Stern Cleats

Submitted by JHS on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 08:39
Forums: 
Maintenance, Repairs, Changes, and Upgrades

I find it odd that there are no stern cleats on a FS. I was thinking about mounting two pop up cleats towards the transom. Does anyone have any experience or opinions about this idea?

Thanks

FS5257

Fri, 08/22/2008 - 14:53

The deck is a balsa core, so any intrusion is not a welcome one.

Depending on your task, walking the bow line back and around the inside of the shroud usually allows trailer loading.

A trick I saw at the NA's last year was using the hole in the seat for the boom crutch as a 'cleat'. Just thread a line (with a loop spliced in the end) through the hole and put the line bitter end through the loop and draw it closed. You now have a rigged stern line.

JHS

Fri, 08/22/2008 - 15:09

Thanks. Interesting solution. The trailer loading is no problem, although the 1/2 jam cleat just aft of the sheet blocks seems nearly worthless. I climbed inside briefly but don't recall if the balsa extends all the way to the gunwale (something tells me it's about 2" short of there). I would just feel better when it's moored overnights if I could better secure the stern. I guess the safety harness loops on the transom would serve well.

sawyerspadre

Fri, 08/22/2008 - 15:29

I use the transom rings. They are very strong. Cleats on the deck would be a great place to catch the mainsheet.

Phil Scheetz
FS 4086

JHS

Fri, 08/22/2008 - 17:41

That's why I'd use pop up cleats - they're somewhat flush when not in use...

Dave812

Sat, 08/23/2008 - 06:42

The rings on the transom are there for mooring purposes, note the brackets use 4 bolts. They are also an easy and convenient way to attach the safety line.

The pop up cleats I have seen are heavy and expensive. They also require a large hole in the deck to mount them. I don't think there is enough uncored area on the aft deck to mount them without penetrating the balsa core, so that would need to be carefully sealed to avoid rot.

One more reason against is that the transom is much stronger than the deck.

JHS

Sat, 08/23/2008 - 06:52

quote:[i]Originally posted by Dave812[/i]
[br]The rings on the transom are there for mooring purposes, note the brackets use 4 bolts. They are also an easy and convenient way to attach the safety line.

The pop up cleats I have seen are heavy and expensive. They also require a large hole in the deck to mount them. I don't think there is enough uncored area on the aft deck to mount them without penetrating the balsa core, so that would need to be carefully sealed to avoid rot.

One more reason against is that the transom is much stronger than the deck.

I've seen relatively lightweight pop up cleats but I think the other concerns mentioned dictate against them so the transom rings will have to do. Thanks.

JHS

Sun, 08/24/2008 - 16:29

Hey interesting. Do you think a pop up cleat would solve the occasional main sheet problem? Thanks.
Thanks.

"If the sea did wild or wicked things, it was because she could not help them." - Hemmingway