Midship Cleats

[Peter Lloyd]

Has anyone installed midship cleats. Is there a good strong point that can be used. I have a Wight II, but probably similar on other Macwester’s.

[Chris Nixon]

I have never fitted midship cleats on a Mac but if I did, I would get a backing plate of either hardwood or stainless steel at least a foot long and as wide as will fit in the tow rail.

[Peter Lloyd]

Yes. I am currently using a main mast stay strap, but it’s too far forward and I don’t like putting to much lateral pressure on it, being it’s designed to take vertical loads.

I am wanting to have a midship cleat to improve my pontoon mooring when single handed, or when with an inexperienced crew.  My objective is to be able to loop a line onto a pontoon cleat from a midship cleat when in the cockpit, so when I use gentle forward motor, I can then jumping off a stationary boat and then secure permanent bow and stern lines. Like now I can spring fore and aft and leave the midship line loose for reuse when leaving.

The question is where do I position the midship cleat for best effect. Any suggestions? Could a cleat on the genoa track be considered?

• This reply was modified 5 months ago by Peter Lloyd.

[Paul Stevens]

I fitted a second cleat on my seaforth for exactly the same reason.  The cleat was fitted equidistant( more or less)from the widest part of the beam as the existing cleat foreward.  Its not quite midships  but near enough to be a very useful addition.  I used an 8inch aluminium cleat to match the existing one foreward . The backing plate is  approximately 8mm aluminium and of equal length i.e.  8 inches. It fits snugly inside the toe rail. any longer would be a squeeze due to the curvature of the boat and I think its adequate. I used aluminium as the cleat is aluminium and I happened to have a piece in the garage ! otherwise stainless would have been ok.  I used stainless bolts coated to prevent electrolysis. I occasionally check with a mirror to see if its still intact.

It has stood up to some very heavy weather whilst on the pontoon. Hopefully I have attached a photo.

Its worth doing you just need to find a spot where you have decent access.

Regards

Paul Stevens

I hopefully have attached a photo for you to see

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[Peter Lloyd]

Thanks Paul. I read an article that says the midship cleat is best placed on the broadest part of the boat as yours appears to be. Another article however suggests a pontoon trial should be used to determine the best position. By first loosening bow and stern warps, a temporary warp secured at various locations midship should be trialed with the motor running gently with rudder turning the stern gently into pontoon. Has anyone tried this approach?

[Jan-Willem Martens]

Hi Peter, we have a MacWester Wight and have fitted midship cleats since a few years.  We used the position where there was a small wooden (ornamental) rail next to the cock pit, see attachment (the jib sheet is fixed on the cleat).

It’s been a world of difference with docking. The boat is so much easier to handle now from the cockpit.  Not only with a pontoon but also when docking into a box. Like you indicated we only use the midship cleat when docking and then switch to permanent bow and stern lines.

 

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[Peter Lloyd]

Thanks Jan. That quite interesting. Much further back than I had been considering, but much easier to use directly from the cockpit. I will have to do a few trials when against the pontoon using the existing deck furniture.
I also notice you have braces on your rail stanchions, which I was also considering adding.

[Paul Stevens]

Hi again Peter

At the same time as I fitted an extra cleat I also added a stanchion brace. The main reason was that the fenders  when added to the guard wire caused them to bend worryingly during bad weather on the pontoon.It has made a huge difference . It was easy to do using fittings bought to frame a bimini.. I bought all the bits from a company called seas screw who specialise in stainless fittings. There is only the one piece you have to fix to the toe rail the rest are screw fittings . You can also see the extra cleat  fitted in the photo.

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[Peter Lloyd]

Thanks Paul

Yes. Every time I open the gate the rail sags and the fenders have to be readjusted. Another job to be added to my winter to do list.

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