Size of Cleat

[pelias]

Hi,

I thought I had posted this but cant find it - new to forum, must have not done something!

I would like to know what size deck cleats people have on 40 to 41ft yachts in general?

We have bought a 4oft yacht and oddly there are no cleats!! Our old boat was 31ft so quite a difference and I am unsure what to go for.

Thanks!

 

[Rossynant]

Not sure this helps. Far from boat so can't measure
In general people have whatever the producer put on, which is inadequate.
The bigger the better. Especially for mooring. Take a mooring line of bigger size then you would use (or biggest line used on board) and see how it works on any cleat at hand. Then tie another one on it. May happen sometime.
When you are satisfied with the ease of doing it look if the line is really secured. You know how it should look.

The point is line too big for the cleat may go of. No idea if there is any guidance as what cleat for a line size, but old rule was for typical shape: length of cleat = 6 x rope circumference (not diameter! roughly would be 1/2" line - 9" cleat IIRC).

And on 45 footer, but heavy, there were 25 mm, 1", lines, saw them break with 1 metre swell getting into dock. After few hours. They were new, strong kind, costly. We had no bigger.
You know better what line will be used. Maybe 3/4". I would want more. http://www.ybw.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-300610.html

Then it's only a question of finding a space for them. No way usually on modern boats, would be nice to have 4 on bows, remember the backing plates should be underside
Maybe some other model will fit better then... and so on...

 

[Tranona]

Hi,

I thought I had posted this but cant find it - new to forum, must have not done something!

I would like to know what size deck cleats people have on 40 to 41ft yachts in general?

We have bought a 4oft yacht and oddly there are no cleats!! Our old boat was 31ft so quite a difference and I am unsure what to go for.

Thanks!

Minimum of eight inch, ten would be normal. Make sure you have plenty of money with you if you are buying new with new fastenings.

 

[duncan99210]

Just been out on deck and measured ours (Bavaria 38 which is actaully just on 40 ft long...). They're 30cm throughout (aft, midships and forward). May be teaching you to suck eggs, but do make sure that there is adequate reinforcing below decks where you mount them - penny washers will not do! Get some stainless steel plates made up that are somewhat bigger than the footprint of the cleats so as to spread the load on the deck.

 

[rob2]

As said, you really need to consider what size mooring lines you will be using then chose a cleat to suit. Jimmy Green's site suggest 16mm warps, lets call that 2 inch circumference, so Rossynant's formula suggests a 12 inch cleat. That sounds good to me - my 28 ftr has 8 inch cleats which can just take a 16mm line but with no spare room on them.

Rob.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

..... I would like to know what size deck cleats people have on 40 to 41ft yachts in general? ....

For a 41 ft LOA yacht you are looking at a 14" long cleat at the upper end or 11" long for the lower end of the range. The upper range are heavy duty for Ocean Sailing where the cleats may be used for drogue bridles. The cleats should be good for 16 mm warp diameter.

For backing pads under the deck use a pad thickness that is 4 times the mounting bolt OD; width / breadth of the pad should be approximately 10 times the deck thickness. This latter dimension is really for thinner decks, plywood pads, so you could reduce it for thicker decks.

The information is from The Boat Data Book, 6th Addition, Ian Nicolson, 2009, Adlard Coles Nautical.

 

[pelias]

Thanks that's really helpful, I thought the 300mm mark would be about right but I was unsure if this would be the same aft, mids and fore.

I intend to use plates for mounting to spread load, got to get a inner forestay plate made up at the same time as I notice its just on with washers at the moment!!

 

[pelias]

Thanks the backing plate ratio is really helpful, our deck is solid grp but a bit of width on the plate will be a good thing.

Thanks for all your help so far.......

 

[PlankWalker]

My 32mm mooring strop eye is a verry tight fit on a 12 inch cleet at the bow.

A 16 inch wouldn't be too big at the bow whereas 12 or 14 inch is OK for the stern.

Plank

 

[oldsaltoz]

Just to state the bleeding obvious. Any cleat is only as strong as the area it's mounted on.

So duck into your local scrap yard and pick up some Stainless steel plate off-cuts or even some thicker aluminium if weight is a concern.

It's very important to bevel the edges and corners of the backing plates to reduce edge stress.

The best way to install them us to offer them up mark and drill as required, dry fit first to make all is going to work properly, then add a layer of resin and Micro Fibres well mixed on the top side of the plate about 5 mm thick all over, then place a sheet of cling wrap over the top. This will make removal simple if required later. Offer it and let the bolts push through the cling wrap. then tighten the nuts and keep wiping around the edges as any excess resin will be displaced and some will seal the bolt holes.

The finished article will be in full contact with underside of the deck and there will be no point loading, so no cracks in your gell goat down the track.

Good luck anf fair winds.

.