What cleats to get??

[AirJeff]

When we picked up our boat this summer it had bow and stern standard cleats on it. The stern cleats were quickly removed due to rope issues. Now we're trying to figure out what our options for pop/pull up cleats. So here are a couple of questions.

• 1. If a gelcoat guy fills the 4 holes from the old cleats will the holes still be noticable? If we can't get it to look good we'll have to look at wide cleats.
  
  2. What are the options for cleats? Anyone know who makes the ones for Correct Craft? Right now we're looking at Accon Marine, Hardin Marine, and Attwood Marine.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[gn6027]

Jeff,
I installed two of the Accon Marine pop up cleats in my '87 last summer. They work great! I found a pair of 6" on ebay for less than 1/2 price. They were NOS, and they were being listed by Accon. They were selling them because they had a rectangular mounting plate instead of their newer triangular shape. Look very carefully where you plan to install them to make sure you can get a backing plate to the underside. I used a Roto-Zip to cut the shape I needed, and used SS flat head bolts to mount them.

When they are closed, there is no chance for the rope to snag the cleat.

My vote would be Accon Marine pop up cleats!!

Glen

[Coyote]

Hi,
We installed cleats from Hardin Marine (type touch-n-go spring loaded cleats) on our 1999 pro air nautique. These cleats are special because they have no visible mounting points. They look very nice on the boat. You drill the holes in the boat, apply a metal backing plate and then apply the bolts from the back. If you're interested I can dig up some pics I made from the installation.

[j2nh]

Confused

I have owned inboard skiboats since 1987. 87 prostar, 95 prostar, 99 nautique, 02 nautique. Looking at ordering an 05 196. My first question to the dealer will be, can I delete the cleats? Is anybody using them and for what? At a good dock all anybody I know has ever used are two lines off of the pylon. My fear would be a rope catch or vibration over time.
What am I missing.

[1MORTOY]

I installed the "NeatCleat" by Attwood I think it was on my boat and they covered the holes where the old ones where so no filling was needed.
I love them and they look good. Good luck

[Onthewater]

j2nh, i agree with you on a day trip basis. If somebody actually has to leave it docked and covered two ropes off the pylon probably wouldn't work very well. I leave our boat on a shorestation and use the pylon method while at our buddy's place but if I came to a questionable dock I won't use it or I'll beach it.