T-Track mounted cleats
Moderator: Jim Walsh
- Warren S
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Jul 27th, '06, 21:22
- Location: s/v Morveren
Cape Dory 270 Hull #5
Washington, NC
T-Track mounted cleats
Hi Gang,
Is there any conventional wisdom on the use of t-track mounted cleats for docking and spring lines?
I keep envisioning undue side-loads that might loosen the bedding or other wise cause leaks along the track. It would be nice to use midship spring lines for the upcoming hurricane season, but not if it's going to damage the track.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Is there any conventional wisdom on the use of t-track mounted cleats for docking and spring lines?
I keep envisioning undue side-loads that might loosen the bedding or other wise cause leaks along the track. It would be nice to use midship spring lines for the upcoming hurricane season, but not if it's going to damage the track.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
"Being hove to in a long gale is the most boring way of being terrified I know." -Donald Hamilton
The ones I have seen always seemed a bit on the light side to me for any real load. They are tempting though for convience. But if your idea is for hurricane season specificly? I would say no personally. For cleating furling lines, or dinghys, sure.
Why not just bite the bullet and install a proper midship cleat? Boats without midship cleats drive me nuts, I dont think I could stand being without one for long.
Why not just bite the bullet and install a proper midship cleat? Boats without midship cleats drive me nuts, I dont think I could stand being without one for long.
Russell
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
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- Posts: 4367
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 17:25
- Location: s/v LIQUIDITY, CD28. We sail from Marina Bay on Boston Harbor. Try us on channel 9.
- Contact:
The thing is, the full load of the genoa is not applied to the T track, the winch takes a lot of the load. And you furl up a genny when the wind pipes up, you cannot furl up your boats freeboard in a hurricane.Neil Gordon wrote:Someone want to do the math of a loaded Genoa sheet running through a block vs. a spring line?
Russell
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
- David van den Burgh
- Posts: 597
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 18:54
- Location: Ariel CD36, 1979 - Lake Michigan
- Contact:
Re: T-Track mounted cleats
We have track-mounted cleats (one Schaefer, the other a knockoff) that do backup duty to the mortised Spartan mid-ship cleats. My approach to the track-mounted cleats has been to keep the loads as much in line with the track as possible and to rig them so they only draw tight when the lines to the mid-ship cleats have taken up most of the force. That's been standard fall storm configuration for over five years, and we've had some really nasty storms (i.e., swell and surge) in our marina.Warren S wrote:Hi Gang,
Is there any conventional wisdom on the use of t-track mounted cleats for docking and spring lines?
I keep envisioning undue side-loads that might loosen the bedding or other wise cause leaks along the track. It would be nice to use midship spring lines for the upcoming hurricane season, but not if it's going to damage the track.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Track-mounted cleats would be better than nothing, but I would only rely on them as long as it took to get some mid-ship cleats mortised in, especially if you're talking about storm conditions.
In normal conditions, ours have worked fine for docking and spring lines.
- moctrams
- Posts: 583
- Joined: Jul 21st, '06, 15:13
- Location: 1982 Cape Dory 30C,Gabbiano,Hull # 265,Flag Harbor,Long Beach, Md.
spring line
I use my Track mounted cleat for the "spring line".
- Warren S
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Jul 27th, '06, 21:22
- Location: s/v Morveren
Cape Dory 270 Hull #5
Washington, NC
Thanks all!
I think for now I will use the cleat as a "normal" spring line, and as a spring line to aid in docking, but not a storm line. in that case, i will use longer dock lines and go to a midships piling.
"Being hove to in a long gale is the most boring way of being terrified I know." -Donald Hamilton
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- Posts: 452
- Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 23:45
- Location: Cape Dory 33 "Rover" Hull #66
Track cleats
Rover came with Schaefer track-mounted cleats that we have used for spring lines without incident for many years. For us they are the essential cleats for coming into a dock. Installing permanent cleats is on our list of future projects, but we just haven't gotten to it yet.
Our boat is in the water 12 months, has been through many nasty winter storms on the Oregon coast, and the cleats have done well. The strongest officially recorded wind of which we are aware was 100 knots when the boat was in the South Beach Marina in Newport. The cleats did fine.
Our boat is in the water 12 months, has been through many nasty winter storms on the Oregon coast, and the cleats have done well. The strongest officially recorded wind of which we are aware was 100 knots when the boat was in the South Beach Marina in Newport. The cleats did fine.
Tom and Jean Keevil
CD33 Rover
Ashland OR and Ladysmith, BC
CD33 Rover
Ashland OR and Ladysmith, BC
- Ron Churgin
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Jul 30th, '07, 10:56
- Location: "Courtship" Allied Princess Cutter,Oceanside, NY
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- Posts: 60
- Joined: Jun 3rd, '09, 19:22
- Location: CD36 Barbara Lee 1981 Hull 41 Haverstraw, NY
Barbara Lee came with 6" black Aluminum cleats on the track. We have no mid ship cleats and have used these for spring lines. I would prefer cleats with longer horns and and haven't been able to find any in bronze. We would prefer not to have chrome cleats on the rail. Is there an issue with mixing the metals or is there a lack of demand for bronze?
