Mid-ships cleat (or lack of)

[Giblets]

On my little boat (Leisure17) ther are no mid-ships cleats and precious little space to fit any.

Whilst sitting in the sun in Bembridge this morning I have been pondering this problem as I am sure such an arrangement would help me berth her single handed. (OK, I know she is not much bigger than a Wayfarer and they don't have such embellishments! )

A lightbulb suddenly appeared above my head (much to the surprise of the neighbouring boats ) and I thought "Why not use the genoa car on the side deck tracks?". There is enough room in the car to pass a line through as well as the sheet and if I made up a line with a piece of plastic tube in the loop to hold it open when coming alongside I could drop the loop over a pontoon cleat and then surge said line to a halt and make off. This would only be used at very low speed so I can't imagine there would be any greater load on the car/track than would be experienced under normal use of the jib sheet.

Any positive or negative comments from the esteemed forum members on this proposal?

 

[Wansworth]

Fitted a very similar system on my Albin Vega this summer.Shackled on a block on the aft shroud fastening ,run a rope thro it with large loop,works a treat.

 

[Poignard]

http://www.bartonmarine.com/products-special-cleats.asp

I have had track cleats for years. No problems.

 

[Boathook]

It would possibly assist in the mooring but it could well be putting loads at various angles that the genoa car (and may be the track as well) was not designed for.

 

[Spyro]

http://www.bartonmarine.com/products-special-cleats.asp

I have had track cleats for years. No problems.

A stanchion cleat that must be the silliest idea ever.

 

[Stemar]

I just shackle a line to a stanchion base to use as my 'get it ashore & round a cleat quick' line.

I know it isn't designed for it, but Snappies are build like brick privvies, so no problems so far (9 years regular use). The load is low and mostly in shear on the bolts, so a lot less likely to cause damage than if someone falls against the guard wires, when it would be a bending moment with a lot of leverage

Not sure I'd recommend it on a lightweight racer, though

 

[Poignard]

A stanchion cleat that must be the silliest idea ever.

Well I dare say it would be if you used it for berthing but I referred to track cleats

 

[dt4134]

Genny car should be fine. Don't use the line as a brake though, stop the boat more or less, put the line on the pontoon cleat then motor into it with the helm over as appropriate. That'll stop you developing peak loads on the genny car.

Also don't put the spring on the winch self tailer. Put a few wraps around the winch and hold the end in your hand, that way you can surge it a bit if you do end up having to use it to stop the boat.

 

[CreakyDecks]

Before you use and abuse the genoa car have a look at the price of a replacement should you break it

 

[lw395]

Before you use and abuse the genoa car have a look at the price of a replacement should you break it

Short lines like when you moor to a mid-ships cleat can be subject to severe shockloads from even relatively modest wash.
depending on what sort of cars/fairleads you have, they may be quite weak for forces across the deck.
Before I fitted extra cleats to my last boat, we used to moor with a line from a U-bolt at the toe-rail amidships.

 

[Tranona]

Second the use of Barton sliding cleats on the track. Been using them for 20+ years.

 

[Giblets]

Thanks for the help so far folks.

My genoa slides are similar to the Barton Bullseye slide http://marinestore.co.uk/Barton_Bullseye_Slide_For__T__Track_25_mm.html.

I am going to have a go at Mogy's idea first of the blocks shackled onto the rear shroud chain plates as I have no toe rail. I also have no winches at all. (Told you it was like a Wayfarer!)

 

[Jamesuk]

Fibreglass is pretty flexible stuff to fit new items and have the strength. I would see aout fitting one on each side. They really are excellent at parking up solo as mentioned about motoring forward on them with the helm in the appropriate position.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Fibreglass is pretty flexible stuff to fit new items and have the strength. I would see aout fitting one on each side. They really are excellent at parking up solo as mentioned about motoring forward on them with the helm in the appropriate position.

Just beware, depending on boat config where your cleat may need to go to be able to hold with the engine. I have the gold (well they must be at that price) SL Yachting toe rail cleats roughly midships, but for locks and just getting a line to balance against the engine, I use the (redundant) genoa cleats next to the winches. Any further forward and Gladys will squirm and wriggle and not stay put

 

[Chrissie]

It would possibly assist in the mooring but it could well be putting loads at various angles that the genoa car (and may be the track as well) was not designed for.

I put a cleat on my track for central cleat single handed mooring, noticed today that there is a crack through my siderail where the track is mounted, caused no doubt by the snatch when my moving boat is suddenly halted by the newly placed mooring line.

 

[onesea]

DO you REALLY need the agro?

2 lines about 20-25 foot long about 10-12mm? what you feel is comfortable...

Single handed?

Set lines up bring both to cockpit. Bring boat alongside step ashore with both lines, use it as breast/ headline bring back as spring and do the same with stern line.

Berthed....

Do you really want another rope to set up and complicate things?

 

[Lakesailor]

I think a lot of people have lost sight of the fact that it's a 17ft yacht.
All my boats have been sub 20ft.
The problem is they move about a great deal as you move. The reactive force as you step off will have them skittering away from he jetty.
I have always put midship cleats on for the reason Giblets is suggesting.
The forces involved in a 670Kg boat are not going to cause any great problems, but the convenience afforded by a single-line berthing technique is very handy.

 

[KellysEye]

We also fitted cleats on the genoa tracks to use for midship springs on a 14 ton boat. However it is a steel boat with a stainless bar welded to the hull with the track bolted to it. As said check the track can take the load. One way of looking at it is the track can obviously take load from the foresail, will a spring exert more load? I suspect not on a small and presumably fairly light boat.

 

[ProDave]

The forces involved in a 400Kg boat are not going to cause any great problems, but the convenience afforded by a single-line berthing technique is very handy.

Can we be clear what he intends to use this centre cleat for?

If it's just for a temporary line to hold as you come alongside single handed, then just do as I do, my temporary berthing line is just tied to the hand rail on the coach roof. Once tied up properly, the centre line is untied and put away.

 

[PhillM]

When single handed I have tied a warp to the mast (one on each sides) then run them back to the cockpit. Only used this for stepping off and getting everything under control. It gives enough contol to allow you the time to set up bow and stern. Not for long term mooring use, but it worked well to buy me time.