Mid Cleats

MnSearay185

New Member
Aug 11, 2020
17
Stillwater, MN
Boat Info
2000 185 Bowrider
Engines
4.3 alpha one
Anyone add mid cleats on their boat? MY SeaRay 185 has cleats in the bow and stern but no mid cleat? This makes it tough to pull up to docks while loading and unloading, getting gas, ect. I mostly boat on the river and the docks are mostly floating and sit higher which is fine if you have a big boat. I was thinking about adding these ( 1 on each side) is this difficult? Has anyone done this before and do you have any pictures? I am dangerously handy?
 
You can’t just ‘add’ cleats. They must be embedded in wood and stainless steel. Please don’t just drill the the glass and bolt them in. Maybe look on YouTube for alternative methods of tying off.
 
I will definitely check out you tube to see what I can learn. I would have thought that the backing plates would have been some type of metal backing plate out of stainless or aluminum? Never thought of a wooden backing.
 
I will definitely check out you tube to see what I can learn. I would have thought that the backing plates would have been some type of metal backing plate out of stainless or aluminum? Never thought of a wooden backing.
You're instincts are good. An aluminum backing plate is awesome and strong cleats at mid-ships are the best. Use ample polyurethane adhesive to bed and glue the backing plates into position first. The next day, layout carefully, then drill for your cleats right through those plates. Bed your cleats with 4200 or similar and bolt them in with lock washers behind the nuts.
 
Also I believe that I have access to the area to put in proper backing. I will also double check the sizing of the cleats that are already installed on the boat from the factory.
 
You're instincts are good. An aluminum backing plate is awesome and strong cleats at mid-ships are the best. Use ample polyurethane adhesive to bed and glue the backing plates into position first. The next day, layout carefully, then drill for your cleats right through those plates. Bed your cleats with 4200 or similar and bolt them in with lock washers behind the nuts.

Thanks for the solid advice, this actually sounds like a project that I can do.
 
Thanks for the solid advice, this actually sounds like a project that I can do.
The nice part of using aluminum is it's easy to work with using normal tools and the small pieces you need for backing you can often get from a fab shop's scrap bin for free!
 
I added them to my 185, one of the best mods I did. I placed them where I was sure I had access. Your deck should be solid glass, mine is and was surprisingly thick.
 

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You can certainly add them. The prior owner of my boat added a couple to my transom area. Backing plates, plenty of goop, proper fasteners - good to go.
 
I added them to my 185, one of the best mods I did. I placed them where I was sure I had access. Your deck should be solid glass, mine is and was surprisingly thick.

Nice job! Where did you buy the cleat? I've got a 1998 that uses the similar style. Looks like a 6"...

Update: Looks like this pair of cleats on Amazon might work. Just need to update it with bolts and the aluminum backing I'm re-using from the original ladder bolts on the back of the boat.
 
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Tom, that style cleat is called a Herreshoff cleat. They are easily sourced pretty much everywhere. Walk in to your local marine store and they will likely have it in stock or Google it :)
 
Tom, that style cleat is called a Herreshoff cleat. They are easily sourced pretty much everywhere. Walk in to your local marine store and they will likely have it in stock or Google it :)

Thank you! I found these too - looks like they could work.

Amazon.com
 
Tom, that style cleat is called a Herreshoff cleat. They are easily sourced pretty much everywhere. Walk in to your local marine store and they will likely have it in stock or Google it :)

What did you use for your backing? I just realized I only have 1 piece of aluminum that I can re-use... I need another one for the other cleat too.
 
Definitely can be done.

On my 2002 225WE I changed all of the existing cleats to larger ones. I also added a new pair of cleats on the aft sloped deck just above the swim platform, like the newer Sea Rays have. I used matching Sea Ray cleats throughout, which I got from Great Lakes Skipper. I had thicker stainless backing plates made, as the original aluminum ones were thin and several had bent.

For each of the existing cleat locations I had to drill a new hole and fill one of the old holes because the bolt hole pattern was slightly larger.

For the new cleats on the aft sloped deck, I cut the apex of the sloped deck surface flat to accept the cleats, I filled and shaped the area, and I sprayed new gel coat, so the cleat installation would look like it came that way from the factory. On the underside, I made molds that matched the curvature of the sloped deck, and I used them to fabricate blocks that fit precisely into the area to create a solid flat surface for bolting the cleats in place. I made the blocks out of epoxy resin and fiberglass, and I epoxied them in place. I put longer studs on those two cleats, and bolted them in place with the same stainless backing plates as the others.

It was a long winter project but a major improvement. I still have the old Sea Ray cleats if anyone wants them.
 

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What did you use for your backing? I just realized I only have 1 piece of aluminum that I can re-use... I need another one for the other cleat too.

First, there's no "one best" way.

When I've done this in the past, I've used 5200 to glue a block of plywood in place... sometimes I've first saturated it with resin... other times I've glassed it in place. The 5200 takes up any irregularities. Then use the aluminum over the wood. Large fender washers would be second best.

Al stock is easy enough to source - even at HD or Lowes.
 
The ones I used we made by Perko, bought them from Wholesale Marine, but like Dennis said, very common style. The ones you linked look identical to mine. As far as backing, I used fender washers. Aluminum backing plate would have been best, but this is a small light boat, the fender washers have done just fine.
 
I added them to my 185, one of the best mods I did. I placed them where I was sure I had access. Your deck should be solid glass, mine is and was surprisingly thick.
Nice job. Size is big enough to be useful.
 

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