We also have mid ship cleats on our to do list. Does Spartan still sell these?
Thanks,
Bob Brown
We also have mid ship cleats on our to do list. Does Spartan still sell these?
Thanks,
Bob Brown
- drysuit2
- Posts: 310
- Joined: Apr 22nd, '05, 18:52
- Location: Segue, 1985 Cape Dory 26 Hull # 15 Port Washington NY
- Contact:
Re: Track cleats
I've been thinking about this too. Because Segue spends her winters at a dock.Tom Keevil wrote:Rover came with Schaefer track-mounted cleats that we have used for spring lines without incident for many years. For us they are the essential cleats for coming into a dock. Installing permanent cleats is on our list of future projects, but we just haven't gotten to it yet.
Our boat is in the water 12 months, has been through many nasty winter storms on the Oregon coast, and the cleats have done well. The strongest officially recorded wind of which we are aware was 100 knots when the boat was in the South Beach Marina in Newport. The cleats did fine.
Is your Genni track through bolted with backing plates? Mine doesn't seem to be. The majority of the screws I see down below look like self tapping screws. Not bolts and nuts. Is that common on the later [1985] CD's? Was Cape Dory looking to save money? Or is that all that is really necessary for a toe rail?
Any way; if I through bolted a few spots on my Genni Track, and oversized the backing plate; would that be sufficient for the side ways loads on the track? I guess I have the same question about mortising in a mid-ship cleat.
I tried to use my inner jib track and blocks for my spring lines this winter; and I trashed a jib block, but not the car or track.
I would be afraid to instal a cleat to that inner track, because knowing me. I would trip over it.
Thanks for your help.
i
- Warren S
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Jul 27th, '06, 21:22
- Location: s/v Morveren
Cape Dory 270 Hull #5
Washington, NC
Toe stubbers, yes indeed.
On the 270, the track is smack dab in the middle of the side deck, and I am forever stubbing my toe on the cleat.
FYI my tracks are definitely through-bolted w. backing plate every 8 or so inches.
FYI my tracks are definitely through-bolted w. backing plate every 8 or so inches.
"Being hove to in a long gale is the most boring way of being terrified I know." -Donald Hamilton
- David van den Burgh
- Posts: 597
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 18:54
- Location: Ariel CD36, 1979 - Lake Michigan
- Contact:
Re: Toe stubbers, yes indeed.
By the way, I had just assumed that the discussion of track-mounted cleats meant those mounted on the toe rail. I don't have any experience with CD tracks mounted inboard.Warren S wrote:On the 270, the track is smack dab in the middle of the side deck, and I am forever stubbing my toe on the cleat.
FYI my tracks are definitely through-bolted w. backing plate every 8 or so inches.
- Steve Laume
- Posts: 4127
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 20:40
- Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
- Contact:
Raven has Spartan midship cleats. I am definitely glad they are there but wish the horns were longer. They work fine for one line but not so good if you are trying to get two on there.
Bronze and aluminum are not a good mix. And yes I believe the demand would be extremely low even if there were no problem with dissimilar metals.
Raven's tracks are definitely through bolted with regular washers underneath. There are way more fasteners than you want to deal with when you go to rebed. I believe it is every four inches. The lack of larger washers or proper backing plates does not seem to be an issue as most of the load is in shear. That is an extreemly strong area of the boat. You have a good sized section of the teak toe rail the the uncored deck and hull where they form the joint. This is also backed up by the rub rail.
The only screws I see are those that fasten the toe rail to the deck. Everything else is bolted, Steve.
Bronze and aluminum are not a good mix. And yes I believe the demand would be extremely low even if there were no problem with dissimilar metals.
Raven's tracks are definitely through bolted with regular washers underneath. There are way more fasteners than you want to deal with when you go to rebed. I believe it is every four inches. The lack of larger washers or proper backing plates does not seem to be an issue as most of the load is in shear. That is an extreemly strong area of the boat. You have a good sized section of the teak toe rail the the uncored deck and hull where they form the joint. This is also backed up by the rub rail.
The only screws I see are those that fasten the toe rail to the deck. Everything else is bolted, Steve.
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- Posts: 4367
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 17:25
- Location: s/v LIQUIDITY, CD28. We sail from Marina Bay on Boston Harbor. Try us on channel 9.
- Contact:
The Genoa though has a significant vertical component.Russell wrote:The thing is, the full load of the genoa is not applied to the T track, the winch takes a lot of the load. And you furl up a genny when the wind pipes up, you cannot furl up your boats freeboard in a hurricane.Neil Gordon wrote:Someone want to do the math of a loaded Genoa sheet running through a block vs. a spring line?
Fair winds, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA
CDSOA member #698
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA
CDSOA member #698