Cleats mounted under the dock?

[thinwater]

(Herrington Harbor North, Tracy's Landing, MD)

I can see 2 advantages: the dock clutter is reduced (meaningless) and chafe is reduced (valid). But I can see some problems:

• Hard to reach.
• I'm not sure you can tie a proper cleat hitch; They aren't meant to pull up.
• Force is the wrong direction on the horns (I've seen horns ripped off by upward forces of tide falling).
• Narrower range of acceptable line sizes.
• Easier to tie a truly bad hitch. Small wonder most slip holders are using them as rings.
• Torture on the bolts. More bending force than if load is horizontal.

Thoughts? They did brace the docks with these loads in mind, but I still don't get it.

[colemj]

You forgot that users have to reach through spiders and cockroaches to use them.

I'd just tie to the posts.

Mark

[deblen]

Put the eye on ur boat cleat & leave it there. Run line around post & tie back on ur boat.
Now you don't need a crew to adj dock lines or depart.
Forget about using those dock cleats-not safe or secure.
IMHO / Len

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by deblen

Put the eye on ur boat cleat & leave it there. Run line around post & tie back on ur boat.
Now you don't need a crew to adj dock lines or depart.
Forget about using those dock cleats-not safe or secure.
IMHO / Len

Doesn't that generate a lot of chafe, as the rope moves on the piling with tide and waves? I've certainly used that method for short stays for the reasons you gave, but not as a permanent measure.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Doesn't that generate a lot of chafe, as the rope moves on the piling with tide and waves? I've certainly used that method for short stays for the reasons you gave, but not as a permanent measure.

Take 2 or more turns around post.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by deblen

Take 2 or more turns around post.

or use chafe preventers. I mostly singlehand & I really prefer to have both ends aboard.

[Sailmonkey]

That looks like the work of attorneys....nobody can break a toe on them.

But they are being pulled the wrong way.


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[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by deblen

or use chafe preventers. I mostly singlehand & I really prefer to have both ends aboard.

Yup! Bringing the lines back lets you leave without hassle. If I'm somewhere for more than a day, I cleat on the dock with the loop on the boat. Before I leave, I bring all lines back. I use long lines for all three points: bow, stern breasts and midships spring line.

[Dennis.G]

I think they would do fine if you can thread the line in through the hole that is commonly between the bolts before hitching the line off. That way the line is not pulling up on the cleat horns (which are not designed to take stress that way). The bolts should be fine, as long as properly backed. In fact, bolts are stronger in tensile strength than in shear anyway.

[PuttingDoctor]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

That looks like the work of attorneys....nobody can break a toe on them.

But they are being pulled the wrong way.


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Sailmomkey beat me to it. I like the idea for nothing more than protection of my big feet. I seem to find each and every dock mounted cleat especially when wearing sandals.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by PuttingDoctor

Sailmomkey beat me to it. I like the idea for nothing more than protection of my big feet. I seem to find each and every dock mounted cleat especially when wearing sandals.

And hoses... and power cords... and dock carts... and....

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by PuttingDoctor

Sailmomkey beat me to it. I like the idea for nothing more than protection of my big feet. I seem to find each and every dock mounted cleat especially when wearing sandals.

Size 13 EEEEEE here. I don't care if they are Tevas, Keens or Topsiders, if they fit, I buy them. Unfortunately, this sometimes leaves my toes uncovered, with my toenails at precisely the same height as the average horn cleat.

[thinwater]

35 years of sailing, and I can't say I remember kicking a dock cleat. If you don't know where your feet are on a dock, isn't the next sound "splash?"

In the process of renovating the docks with "improvements," rates were increased. Funny.

I noticed all of this when visiting to have my boat hauled. I had already tied up to the pilings when I saw the cleats under the dock. At first I assumed they must have some hidden purpose (dingies or work platforms?), then I thought it was some sort of joke, and then finally I realized they were all that way. Didn't use them, didn't see the point.

[Moontide]

Engineering issue with these. Cleats are designed to work with a shearing force, not lifting. Supposed to be pulling 90 degrees from the bolt angle, not in line. If they mounted them on the underside of the dock it would be better. The horns are not designed to take the load of the boat, only make it easier to secure the line to it. The load is taken by the (normally) vertical section of the cleat.

[Stu Jackson]

They connected all of the dock supports to the pilings. Why not put the cleats on the pilings so one could access them.

Dumb, dumb idea, another lawyer joke comin'?