324]

Remember, you'd likely have two springs on that cleat, so go for the larger.

 

[tkanzler]

I've never heard of anyone complaining that a cleat is too big, unless it just plain looks out of scale with the boat. When I had a boat with a mid cleat, I'd put the eye splice of one spring line on it, and cleat hitch the other, opposing spring line so the adjustment was how I wanted it, but it takes a full-sized cleat relative to the line size to do that. I would try it with an existing cleat, just to see how the lines fit, and go with a cleat that size if it's a good fit. Or rounded up. Not down.

 

[Cool Beans]

I stuffed a sock in the mouth of that little voice in my head that always says "no Steve, save a couple bucks now. . .regret it later :stirthepot: " that I always tend to give to much of an ear too. . .

. . .and ordered the 8" cleats. I'll post pictures once I install them.

Thanks!

 

[Blitz]

8" seems ok for spring lines but if i'd were replacing bow or stern cleats I'd go with 10".