[Dave_E]

Hi All,

The mast is unstepped, and the refurbishment is coming along nicely. I had a couple of aluminum cleats that got sacrificed during removal from the mast and one from the boom. I used to have nylon cleats on my skiffs and when I went to the marine store, all they had was "Sea Dog" nylon cleats. My question is: do sailboats need aluminum cleats, or will nylon work?

 

[Stumble]

For a 30' I would go with cam cleats. I have more than one scar from jamming my hand thru horn cleats on masts and booms. They are also faster and easier.

 

[Minnewaska]

I too would try to avoid cleats on the mast, when possible. Especially any redundant cleats that wouldn't be wrapped underway. Somehow, jib sheets, spin guys, etc, all find them.

I know that some cleats are sold with load ratings, but probably not nylon. I'm not certain of this, but I suspect that the strength of nylon is affected by freezing or hot sun.

 

[DonScribner]

We sail a 25 foot trailerable with a 27 foot mast that we step every weekend. I built a gin pole that has all the block and tackle and guys attached so I never have to hunt for the right lines; if I have the pole, I have the rest already attached. I used nylon cleats screwed to the pole. They don't stand up to abuse at all, at least the ones that I used. IMHO, use the aluminum.

Minne,

If his lines aren't lead back then cleats on the mast are a must.

Don

 

[killarney_sailor]

What are the cleats used for, the loads that they are being subjected to will have a major bearing on what material?

 

[Alex W]

What are these cleats being used for? For halyards the horn cleat works nicely because it also gives you something to hang the tail of the halyard from. My jib and spin halyards terminate at the mast (instead of the cockpit). I used clutches (a lot nicer than cam cleats) to handle the load, but they don't make it easy to organize loose tails of line.

In general I avoid stuff made by Sea-Dog line unless there is nothing else available. They always seem to be the lowest quality and budget items available.

 

[Ajax_MD]

Seadog is kind of "bottom of the line" gear. Fine for small skiffs and such that don't see any really ugly loads.

Your boat is 31 feet. Instead of cleats, you might investigate line clutches.

 

[pcmm]

the only place for nylon cleats is on the store shelf. they have no place on a boat, one horn invariable breaks at the wrong time use eithercam cleats or proper aluminum horn cleats

 

[Dave_E]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. The cleats on the mast and boom are of "old style" horned and jam cleat (open bottom) type and I do use the horns for line organization. I had no intention of going to a different method of cleating, but when I could not not readily find replacement aluminum (black) cleats I asked the question. Guess I'll have to go on line. Boy are these hummers pricey!

Dave

 

[Ajax_MD]

You could buy ordinary aluminum cleats, and have them powder coated black.

 

[Barquito]

Guess I'll have to go on line. Boy are these hummers pricey!

Look on e-bay. Get a few and polish them.

For those that have cam cleats and line clutches, what exactly do you do with the long tail of line? I was about to replace a horn cleat on my mast, hadn't even thought of that problem.

(sorry for the slight thread drift)

 

[mad_machine]

Seadog is kind of "bottom of the line" gear. Fine for small skiffs and such that don't see any really ugly loads.

Your boat is 31 feet. Instead of cleats, you might investigate line clutches.

Somebody tell me about these.

 

[Stumble]

Look on e-bay. Get a few and polish them.

For those that have cam cleats and line clutches, what exactly do you do with the long tail of line? I was about to replace a horn cleat on my mast, hadn't even thought of that problem.

(sorry for the slight thread drift)

I use halyard hangers like ( Ronstan Utility Hanger (2 Pack) ). They work much better than trying to jam a halyard onto a horn. And while they have bolt holes, I just epoxy them places, all over the cockpit, near winches, ect. For a couple of bucks they make storing coiled lines easy.

Mad Machine,

Those is a cheap clutch that failed quite embarisingly. Since the load is in line, to have the plate open like that indicates a pretty weird failure method.

 

[mad_machine]

Greg,

not so much the failure.. but the mechanism itself. My ancient Sea Sprite as a tiny little bronze cleat on the mast that can be a bit of a pain to get a line secured to and even harder to unsecure

 

[Alex W]

That is a Lewmar clutch, they are usually highly regarded. I am curious about how that one failed. I use and like them because they release well under load.

Dave_E: Fisheries Supply in Seattle has a huge range of cleats to choose from. They have pretty much every product mentioned in this thread in stock.

Greg: I use those same Ronstan hooks in the cockpit of my boat for managing lines. I hadn't considered hanging two on the mast for jib and spin halyards, but it's a pretty good idea. A halyard bag mounted at the base of the mast would also do the trick.

 

[Barquito]

Here is an idea for handling the heavier loads of a halyard without popping for a rope clutch. It also provides a way to store the tail. They mounted two cam cleats in line (I understand this is common on racing boats).