Adding center bow cleat.

[MRS]

I need to add a bow cleat for anchoring in the wind to keep boat from swinging so bad while fishing. I can move the bow light back and mount the cleat it is a pop up type cleat but my problem is with the angle of the bow the anchor line will hit and rub on the bow not good. Do you think I can buy and bend a chock just enough to sit flush on the bow? Or have any ideas what I need to do Thanks for any help......

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Here's something to look into:

I put a bow chock on my boat and like it. It keeps the bow pointed into the wind and when I'm ready to head out I just pick the anchor line out of the bow chock, let the wind push the boat off to the side of the anchor line, run the boat up the the anchor and then pull the anchor line in. It's much easier pulling in limp anchor line, than pulling a 2000# boat to the anchor.

One question, would your anchor line point out at an angle from the horizontal surface or the bow light (lots of scope in the anchor line) or drop down on the 45* face below the bow light (little scope to the anchor line)? I run 5-1 to 7-1 scope when anchored in the wind, so with your boat I could put a bow chock by the bow light and the anchor line wouldn't touch the boat,,, if the bow chock was mounted very close to the break over of the bow.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

I not sure what you are talking about but a center cleat does not work as well as a bridle for keeping the boat straight.
I assume you have a bow cleat on each side, so you take a line 3 times the distance between the bow cleats and tie a loop in each end.
Put each end on the bow cleats and pull the slack forward to the center of the bow as far as it will go and tie another loop.
This center loop is where you tie your anchor line.

On the river with the wind blowing when the bow blows to starboard you will find the line on the starboard cleat is tight and to port side has slack. This causes the boat to turn back to port and straighten the boat.
Just the opposite happened if blows to port.

To help it even more add a 5 gallon bucket to one if the stern cleats to create more drag.
Put the bucket on the upwind side.

This works very well in rivers with some current but will not work well in a lake.

Also works very well with high streach nylon line like twisted 3 strand.

Good luck

 

[MRS]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

fishrdan, thanks for the reply I do carry 150 ft. of anchor line plus 7ft. of chain and usally ok. But at times we find fish in 80 to 90ft. range that is when I worry about anchoring and having the rope rub on the bow. I think I can mount chock about mid way down from the flat area and be ok But will have to bend it to make it sit flush. Maybe mount one also where you said will do the trick. Or mount one where you said up high and the second just above the rub rail. Thanks again......

 

[MRS]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Boat, I have tried the bridle type of setup but the boat is fairly wide up front and makes it real hard to handle the ropes. Plus when fishing the river where we do fish current is hard and fast and you get one shot to set anchor or you will be on shore. Plus we run from river to lake and the bow anchor mount would work better for me Thanks for the reply....

 

[rwidman]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

I need to add a bow cleat for anchoring in the wind to keep boat from swinging so bad while fishing. I can move the bow light back and mount the cleat it is a pop up type cleat but my problem is with the angle of the bow the anchor line will hit and rub on the bow not good. Do you think I can buy and bend a chock just enough to sit flush on the bow? Or have any ideas what I need to do Thanks for any help......

Anything you can bend yourself will also bend with the force of the anchor rode. Not a good plan.

What you can do, and what I would do in your situation, is replace the single bow light with seperate red and green lights spaced out from the center a foot or more, then install a cleat in the center where the bow light is now. In your case, you don't want the cleat back so far that the rode rubs on the gelcoat. As long as you use enough scope, the rode will clear the gelcoat.

 

[shrew]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

You could get a set of seperate green/red running lights instead of a single like you have. Then mount them on the corners of the bow. you can fill the holes with with that clay like 2 part epoxy. Then gelcoat over it. Then drill and mount the bow roller. The gelcoat doesn't need to be perfect because it will ultimately be covered by a bow roller. You only want to seal the deck and prevent water intrusion. I doubt the screw holes and the small hole for the wire will cause any kind of structural issues.

the bow roller will need to be through bolted with stainless steel bolts and lock nuts and of course you'll need either a backing plate or some decent sized stainless washers.

 

[PGFISHER]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

If the bow cleat is on a ridge you can cut some wedged shape shims from aluminum and it will mount flat.

 

[IllesheimVet]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

I bought one boat that had no provisions for anchoring, (a Starcraft). I vowed NEVER AGAIN!!!!

 

[MRS]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Thanks for the replys I will get the single bow lights and mount them about a foot apart. Then mount the pop up cleat in the center and give it a try and see if the anchor line does hit any where on the bow. Then go from there I hate not having a bow cleat on any boat it is just not right. I have two gift cards from B.P. so I will head down there tomorrow and pick up the bow lights get them mounted Thanks again for the ideas if you have any more let me know..... We do fish a yearly stiper derby and trying to anchor in the river current in the dark at 4 a.m. and no center cleat does not work out but this year with the center mount should be better.. Thanks again....

 

[MRS]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

OK, got my stuff do you thing this is the right spot to mount? I am asking because hate to drill then move and drill more because not the right spot.

Plus the cleat will replace the old Nav light and I should be in a happier place when anchoring in the current and the wind.

Thanks once again for any replys.....

 

[skargo]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

I might be wrong but those locations might not work, you need to be able to have people see them from the side, without part of your boat obstructing them

I would think they would need to be mounted on the sides. Or on the top on the same plane as your current combo lights, but out at the corners.

Like this, or maybe even on the sides?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Look at the package, at the boat showing how lights should disperse, this is how you want the lights shining after they are installed. Your placement looks to have the lights obscured a bit from the rear. Those lights are meant to be mounted on the sides of the boat, not the front of the bow. If there are drains on the lights, they would probably be sticking up instead of down, from where you want to mount them.

 

[skargo]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Yep,
they are meant for the sides, they are vertical mount lights as indicated by the packaging.
To mount where I showed they would have to be horizontal mount.
They need to be on the sides, not the front.

 

[MRS]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Thanks guys that is what I was asking for so I should mount on the side and not the front at all? I do have a different photo will post. I have a habbit of doing things to fast and having to redo that is why I ask here before I drill or cut.

So I need to mount above rub rail towards the front (bow)?
Should I mount on the blue or higher up on the white section Thanks for the input...

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Personally, I'd mount them up high in the white area about 1' back, less of a chance of knocking them off with a docking mishap. As long as you can see both of them while directly in front of the boat, you'll be good to.

 

[MRS]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Thanks will do I will wire up and tape to the hull stand back and see what I can see. If lools good will drill and mount Thanks for saving me patching holes in my hull.

 

[skargo]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Thanks guys that is what I was asking for so I should mount on the side and not the front at all? I do have a different photo will post. I have a habbit of doing things to fast and having to redo that is why I ask here before I drill or cut.

So I need to mount above rub rail towards the front (bow)?
Should I mount on the blue or higher up on the white section Thanks for the input...

Yes, you have to put them on the side.

 

[MRS]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Will do Thanks for the reply......

 

[JimS123]

Re: Adding center bow cleat.

Don't mess with the lights. What you have now is legal and will work in all situations.

Don't put a cleat on the deck in a position where you probably cannot have access to mount a backing plate.

Tie your anchor to the existing bow cleat, then route the line to the bow eye and attach it with a double-ended snap hook. Takes a second to attach and its better than a deck cleat because you'll have a better scope to the anchor line. No muss, no drilling and its cheaper besides.

Don't expect the boat to ride straight all the time anyway. A center line is better, but not perfect.