5 ROPEWORK CLEATS


Cleats are another device with a history stretching back through the centuries. Yet, despite being a miracle of functional simplicity, they are often misused, as a stroll along any quayside will reveal.


They can serve in many roles, but on angling boats are most commonly there for securing mooring lines. Actually, the task of making fast the lines is easily done since winding almost any mess of rope around a cleat will probably hold. But making fast is only half the story. It’s equally important that you can release a line at any time – even when under load. To return to your boat to find that the tide has gone out and your mooring lines are now as taut as bow strings could have you reaching for your filleting knife!


The problem probably started with the first turn, which should be a simple wrap around the cleat under the horns. It’s vital that the rope should have a ‘fair’ lead onto the cleat as in Fig 5:1. If the lead is as in Fig 5:2 it’s easy to imagine how the rope could jam when you lay on more turns.


ALLOWING FOR TIDES


We shall be looking at tides in more detail later but no reference to cleats and loaded ropes should pass without some mention of the problems of lying alongside a wall in tidal waters. Of course, we would all prefer to find some sort of floating pontoon arrangement, thoughtfully provided to do away with the tidal influences completely, but this isn’t always possible. With thoughts of perhaps visiting a local pub in mind, most of us eventually find ourselves tying up to some inviting quayside or other.


✗ Fig 5:2 Foul lead to cleat ✓ Fig 5:1 Fair lead to cleat


40


RYA Seamanship for Sea Anglers


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