Adding additional cleats to a V hull - How difficult is it?

DickR · 09-06-2011, 03:53 PM

I'll just rubber stamp what the others have said. Yes, you can do it, use through-bolts (not screws), and put something behind the hull to distribute the load over a large area. Actually, you ought to look underneath the top deck in the general area where you want the cleats to go, and pick the best spot for backing the cleat. You may be able to find a fairly clear area, reasonably flat, and perhaps in an area already strengthened with fiberglass at time of manufacture to deal with some higher stresses at that point.

My boat came with just rear and bow cleats, and I agree that the front cleat is useless for most situations. I wanted a third cleat on each side, for use with dock whips. I situated it just forward of the windshield, before the curvature of the hull toward the bow reduced the hull width too much, and where there was fiberglass deck structure to add lateral strength.

09-06-2011, 03:53 PM	#4
DickR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 758 Thanks: 4 Thanked 260 Times in 172 Posts	I'll just rubber stamp what the others have said. Yes, you can do it, use through-bolts (not screws), and put something behind the hull to distribute the load over a large area. Actually, you ought to look underneath the top deck in the general area where you want the cleats to go, and pick the best spot for backing the cleat. You may be able to find a fairly clear area, reasonably flat, and perhaps in an area already strengthened with fiberglass at time of manufacture to deal with some higher stresses at that point. My boat came with just rear and bow cleats, and I agree that the front cleat is useless for most situations. I wanted a third cleat on each side, for use with dock whips. I situated it just forward of the windshield, before the curvature of the hull toward the bow reduced the hull width too much, and where there was fiberglass deck structure to add lateral strength.