Cleats etc?

[SeaEagle]

I've got the the dry fit stage on my weekender (i.e. have fabricated everything other than the sides), and I am thinking about the location of deck fittings (cleats etc).

From my previous boat building / repairing experiences I know that locating fittings is much easier when you can get in behind and locate backing plates etc.

So, although I am a fair way off from actually fitting the 'bits' I'm thinking about buying cleats, blocks etc now, (then I can build backing plates etc in the correct location before I close everything up).

I'm planning on having a reasonable amount of the boat finished 'bright' and like the idea of having polished bronze cleats etc, however I haven't been able to find a reasonable supply in Australia.

I've found one or two suppliers online, but I'd appreciate it if anyone could provide me with the URL's for some online suppliers of this sort of thing to double check .

Also, what size cleats has everyone gone with?

Thanks in advance for any help

[Dave R1]

You have a great idea to do as much of this ahead as possible. There are a couple of spots--the aft corners for example where I put horn cleats for mooring and wish I'd planned for them better as there is not much room for a back or doubler under the deck.

The horn cleats I put on the deck are 6" ones. As for bronze, I haven't a clue as to where you would get them in Australia. Classic Marine in the UK sell them. They list 6" Herreshoff style cleats at 8.94

[Charlie Jones]

Try this site. he's in Victoria Australia. Mike is a nice guy and is really into wooden boats. If he doesn't have what you want, perhaps he can advise you.

http://www.woodenboatfittings.com.au./

[capt jake]

Franks new sponser site, West Marine, has some polished bronze cleats. That is where I bought mine, though i had a harder time finding bronze hinges, i eventually gave up on hte bronze hinges and went with chrome.

Good luck.

[Wild_Dingo]

Id go with Mike at woodenboat fittings in Victoria... a flamin top bloke! 8) Now thats a good endorsement from a sandgroper to one of them fellas over east!! :wink:

Theres too much metal in boats already... make em wood! use some mighty fine west Aussie wood Jarrahs plentiful {over here!} and then over there youve go some brilliant timbers as well... why not make them yourself? you built the boat didnt you? next step in the learnin curve build yer own cleats etc 8)

[Dave R1]

Shane, you gotta send me some of that Jarrah. No way I'll find any of that around here. Just get me a big ol' hunk of it and stick a stamp on it.

[P Doug (WA)]

What would be a good wood to use over here in the US. Mahogany? Which Mahogany? Oak. It would be fun to make some.

[Charlie Jones]

Black Locust is a good one. So is Bois D'Arc (better known as Bodark in the south). If you can find it Dogwood is a tough wood. Mahogany should do ok also but not Phillipine which is really a cedar- get Honduras.

Of course, teak works well too.

[P Doug (WA)]

What does black locust look like, we have some kind of locust coming up all over around here. Have to pull them out like weeds all the time. That can't be it, nothing good is ever plentiful!

[Wild_Dingo]

Sorry Dave I actually think Jarrah is a plain and boring timber whereas...

SheOak now thats some timber!... I intend doing my rails and any cabin bright work with this beauty {along with Banksia and Rose Gum}

Tuart's pretty snappy too... all my cleats and such will be in Tuart along with the keel deadwood frames and any other bits I can make with the stuff!! got 3 stacks of the ruddy stuff!! Harder than Jarrah in fact.

Jarrah on the other hand is so boring... common as grass around here boring red wood unless its curly Jarrah then its fairly sweet but thats not that common... anyway a pic of chunck to hand...

And a spoke from the wheel Im building Jarrah can be interesting in that you can occasionally get white mixed in the red but thats not usual..

one side red...

tuther side white...

8) eh?

I wouldnt mind seeing some of that Black locust or sassafrass or even som of your oaks... black walnut would be flamin cool as I reckon as Ive always had a thing for walnut 8)

[Barry Pyeatt]

You can try the Wooden Boat Foundation here as well for fittings. They have good products and farily reasonable pricing. The funds help support the classes in wooden boat building and the Festival that they have each Sept.

http://www.woodenboat.org/