Dock Cleat Size/Brand Recommendations

[wish2fish]

We just lengthened our dock this weekend. I want to put some cleats in that would meet our needs. We have my SeaRay 220, my friends 260 cuddy and a pontoon (yes, I said it). Does anyone have a recommendation for brand and size of dock cleat? I want to have a good size, but don't need to tie up a barge!

 

[Henry Boyd]

I used 8" cleats on our docks (about the same size as installed on SR). But, we are in a river current that also rises and falls (abt 12') with the tide. The thing is not so much the cleat size itself, but installing them on something substantial enough to hold without ripping off. There are 4x4s mounted to the rim joist of the dock under the decking. We placed the outer deck boards down first, then drilled through the deck boards and 4x4. The cleats are placed on the deck board and bolted through the deck board and 4x4. The end of the bolt is washered and double nutted, and the threads mashed. Then the rest of the deck boards were installed.

If you are not in a current, protected from the wind, and don't have tides to worry about you don't even need cleats; you could work off a long 2x4 mounted on 2x4 blocks.

Henry

 

[sbw1]

The thing is not so much the cleat size itself, but installing them on something substantial enough to hold without ripping off.
If you are not in a current, protected from the wind, and don't have tides to worry about you don't even need cleats; you could work off a long 2x4 mounted on 2x4 blocks.Henry

We have boat wakes to contend with, so the holding power of the backer plate is a big consideration. Our cleats are fairly big, at least 8". And, they go into steel plates (upside down "L" shaped) that are welded to the steel beams that support the decking of the dock. If they went into a 2"x4" they would fail over one busy week end like we just had.

 

[jwws007]

8" cleats will be fine for that boat. I just picked some up at harbor freight for 3 bucks ea.

 

[Henry Boyd]

We have boat wakes to contend with, so the holding power of the backer plate is a big consideration. Our cleats are fairly big, at least 8". And, they go into steel plates (upside down "L" shaped) that are welded to the steel beams that support the decking of the dock. If they went into a 2"x4" they would fail over one busy week end like we just had.

OK OK, I'll restate the conditions: no current, no wind, no tides, no wakes, then you can use 2x4s lag bolted to the dock!

Henry

Note I said 'YOU', not me. Me, I got 8" cleats with 3/8" diameter through bolts!

 

[sbw1]

Sounds like an under design in any case.

 

[wish2fish]

can't we all just get along??

The harbor freight 8" cleats are online at $1.99.....but they are on backorder. Harb Freight

I went and bought 10" cleats. I wanted the bigger design to be able to get the rope through. We don't have wake problems but do have an ocassional flash flood.

 

[wish2fish]

Getting ready to install the cleats. does anyone have suggestions as to where the cleat should be located? for example; fore and aft of the boat...so many feet?

thanks