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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Cleat backing plates

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tbosch
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163 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/18/2009 : 20:25:52

I was peaking behind the panels above the quarter berth and was surprised to see that there are just a couple of plain washers backing the bolts of the deck cleats just aft of the winches. The boat is a 1980 c25 std rig. I looked in the dumpster under the starboard cleat and it's the same thing. That doesn't seem like enough. I can post a picture if anyone is interested but it just looks like a bolt, nut and washer. I haven't inspected the forward cleats but I suspect they are similar.

So, is this sufficient? Has anyone upgraded this configuration? Do newer boats have backing plates?

I think I'd like to put something beefier behind the cleats. Do I just buy bigger washers? Or are there plates I could buy that have flexible hole positions to fit my cleats?

Thanks,
Todd

Todd
1980 C25 SR/FK "Dora"

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 05:40:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tbosch
 I was peaking behind the panels above the quarter berth and was surprised to see that there are just a couple of plain washers backing the bolts of the deck cleats just aft of the winches...So, is this sufficient?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I, too, have a 1980 C25 with the original cleats and they have went without issue for almost thirty years now. Do I think I need to add backing plates? No, not really. But then again, I'm not in a hurricane zone.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 05:53:51

I think you're talking about the jib sheet jam cleats and I don't think there's that much force being put on those. The winches do that. On the other hand a little overkill is a good thing.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 06:51:08

Both the jib cleats and the mooring cleats have the same washers.

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glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 11:12:49

I replaced the small original cleats with larger ones. Not because I thought there was an issue, but because I always lock my dock lines. For me the center hole in the original cleat was just too small. I installed a 1/4" thick, aluminum backing plate for each cleat. I have no idea if this was necessary, but like Dave Robbins said “a little overkill is a good thing”

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 11:47:10

I have an '88 C25 and, like Don, I've had my boat for 21 years with the same washers backing all the through-deck bolts. I've thought about replacing them because of some of the conditions I sail in on Lake Superior. Nothing has been able to pull those washers through the deck yet. I also moor my boat from the bow deck cleats. They've been through winds of 60 mph and 4' seas on our lake with no problems. Needless to say, I am not planning of replacing the washers any time soon.

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tbosch
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163 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 12:24:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 I have an '88 C25 and, like Don, I've had my boat for 21 years with the same washers backing all the through-deck bolts. I've thought about replacing them because of some of the conditions I sail in on Lake Superior. Nothing has been able to pull those washers through the deck yet. I also moor my boat from the bow deck cleats. They've been through winds of 60 mph and 4' seas on our lake with no problems. Needless to say, I am not planning of replacing the washers any time soon.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hey, I'm on Superior, too! We sail out of Ashland, WI and the Apostle Islands.

Yours and other comments about the washers proving to be sufficient is good news. I won't put this upgrade near the top of my list. There are plenty of other things to do...

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aeckhart
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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2009 : 10:34:06

Todd,

I'm in Houghton, Michigan. Perhaps we can get together and exchange a weekend sail in our home area together. I've raced the Around the Islands race once on a Tartan 10 but have not sailed the Apostles otherwise. It's on my bucket list....if I had a bucket list. If not this year maybe next.

Al Eckhart

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tbosch
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163 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2009 : 11:39:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 Todd,

I'm in Houghton, Michigan. Perhaps we can get together and exchange a weekend sail in our home area together. I've raced the Around the Islands race once on a Tartan 10 but have not sailed the Apostles otherwise. It's on my bucket list....if I had a bucket list. If not this year maybe next.

Al Eckhart
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That is a great idea. It will have to be next year, though. The boat is on a trailer right now while I finish a bottom job (among other things...).

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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2009 : 23:04:07

The cleat bolts are in shear, so the backing plates do little if anything to impact the strength, it's just the amount of material in the bolts. F'rinstance, you could undo the nuts and washers underneath and still use the cleats. They aren't being pulled up by the direction of the line, are they? Hurricane alley? Too big is never enough. Your boat, your choice, now that you understand how it works.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2009 : 05:31:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> They aren't being pulled up by the direction of the line, are they? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Actually in tidal situations you often do get vertical tension. No huge amounts unless you tied off too tight but I think I'll leave the nuts on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.