No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

[bkwapisz]

So about a month ago I went to launch my new-to-me Ranger with my son, who is 7, and I get it in the water and realize that there's no cleats to temporaily tie it up to the dock.

This is my first fishing boat, and I'm not sure if they all come without cleats, but I'd like to add some. There's also no place to tie and achor line either. I posted a pic below and was wondering where you'd suggest I put some cleats. There is space on the bow, starboard of the trolling motor, but I want ot put a second graph there. I was thinking just aft of there, on either side. Same on the stern, just in front of the downriggers. Both of these locations can be accessed from underneath so I can thru-bolt the cleats.

Any suggestions from the experts?

Thanks!

 

[JoLin]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

Your stern idea is fine. Bow... not so sure.

If you're going to anchor, you want the bow to point directly into wind and wave action, so your best option is a cleat dead center. That said, most boats also have anchor chocks that place the strain, and point the bow, a little off to one side anyway.

Trick is to place the bow cleat as close to bow and centerline as possible. I don't know what "a second graph" is, but you might want to rethink its location.

 

[lkbum]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

See this youtube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ts5DsiNJLI or this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zn_cio7NRU&feature=related . I did not watch these all the way through but they will give you some good pointers. For virtually anything I do now, I always check youtube to see if someone has posted a clip on the subject. I've looked at outdirve oil change, winterizing etc. Not always the best quality, but I always learn something from them.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

Your stern idea is fine. Bow... not so sure.

If you're going to anchor, you want the bow to point directly into wind and wave action, so your best option is a cleat dead center. That said, most boats also have anchor chocks that place the strain, and point the bow, a little off to one side anyway.

Trick is to place the bow cleat as close to bow and centerline as possible. I don't know what "a second graph" is, but you might want to rethink its location.

A second graph is another fishfinder with a trolling motor-mounted transducer. I'll have to ponder this one for a while. I suppose I could always run the rode through the bow eye and then tie off onto a cleat somewhere. Keep in mind that I'll be anchoring in shallow water for maybe an hour at a time and not in high wind either. Hmmmm.....

 

[JoLin]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

Anchor rode through bow eye... good thought

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

See this youtube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ts5DsiNJLI or this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zn_cio7NRU&feature=related . I did not watch these all the way through but they will give you some good pointers. For virtually anything I do now, I always check youtube to see if someone has posted a clip on the subject. I've looked at outdirve oil change, winterizing etc. Not always the best quality, but I always learn something from them.

The pop-up cleat one is nice. Looks like a nice, sano install. Thanks!

 

[blouderback]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

+1 on the popup cleat, especially on a boat like yours where you'll often be placing a foot on the gunnels.

 

[QC]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

I'd also put two amidships about where the deck height changes. For tying up to a dock you don't really want to use the bow cleat as that will pull the stern out against a forward fender . . . You also need the amidship cleats for a spring line

 

[rbh]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

you may not have cleats, but you probably have an eye on the bow and two eyes, port and starboard on the transome.
put some snap rings on the end of some line when you dock.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

I'd also put two amidships about where the deck height changes. For tying up to a dock you don't really want to use the bow cleat as that will pull the stern out against a forward fender . . . You also need the amidship cleats for a spring line

I second that, also if you have your dock line attached to close to the bow you can't push the boat around a dock- say to the other ramp etc. It just doesn't work.

 

[robert graham]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

I noticed that Harbor Freight Tools has some pop-up cleats for about $5, a whole lot cheaper than a marine supply place. Of course they're made in China and may self-destruct first use, but check 'em out, they may be O.K. Good Luck!

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

Thank you for all the input. I think that I'll probably try to get one as close to the bow as I can for anchoring here and there, and 2 on either side in the stern. This boat will be kept on a lift most of the time, but will need to be tethered to the dock when launching in the spring, and in the fall for haulout. I suppose I can always put the fishfinder elsewhere if I need to.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

A second graph is another fishfinder with a trolling motor-mounted transducer. I'll have to ponder this one for a while. I suppose I could always run the rode through the bow eye and then tie off onto a cleat somewhere. Keep in mind that I'll be anchoring in shallow water for maybe an hour at a time and not in high wind either. Hmmmm.....

I think you'll find reaching the bow eye and pulling line through it to be tremendously inconvienent....especially if there is wave action. My advice is to stick with cleats and chocks. You can always place the chocks closer to the center line and the cleats further aft along the gunnel. Just a thought.

 

[Grand Larsony]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

Didn't see this comment posted yet --- you MUST use backing plates on each cleat, stainless hardware, locking nuts and washers, bedding compound or marine caulk, etc. If your deck is cored, I'd also recommend sealing the exposed wood once you drill the holes (use epoxy).

Of course, ya could do the red-neck thing and just use deck screws instead, althought bubba told me dem lag boltz work good too !!!

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

....I have a very similar set-up to yours with my freshwater boat.

I agree the flip-up chocks in the area of your down riggers would work nicely.

For the bow, I mounted a 6" cleat on the inboard, verticle face of the bow cover exactly on the centerline. I clip my anchor rode to the bow eye, stow my anchor beneath the bow cover and secure the rode (when anchoring) on the cleat. Everything is easy to reach from the front seat and with the cleat slightly aft and on the centerline, I can easily maneuver the boat for trailering.
FWIW Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

Holy Moly. The West Marine pop-up cleats start at $57 and go up to $192!!! I think I'll get some nice low profile jobs and stick with that. I read some other threads on here about unreliabiity of the pop up units and got scared off.

 

[grego]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

Ranger boat,with NO! cleats?? Makes no sense! I would look a little closer,maybe hideaway cleats??

 

[MRS]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

Right now on sale at cabelas go to bargin cave under boat accesories usalley 60 bucks 20 bucks right now.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

Right now on sale at cabelas go to bargin cave under boat accesories usalley 60 bucks 20 bucks right now.

Wow I never noticed the bargain cave. Thanks for the tip!

Now about the reliability of these pop up cleats.... Anyone want to comment?

 

[QC]

Re: No cleats on boat. Where to put them?

I've had zero issues with mine. I even tow tubes from the stern ones. Been very strong. Mine are actually called "pull up" as they are not spring loaded. I prefer this simpler approach.