Cleat sizes

J

justgotaboat

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We just got a house on a local lake with a wooden dock. It's a single pier that we will be tying to one side of. What size cleats should we put on the dock? We have a 2001 sea Ray 245 weekender. And the dock currently has no cleats at all, and there is nothing to tie off to (pilings etc). It's a in a busier part of the lake, so our boat will see some wake action from other boats. I'm thinking I'll mount 3 cleats on each side, (at the end, middle, and closest to the shore) . I assume bigger is better (within reason) and mounting it to appropriate and solid part of the dock is important. However what is the minimum size I should get?

Any other random thoughts in the subject?!

Thanks
 
8 to 10 inch cleats. Fasten with 1/2 inch lines. If your going to be seeing a lot of wake action, you may want to consider mooring whips.
 
We are debating the whips .... Gonna consider it based on how often we actually leave the boat there
 
Cleats are toe busters so consider that when you mount them.
 
There actually IS a formula or rule-of-thumb for cleat sizes. Line diameter in sixteenths is Cleat length in inches. So 3/8" line is 6/16" making the suggested cleat size 6". So 1/2" is 8/32" therefore 8" cleat. OK on a boat. For the dock, I'd say 10".
 
If possible, thru bolt them, and use a backer plate - or at a minimum fender washers. Wood screws/ lag bolts will loosen over time. I've seen boats adrift (or wedged into neighboring boats/docks) with mooring lines hanging from deck cleats, and the dock cleat in the water on the other end of the line!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Good Grief

If possible, thru bolt them, and use a backer plate - or at a minimum fender washers. Wood screws/ lag bolts will loosen over time. I've seen boats adrift (or wedged into neighboring boats/docks) with mooring lines hanging from deck cleats, and the dock cleat in the water on the other end of the line!

Click to expand...


+1. Fender washers and lock washers. Buy extra. Some will end up in the drink.
 
Keep it simple, use the same size that is on the boat.
Jim
 
I would suggest going with 10" cleats with backing plates. Larger is always good if you need spring lines or storm lines to double up. Nothing more frustrating than trying to secure two lines on a small cleat.
 
At our marina which is a working club, we build our own docks. Under each cleat is a ~6" long L-Bracket that's through bolted to the stringer with a carriage bolt. Then the decking is applied and cleats are through-bolted through decking and bracket.

This way the cleat is affixed to the stringer, not the decking that is held down by 3" decking screws (in our case).

Go to a marina, see a cleat size you like and measure it. Bigger is better.
 
quote:
Originally posted by 32carv

Keep it simple, use the same size that is on the boat.
Jim

Click to expand...


I would reconsider that. Most boat builders use cleats at least one size small than what you really need. :-)
 
I like the "L" bracket idea, thanks! I was definitely going to through-bolt with some sort of setup to get it secured to more than just the decking. and I figured bigger was better.

Thanks!
 
Don't install minimum then find out you need larger for whatever reason. Whatever is on the boat is nowhere near big enough.
 
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