Cleat my bow.

Veg

Veg

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I'm going to add a bow cleat for my anchor rode. I was looking at the Boat Fix catalog... I'm assuming Stainless Steel is the best choice? There are many that are chrome-plated zinc also...
Attwood S.S. cleats are a bit more expensive than similar size Sea-Dog ones. Are some cleats better than others? They don't specify which S.S. they use.
Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm assuming a 6" cleat may be enough for this purpose, buy maybe an 8" one would be safer?
 
What size line do you use? A big cleat is not necessarily better.
 
Hmmm. I haven't boater for a few months now Les, don't ask me tough questions LOL.

I also have 6' of 1/4" chain that won't go through the windlass... So as it is now, to hold the anchor up I have to rely on the S.S. hook/micropressed lanyard or tie off to my forward-most cleat on either side (I do this for safety if there's any kind of "seas", don't want to rely on the lanyard alone to prevent my anchor from dropping.

So, in any case, when the anchor is retrieved, I plan on using the cleat to tie it off also, in lieu or in addition to the lanyard. So for that, the chain maybe a bigger cleat is needed?
 
I don't know why my boat did not come with a bow cleat. I think they ship most of their boats with all chain rode (hence the lanyard), but for some reason my boat had not rode when I bought it. I think being a leftover the soon-to-be-out-of-business dealer kept some stuff at my (first time boat buyer) expense.
 
I added a "clam cleat" to my boat a couple years ago. Works perfect. A clam cleat (designed for use on sail boats) has a v-shaped trough with angled grooves which force the line into the "vee" under a load away from the boat. A simple tug in the reverse direction (which is done by my windlass) frees the line.
 
you're fresh water now so the plated zinc woudl be ok, but just i case to find it too cold and come back south... get SS !! :-)

if' you're going to cleat the chain, get 8"... get a backing plate too, oversized washers are ok but a backing plate is better (thick alum)
 
I had to add a decent bow cleat to my boat too. It is a 6 inch SS cleat with a 6 x 4 aluminum backing plate. Probably the strongest thing on my boat! But I know my anchor with chain is going to stay put. I also use it when the anchor is deployed to keep the strain off of the windlass.
 
Add a pop up cleat. Stays out of the way and doesn't snag things like knees and elbows when not in use.
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I'd go with SS on the cleat or chromed or polished bronze. I have 30' of chain but don't use it on the cleat unless I need to hold the chain for a moment during anchoring duties. For that, a single chain link fits right over one end of the cleat nicely. I have no respect for plated zinc or "zamak" even on my fresh to brackish water boat. Plated zinc is only good for a few years on my boat.
 
i think he has a pair of cleats at the bow, but on the sides, not on centerline, making it difficult to cleat the rode.
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

i think he has a pair of cleats at the bow, but on the sides, not on centerline, making it difficult to cleat the rode.

Click to expand...


Bingo!
 
Another option would be to install a samson post. This is generally wood and sticks up above deck about 6 to 8 inches and has a stainless 1/2 inch bar through the post about halfway between deck and the top. Below the deck the post is bolted into the rear bulkhead of the anchor locker and fiberglassed to the bottom of the locker. You must be carefull to completely seal where the post goes through the deck.

This gives a very strong cleating point that could withstand much more force that any cleat.
 
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