Overview Fig. 1 Mooring cleats are mounted on docks and boats and are used to secure a boat by wrapping a line around the cleat several times, often in a figure 8 pattern. Cleats are often used in conjunction with chocks in tethering a boat. (1) Generally, manufacturers recommend just slightly under one inch of cleat for every 1/16-inch of line diameter , which means you need a six-inch cleat for 3/8-inch line, an eight-inch cleat for 1/2-inch line, and a 10-inch cleat for 5/8-inch line. (2) The drawing to the left (Fig. 1) is a commercial cleat where Dimension A is 610 mm. The ‘Pull Tonnage’ ranges from 5 to 20 tons with that A dimension remaining the same but the other dimensions getting larger as shown in the chart below (Fig. 2). |
 Fig. 2 Safe Harbor Statement : This is at best a very general guide for modelers. The hope is that is will be “good nuff” for helping to model a marine scene. The example cleat above is 610 mm across the horns or 24″. Using the suggestion above- “slightly under one inch of cleat for every 1/16-inch of line diameter” – this would suggest a 1.5 inch line. |
Model Cleat Sizing Fig. 3 My cleats will only change in overall size. The modeler can then look at the chart (Fig. 3) and decide which cleat works for his/her scale being modeled. A cleat requiring a 1.5″ line that is 24″ across the horns – or a cleat 6″ across the horns requiring 3/8″ line will be different only in size and which model depends on the scale being modeled.
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MicroMimesis Cleats Fig. 4 In the chart (Fig. 4) above we have MicroMimesis Cleats down the left side from ~3.5 mm to 15 mm across the ‘Hors’. Across the top are the dimensions from A to I. As I add cleats I will update the links below the chart. |
