Re: [Cal_Boats]Bow cleats_was: Re: Cal29 Bow Roller

Chris, my O'DAY Day Sailer (17') has 2 aluminum mooring cleats at the bow like many of the CALs. placed well out on the bow. They are backed up by totally inadequate "backing plates" made from 1/8" aluminum plates, maybe 3/4" x 5" the holes are oversized in my opinion, and the bolts are stainless-steel with "aircraft" nuts. Someday I will get around to making up a single backing plate that will back up the 2 cleats and the stemhead fitting [like the CAL 20, (well many of them?) there is no outside strap backing up the headstay/jib tack fitting on the DS II You would be unnerved to say the least at how O'DAY installed that stem fitting!] but, I have to admit that the present setup has lasted for 30 years...... not even a sign of corrosion on those aluminum plates even with 30 years of saltwater use! So, your boat is not alone in having a "weird" setup of the bow cleats. Rod Johnson, "SUNBIRD" 1979 O'DAY DS II #10201 On Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:08:19 -0400 Chris Campbell <cl… [at] charterinternet.com> writes: Alfred Poor wrote: Chri We were stunned by how little backing there was for the bow cleats on Pentaquod, and there really is not much area to put in backing plates. My Cal 20 came with two Herreshoff-pattern four-bolt cleats at the bow, not well secured nor well-backed. She was going to lie on a mooring under my ownership, so this looked a bit flimsy. I made mahogany pads to raise the cleats a bit, and used aluminum bar stock from the hardware store to make backing plates. I know, stainless and aluminum are not a happy combination, but (a) I'm in fresh water, and (b) the bolts are well sealed, so it's satisfactory. There is no sign of stress after a decade on the mooring. Chris Campbell Penny Stock Jumping 2000% Sign up to the #1 voted penny stock newsletter for free today! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4bbbf652a0e4f1c19dm02duc