Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Another newbie Q. Hope I'm not wearing out my welcome with all my Q's! I don't see any cleats on the new toon. There is some other kind of hardware on the bow and stern quarters (see pic). Does the dealer swap these out with cleats when prepping the boat for the customer?

They're using bow eyes on this boat. It's unclear if they use bow eyes on all boats, or just happened to use them on this boat. Bow eyes cost about the same as cleats, and for most people's use will do the same job as a cleat on the boat's end.

But on a boat dock, dock lines are easier to connect to with cleats vs. a bow eye.

You'd have to look at some other Trackers to see what's on them. The boat shows are starting in the next week or two. Great places to compare new pontoons.

Same thing on my boat. I would have thought as old as it is it would have cleats. Will be putting them on before next season.

Its a Tracker thing. Mine also has the "U" bolts on all four corners. I use a slip hook (pictured below) tied to a cleat on my dock. I just clip the hook on the eye of the boat and done.

I prefer cleats for my non-nautical passengers who will initially tie us off while I'm at the helm bringing the boat into the slip. Same for adjusting line length when anchoring. Think I'll add cleats.

On the other hand I like the idea of the permanent lines from dock to boat having the slip hook. Gonna keep the eye bolts/u bolts too. Thanks all!

Looking forward to the boat shows!

Thin Ice, thanks for your rec. I set up the permanent mooring lines with the slip hooks. Perfect! Am going to do same thing with temp docking lines for when we head to the gas dock, etc. Nothing could be easier for my non-nautical guests than clipping the line to the u-bolt.

Sweet. looks good!

It is certainly easier for my passengers to slip a hook than tie a cleat

Make sure you change the lines every season due to them always being in the weather. Happy Boating!!

Will do! Thanks again. Between the slip hooks and the new EZ Fenders, docking should be a snap! Unless there are 30mph winds.... Agh!

Looks to me like those are double braded nylon rope your using. If so they will last a lot of years before they are worn out or sun struck.

Jimrs, yes double braided lines. Another rec from forum members. Have double-braided on all lines.

Same slip hooks added to temp docking lines yesterday. Really critical setup there. My toon has NO deck forward of the fencing so have to bend out over the fence just to reach the U bolt. It would have been much more difficult to tie line to a cleat. Clipping the hook is much better/safer. Been a long time since I had a boat in my life (horses took over for awhile), so this forum and you all have been great in helping me get back into the fun and avoid doing Stupid Things!

Mine has the same as yours and I like them for docking with other boats and docks. Tracker rails aren't sturdy enough IMO to tie to direct. I have a cleat above each hook and run line through and up to cleat. This pulls down instead of out.

Lakerunner, I agree rails don't seem strong enough to tie to. What do you mean "cleat above each hook?" How does that help pull line down?

landlockedsailor wrote:Lakerunner, I agree rails don't seem strong enough to tie to. What do you mean "cleat above each hook?" How does that help pull line down?

By running your line through the ring then up to the rail it pulls down on the rope instead of straight out. Kind of like a capital L with ring at bottom of L and cleat at the top I mounted my cleat on the inside of the open rail so it doesn't stick out. Will try to remember to take a pic next time at boat barn.