Bronze cleats, brass cleats, how important is the difference.

[DoubleEnder]

These cleats look very good value but but but….How good are they?
I would like to replace my rather shonky wooden sheet cleats. The headsail is small, it’s a 25ft fractionally rigged boat. I’m not really worried that they will fail, and even if they did it would hardly be fatal. But, how would they age? Does brass go a nice green like bronze? Bronze is much more expensive

 

[Boathook]

These cleats look very good value but but but….How good are they?
I would like to replace my rather shonky wooden sheet cleats. The headsail is small, it’s a 25ft fractionally rigged boat. I’m not really worried that they will fail, and even if they did it would hardly be fatal. But, how would they age? Does brass go a nice green like bronze? Bronze is much more expensive

Why not use 'plastic' ones unless it is for aesthetics ?

 

[Poignard]

Why not use 'plastic' ones unless it is for aesthetics ?

Or Tufnol?

 

[vyv_cox]

Yes, brass corrosion product is green, usually a paler colour than the bronze equivalent. If you trawl through threads about failed ball valves and skin fittings you will find many pics of the typical appearance. Several photos in this article Brasses and bronzes

Brass ball valves typically last five years when largely immersed. I would expect cleats on deck to last at least as long.

 

[DoubleEnder]

Why not use 'plastic' ones unless it is for aesthetics ?

I have some nice bronze mooring cleats and main sheet cleats, all in the same area of the boat around the cockpit. So it is largely an aesthetic decision. The headsail sheets go to a mismatched pair of wobbly wooden cleats which need upgrading. Bronze would be nice but quite expensive so I'm looking around. Probably will end up going for bronze though because you know it's my boat . . . .

 

[winch2]

I personally wouldn't trust 'brass' in a high load, sheer situation, it doesn't really have any strength, unlike bronze.

 

[alahol2]

You can 'age' the brass with a salt/vinegar solution. Make sure you remove any lacquer first.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Why not use aluminium cleats? Plenty available, and reasonably priced - look on ebay.

 

[justanothersailboat]

C'mon old chap. You own a classic boat with bronze fittings. Brass is pretty but brass castings have a distressing tendency to crumble like shortbread under load. You have two choices: fork out for bronze, or grab some nice lumps of salvaged old hardwood and craft matching good-quality wooden cleats.

Time to hone your chisels?