Midship docking cleat

[Lars H]

I'd like to add a midship docking cleat on my 26M for just when entering my slip. Does it make sense to add a sliding one to the jib rail?
Does anyone know what dimension/how to measure in order to purchase one or any fixtures for the rail?
Thanks

[Jimmyt]

Call BWYachts.

https://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/4206-1v4.htm

[Tsatzsue]

Use the mast base midship. Bowline knot. I wouldn't trust the rail or want to risk damaging it.
KB

[Lars H]

Thanks Jimmy, I visited BWY and learned Macs use 1" tracks. They do see one. Kinda expensive especially with shipping.

Tsatzsue, I didn't think of the mast plate. I'll have to experiment with that. I would only be using the rail cleat to catch my dock during single returns so not much stress. The wind pushes me away from my side of the finger dock into the neighboring boat.
Lars

[Jimmyt]

BWYachts supports our forum and is an amazing resource for our boats.

You can try a marine salvage yard or search 1” track cleat online. The salvage yards here know what things cost new and are pricing pretty aggressively. Sometimes you can get deals if you buy several items at a time and haggle.

Sailboat stuff (and marine in general) is typically expensive. Thus the saying B.O.A.T. (Break Out Another Thousand)

Good luck in your quest.

[kurz]

I have 2 of the bwy t track cleats.

Cool tool.

[dustoff]

I have acquired 4 of the 1 inch track cleats, although I only usually use one or two at a time. Luckily for me I live near an awesome sailboat salvage yard in the Annapolis area, and can get used stuff like this for a fraction of what it costs new. I have found the cleats incredibly useful for docking in various circumstances. They work great for spring lines in piling slips and short-time dockside after-bow/stern spring line applications. They're in more convenient locations to use them as holding points for rotating around pilings in windy conditions or pulling yourself up to the dock against the wind/current in tight quarters.
v/r

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

We love the mid cleats we added to both sides of the cabin roof Over Easy!
They were a great mod to get accomplished and have proven to be quite useful!

https://macgregorsailors.com/mods/index ... em&id=2210

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Russ]

I really like this idea. I wish they were not a tripping hazard.

[OverEasy]

Hi Russ!

I mounted ours to either side of the deck foot path to minimize (not eliminate) the potential tripping hazard…


Given we have Over Easy in a slip regularly when we are down here in SC we felt the need to improve over the factory Fore/Aft cleats.
Nothing wrong with the existing cleats under normal conditions but when storms with strong winds and currents occur they provide limited opportunities for spring lines.

I contemplated mounting them on the outer side walls of the cabin but elected not to for structural reasons.
On the cabin roof deck there is thicker fiberglass and the cleat loads are lateral in nature so the cleat forces are in shear rather tension.
On the cabin outer walls the fiberglass is thinner and the cleat forces are more apt to have a tensile component pulling outward and that may lead to wall deflection and pull out.

Location is a trade off for sure…. Pros/Cons & Potential risks/Benefits
As it is now I really haven’t had a tripping issue transiting the cabin deck due to the mid cleat locations.
There has been plenty of foot space.
My problem is mainly my dexterity issues which has nothing to due with the MacGregor…

Having the mid cleats available as additional lateral slip securement given we have the potential for increased storm and wind issues this year (and we haven’t even started hurricane season as yet!).

Best Regards
Over Easy

[dlandersson]

I really like mine

I'd like to add a midship docking cleat on my 26M for just when entering my slip. Does it make sense to add a sliding one to the jib rail?
Does anyone know what dimension/how to measure in order to purchase one or any fixtures for the rail?
Thanks

[Lars H]

Thanks everyone!
Russ, tripping is also my concern with adding stationary cleats. as well as potential interference with any future line hardware.
Hey dlandersson, you have a lot going on your port side. What do you use the double jammers for, and is that line for the furler?

[Tsatzsue]

Lars H.,
I whacked a cabin top aluminum cleat on my V25 with my foot. Didn't know what was going on when I couldn't lift my foot up off it. I had to pull it off. Barefoot. The cleat jammed in between my baby toe and the next one and was buried to the hub of the cleat. I scrambled to the cockpit and calmly said to my daughter we have to go back to the cottage. 2mi to the temp. mooring, anchor. Then dinghy to the beach and up to the house. Hospital bound. 4th of July am fishing with my daughter. Dr. said no swimming for the rest of the week! Classic. I still sailed though!!!!!
KB

[dlandersson]

The line (far left) is for the Genoa rolling furler
The double clutches are for the main sail and the lazy jacks

I'm going to add seveal more - they won't actually do anything, but can you imagine people's faces?

Thanks everyone!
Russ, tripping is also my concern with adding stationary cleats. as well as potential interference with any future line hardware.
Hey dlandersson, you have a lot going on your port side. What do you use the double jammers for, and is that line for the furler?

[OverEasy]

Hi Tsatzsue!

Ouchie!,,
That musta hurt!

I was told one of my slip mates on his 30 footer pranged his toe similarly except on the stantion base loop brace and got it stuck!
(Sorta like those on our Macs except bigger)

Was told you could hear the vocabulary rendition across the bay!
They believe it was in multiple languages as there were some words used that don’t have English equivalents

Doc put him in a protective boot thingy (cause he didn’t believe that he wouldn’t do it again!).

Hope you heal up!
Enjoy the R&R time.

Best Regards,
Over Easy