Mounting cleats on my dock

[JGator]

I'll be mounting cleats on my dock for an 18' pontoon. How far fore and aft of the boat should I mount the cleats?

TIA

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Mount them even with your cleats on the pontoon, you can cross tie if you want to be fancy.

 

[cyclops222]

Cross tie or long for and aft dock lines are great. To prevent the lines from ripping out dock or boat cleats in high wind and waves.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Depend on the water that the dock is in. Buddy of mine has a 40 foot dock that turns into a T. Lake will see Summer storms that can have 80-100mph winds

Dock has a row of cleats every 6-8 feet, 2 stakes in land, 2 cleats on the T. Boat is kept off the dock about 4' with the lines. Only tied to the dock for loading/unloading

 

[JGator]

Cross tie or long for and aft dock lines are great. To prevent the lines from ripping out dock or boat cleats in high wind and waves.

Fortunately, I'm on a lake. But your suggestion has merit. Thank you.

 

[Chris1956]

Make sure the cleats are solidly attached. Dock boards are normally nailed down. They are not always solidly attached to the joists, and can pull out, especially if the nails rust.

Here on the salty bay, I tie the lines to the pilings, as they are much stronger than any cleat on a dock board.

 

[cyclops222]

I use 6" long Galvanized bolts and washers on BIG dock cleats. I drill pilot holes thru the dock planks and 3" into the beams under the board / planks. The boat cleats ALL need Aluminum backer plates to spread the twisting line forces out better.
1 friend has those rubber Mooring Snubbers in the long dock lines.