170 Cleat Locations

[Brendanpd28]

Hey everyone,

    any tips on cleat locations for a 170?  I plan on using the original bow eye and mounting 4 - 6" cleats on the gunnel caps. I was thinking 2 about 1.5' from the transom and 2 further up the boat right where the hull starts to curve in towards the bow. Does this sound right?

Thanks

[RickK]

On a '76 you have notches in the back for the rear cleats. Do you not want to use that area? They bolt through the transom. Putting cleats on top of the cap puts them in the way (I had 2 on top of mine for 20years) unless they recess.  My 170 doesn't have the notches in the back (started in '72) so I put 2 popups in the back and one popup in front.  You have the room under the cap but need to reinforce them so in case someone tries to lift the boat by them, they'll hold.
If you want a midship cleat I think I would go popup. Google popup cleats and you can find them at surplus and discount places. I think I bought mine at Great Lakes Skipper.

[Brendanpd28]

On a '76 you have notches in the back for the rear cleats. Do you not want to use that area? They bolt through the transom. Putting cleats on top of the cap puts them in the way (I had 2 on top of mine for 20years) unless they recess.  My 170 doesn't have the notches in the back (started in '72) so I put 2 popups in the back and one popup in front.  You have the room under the cap but need to reinforce them so in case someone tries to lift the boat by them, they'll hold.
If you want a midship cleat I think I would go popup. Google popup cleats and you can find them at surplus and discount places. I think I bought mine at Great Lakes Skipper.

Ya Rick I removed the existing cleats from the transom and I thought it was an afterthought by the previous owner. I guess I can put them back in that location and then they won't be in the way on the caps. My only issue is I need cleats to hang fenders from since I'm not going to put a bow rail on my boat. I feel like this means I have no choice but to install 4 cleats on the caps. I know where I can put them back at the stern but I'm not sure where to install them further torwards the bow. Maybe I'm overthinking this like everything else lol. Thanks for the help.

[RickK]

I don't think you're over thinking it - you're thinking through it and that is what matters. Can you put a plastic hook on the line of the fender and run that line over the cap and hook into the cutout up forward for the rod racks? The cutout goes pretty far forward as seen in the pic below.  And then you don't have to mount anything.  Maybe hook the fenders fore and aft??

[Brendanpd28]

I don't think you're over thinking it - you're thinking through it and that is what matters. Can you put a plastic hook on the line of the fender and run that line over the cap and hook into the cutout up forward for the rod racks? The cutout goes pretty far forward as seen in the pic below.  And then you don't have to mount anything.  Maybe hook the fenders fore and aft??

 That's a fantastic idea Rick! I'm sure I can get creative with a hook system that won't damage the paint. Thanks as always!

[boatnamesue]

As Rick suggested, you've got the 2 stern cleats in the groove of the transom.  When I bought my '76 170 it had that huge bow cleat, which for me was not gonna fly.  I removed it and installed a deck flush aluminum plate.  I then installed a pop-up cleat on the port & starboard cap, around the area where the hull curves towards bow.  I go without a bow cleat, however, if anchored in high seas I'll just hook the anchor to the bow eye.  No biggie.