Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

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Part 2: The Basics of Operation
Cleating Off
Cleats are two-horned monsters that will murder a bare toe, but they are a boater’s best
friend when the boat must be secured. Instead of tying a knot around the steering wheel
or your mother-in-law, you simply make a few turns and a half-hitch over the horns of
the cleat and the boat stays put. (A half-hitch is the most basic of knots—see the “Getting
Hitched” section later in this chapter for details on how to tie it.) And, when you want to
leave, the turns come off easily, unlike most types of knots.
First, you need rope that fits the cleats. A 5 /8-inch line won’t work on a 4-inch cleat
because it won’t fit under the horns for more than a single turn. Quarter-inch line is adequate
for tying up small boats under 16 feet long, while 3 /8-inch line is a good choice for
securing boats from 16 to 30 feet long.
Cleats make for quick tieups.
They’re usually located
at the bow and stern, with
spring cleats sometimes added
amidships. They’re also
found on most docks.
To cleat off, take a turn under the away side of the horn, completely around the base,
make a figure eight by going over the top center and under each horn, and then finish
off with a half hitch around one horn. The figure on the following page shows you how
to do it.
Note that no knots other
than a half-hitch to finish off
are required to secure to a
cleat.
To boat
Bitter end
Bitter end
To boat
Bitter end
To boat
Horn