Creative Fender Mount or Added Cleat on 38DA?

Atalla

Active Member
Sep 1, 2020
244
Seattle
Boat Info
2007 38 Sundancer
Engines
Twin Merc 8.1 S Horizon V-Drives
Has anybody added a cleat or come up with a creative way to drop a fender near the stern of a 38DA. The 40DAs and up have two cleats near the stern, one on the gunwale as it drops towards the swim platform and another on the side. The 38DA only has the former. It is a hassle to have a fender on that cleat and tie down the stern. I cruise the Puget Sound and regularly go through the locks between the lakes and the Sound. Having a jammed up cleat is a hassle when I'm moving quickly to tie down in the locks. Also a pain to adjust the fender after docked since the stern line is on top of the fender line at that point. I'd love to have the fender elsewhere.

Any thoughts about just adding a cleat? The right way to do it? I'd never use the added cleat for dock lines since it wouldn't be reinforced at all. Any other creative solutions?
 
Yup, in that case, I would just add a "fender cleat" as Blueone mentioned. One thing I would mention, though, is that even though he had good luck with the chrome plated one... I've seen that one break (more than once) because of the inferior base metal. It also tends to corrode faster in a salt environment.

There's probably at least a dozen fender cleats you can pick from - Sea Ray even has some they use on new-ish boats, similar to the first one Blueone noted, but more streamlined looking. Either way, there's lots of them to look at. Another popular one is the one made by TaylorMade that uses a nylon "peg" - it's actually quite robust.

You could use a trucker's hitch with non-adjustable fender locks or, by installing a small cleat, you use one of the adjustable fender locks that are available. I guess you could do the same using one of the inexpensive fender locks and a short loop of rope, too.
 
Since the plan would be to NOT mount with the backing that a cleat would normally have, I would want to have something that looked very different from a standard cleat.

You would know not to tie to the cleat - but would anyone else - now or in the future. Potential issue for the next owner of the boat.
 
These were all over my Princess and they worked great for fenders.... Low profile and super easy to adjust.
upload_2021-4-9_16-9-47.png
 
Since the plan would be to NOT mount with the backing that a cleat would normally have, I would want to have something that looked very different from a standard cleat.

You would know not to tie to the cleat - but would anyone else - now or in the future. Potential issue for the next owner of the boat.
Indeed. I thought about this as well. Most of the suggestions are pretty clearly not a cleat, so I don't think I'd be too worried. I am also the type of guy that would make a point to tell a future owner about this.
 
I use the Nautical Cross and they have been very helpful.
These are slick. Didn't even think about the rod holders. Thanks!

I'll have to see if that puts the fender to far forward for my liking but I'm thinking this is probably the best solution. No drilling, plus people will be apt to grabbing this instead of reaching past it and grabbing my camper-back frame when stepping on from a high dock, which drives me crazy.
 
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These are the fender cleats Crusiers puts in that location on their boats, I really like them and when not in use are very discrete.

https://www.acconmarine.com/products/pop-up-cleats
Those are nice as well.

I need to get out into my bilge and under my cushions and figure out if there is a solid location where I can also manage to get a backer plate in place. My initial thought was I would not be able to access, but staring at photos right now I'm wondering if I can just install a proper cleat or one of these.
 
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Those are nice as well.

I need to get out into my bilge and under my cushions and figure out if there is a solid location where I can also manage to get a backer plate in place. My initial thought was I would be able to access, but staring at photos right now I'm wondering if I can just install a proper cleat or one of these.

In the location you are thinking why would you need a cleat in that area other than a fender? Do you have need of another cleat to tie off with?
 
In the location you are thinking why would you need a cleat in that area other than a fender? Do you have need of another cleat to tie off with?
I'm talking about the stern cleat. The 38DA has only three cleats per side, stern on the gunwale leading down to the swim platform, mid-ship and then bow. I certainly need the stern cleat to tie off with. For some reason, Sea Ray decided the 38 only needed the three cleats while the 40, 42, 44 all get an extra cleat at the stern I assume intended for a fender.
 
I have two cleats back there... they come in handy that’s for sure
Indeed. I'd be adding something to the side, behind the vents just like the 40, 42, 44 have so I can use that for a fender.
 
Indeed. I'd be adding something to the side, behind the vents just like the 40, 42, 44 have so I can use that for a fender.
Tough area to get to on my boat to put a backing plate
 
Tough area to get to on my boat to put a backing plate
Yeah...the 38 is a bit different than the 40+ when it comes to how the transom, bilge and swim platform all line up. I happen to moor next to a 40 and behind a 44 all 2007. I think it is possible I can get just below where my fuel lines run with enough clearance. I'll have to get down there with this project in mind this weekend or next week.
 
Do you have a fishing rod holder? If so, cut a piece of PVC about 15" long. Stick your fender rope through it and tie a knot. Then sick that into your rod holder and hang the fender over the side. Adjust the knot to get the level correct.

FEFEB081-ADF6-4951-A8F6-C4A04C0BF7B7.jpeg
 
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Just to follow-up on this thread. I originally went with a rather simple plastic insert into my rod holders, which was working great, until some rolling wake trapped a fender under fuel dock and, when the boat rolled back up, the fender hung up and snapped the plastic 'cleat' right off.

So I went a bit fancier and got two of these - MULTI-PURPOSE 15-DEGREE PORTABLE CLEAT TACO Marine.

They are pretty awesome and have the added advantage of being a logical grab location for people boarding which prevents them from grabbing my camper-back frame which @#$@%%@#% me off every time. :)
 

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