The low-profile design of retractable cleats eliminates tripping hazards and snag points and preserves a boat fitting’s sleek traces. Yet these cleats are shortly accessible. Pop-up cleats are spring-loaded – push a button to elevate the business finish. Pull-up variations require that you simply manually elevate the cleat, with detents to keep it in place. A downward push tucks each cleat sorts just about flush with the deck.
Nearly all are stainless steel and come in a variety of kinds and sizes from manufacturers corresponding to Accon (acconmarine.com), Attwood (attwoodmarine.com), Sea Choice (seachoice.com), Sea-Dog (sea-canine.com) and Whitecap (whitecapindustries.web), every with a barely different installation procedure, but most requiring a larger gap than standard cleats, as well as drain cups to maintain water from leaking below deck.
Time to finish: >2 Hours per Cleat
Skill Level: 3/5
Tools and Supplies
*Accon Wide-Line Series pull-up 6-inch cleat ($72.35 each, store.acconmarine.com)
*Waterproofing cup ($4.82 each, store.acconmarine.com)
*3/8-inch push-in influence drain fittings, model PD-2 (ninety five cents, duskyonline.com)
*3/8-inch-ID clear vinyl hose ($4.43/10 ft, amazon.com)
*3M 4200 marine sealant ($16.99/10-ounce cartridge, jamestowndistributors.com)
*Caulking gun
*Masking tape
*Finishing resin (to seal uncovered plywood core)
*Power drill and 3/8-inch bit
*1-inch hole noticed
*Power jigsaw with a high quality blade
*Socket- or box-wrench set
*Shears (to cut the vinyl tubing)
*Cleanup rags (to wipe off excess sealant)
1. Select the CleatBase your selection on the mounting location and measurement of your boat. If replacing typical cleats, choose the identical size cleats (if not bigger). Retractable cleats have a much bigger footprint. This might help cover holes left from the earlier cleat; in any other case patch the previous holes. Be sure the mounting studs or bolts are lengthy sufficient. You have got access to the underside. For this project, we chose the Accon Wide-Line Series 6-inch pull-up cleat.
2. Mark and Cut the Mounting HolesUse the supplied backing plate as a template to mark the mounting holes and central cutout, making sure that the underside is evident of wires or hoses before you start work. Cut the mounting holes with a drill motor and 3/8-inch bit, however use a 1-inch gap saw and jigsaw for the central cutout. If the underside of the deck is plywood, apply a gentle coat of catalyzed ending resin to the uncovered wood to seal it from moisture, permitting it to cure before moving to the subsequent step.
3. Mount the CleatMask off the area, after which mattress the mounting surface generously with a marine sealant, similar to 3M 4200, and place the faceplate. Cleats like this Accon mannequin have welded mounting studs; others bolt up through the faceplate. Position the drain cup and backing plate on the underside, and then the washers and locknuts. Tighten the locknuts. Once the cleat is snug, clear up the surplus sealant and remove the masking tape.
4. Install the DrainOn models such as the Attwood Neat Cleat, the drain cup is attached last, while the cup for this Accon mannequin is put in with the cleat. In both case, attach 3/8-inch-inside-diameter vinyl tubing to the hose barb at the bottom of the cup; then route the tubing to an appropriate drain location. For the drain fitting, use a T-H marine parts 3/8-inch push-in impact drain (visit boatingmag.com/rod-holder-drains). Many fishing boats won’t require the drain, for the reason that gunwales are open to the self-bailing cockpit.
Torque It TwiceAllow the underlying sealant to cure for a day or marine hardware two after you may have initially battened the cleat, and then tighten the fasteners only a quarter- or half-turn more. This creates a gasket that helps ensure a secure and watertight installation.
No Cutout RequiredIf you’re reluctant to take a jigsaw to your deck, there are pull-up cleats that forgo a central cutout, boat parts cost together with the Accon 450 collection, Attwood Neat Cleat and Sea-Dog 41420 collection. If you have any questions relating to where by as well as how to use boat parts cost, you are able to contact us on our web-site. These require solely two holes, albeit large ones, for which you’ll want a gap noticed.