Where to add boat cleats?

[Toxarch]

I did a search and didn't find anything. I have a 1992 19' Skeeter bass boat that I recently bought. It has no cleats to tie up to a dock. I picked up a cheap pair of 4" cleats to add to the boat and know I need a backing plate when installing them. But my question is, is there a basic rule of where they should be mounted?

I have seen one suggestion that the front cleat be mounted in front of the front glass, but I think that applies to ski boats or similar shaped boats. The driver's console on a bass boat is farther back in the boat.

So is there some standard about where to place the cleats? And yeah, pop-up cleats would be nice, but they're a bit expensive for my taste.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Where to add boat cleats?

go 1-2 feet back from the bow...and same from transom that way when she's properly tied off, she's firm to the dock.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Where to add boat cleats?

bow, stern and one mid ship. this give you all you need for proper docking. midship is for a spring line. i use my mid ship cleat more than any other. i can reach it from helm seat. pull right up to dock, and secure the boat for loading and departing, with just one line.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Where to add boat cleats?

when you install the bow and stern cleats as suggested, you will want 4--one for each corner, unless you have a pointed bow, in which case one central is fine. You'll want these also for towing or being towed. If you anchor in current, a bow cleat in the center is good unless you can easily reach your bow eye.
ditto to a mid ships
If you have a center bow cleat add blocks for the line as well.
Carry long enough lines--nothing is more aggravating than trying to help someone tie up his boat with too short lines. You don't need to carry four lines; usually a bow, stern and short spring is all you need, but that depends on your mooring.
Go walk around a marina to see how boats are rigged and moored.
Some say a bow line should be slightly shorter than the boat so if it falls over, it won't reach the prop. However I need more line due to the way I haev to cross tie between two finger piers on a 4' tide. I am as religious about "all lines entirely in the boat" when underway as I am about "plug in."

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Where to add boat cleats?

definitely do a midship cleat--when i got mine it had four corner cleats and when i tie off using bumpers--the middle of boat rubrail would hit and disengage--17 foot bowrider

 

[Toxarch]

Re: Where to add boat cleats?

This will be a fresh water boat only so no tide, maybe a river level going up and down, but I doubt I tie up in that situation for long. 99% of the time the boat will be on a trailer when not being used.

Thanks for the suggestions. The problem with putting the cleats too far forward (or in the front center) is that there is a trolling motor on the front of the boat and I don't think I have access under the gunwale that far forward.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Where to add boat cleats?

Mine we're to far forward and prohibited pulling the boat around a dock.