Adding Cleat at Driver and Passenger side on Gunnel?

[MarkAmerica]

One of the things I've decided I really need to do is to add a cleat at the driver's side gunnel on my 2005 21 Trx. I'm sadly stricken with this need for symmetry, so I'll probably add one on the passenger side too. I *THINK* the cleat used by Triton on the fore and aft, port and starboard gunnels is this one:

Attwood 665157 4-1/2"

The first consideration is: Is anybody worried that adding a cleat would affect the strength of the boat's gunnel in that area?

Just for the sake of my OCD, I'd like to stay with the same fittings for uniformity. I figure it will look more "OE" if I use the same cleats. Anybody else done this, and by the way, do you know if this is indeed the same cleat, if you have a boat from the same period?
Here's the picture, courtesy of boatersland:



Thanks!

Mark

[Pat Dilling]

https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Max-3006-6631-Folding-Stainless/dp/B01LW1ES2K/ref=asc_df_B01LW1ES2K/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309798558622&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1242526034407691132&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032598&hvtargid=pla-494547935268&psc=1

If you can over come the OCD, (or more properly CDO), these flip up cleats work great and can be installed from the top without having to get beneath or behind the gunnel.  A friend has put one on his Ranger 518 and is happy with it.  Consider that the most common use of these is short term while launching or retrieving the boat and they do not encounter a lot of stress, just a convenient place to tie for a few minute.  I have a factory installed driver's cleat on my Nitro and use it often.  Great addition to a boat.
Pat

[Princeton_Man]

I'm not familiar with the Triton's top cap, but I believe you'll want to use an aluminum or stainless steel backing plate to strengthen the mounting point.

[MarkAmerica]

https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Max-3006-6631-Folding-Stainless/dp/B01LW1ES2K/ref=asc_df_B01LW1ES2K/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309798558622&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1242526034407691132&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032598&hvtargid=pla-494547935268&psc=1

If you can over come the OCD, (or more properly CDO), these flip up cleats work great and can be installed from the top without having to get beneath or behind the gunnel.  A friend has put one on his Ranger 518 and is happy with it.  Consider that the most common use of these is short term while launching or retrieving the boat and they do not encounter a lot of stress, just a convenient place to tie for a few minute.  I have a factory installed driver's cleat on my Nitro and use it often.  Great addition to a boat.
Pat

Pat,
I'll take a look at that. Like I said in my post, I kind of want to go with something real close to factory to match the others, though that's definitely a nice looking cleat. Installation of the OE-looking cleat will be no problem on the driver's side. The passenger side may be a horse of a different color, however. I'll study this some more. I've seen a cleat like this one, that folds up, installed inside the boat below the gunnel, I suppose to keep the top of the gunnel clean, but providing the same functionality.

Thanks!

I'm not familiar with the Triton's top cap, but I believe you'll want to use an aluminum or stainless steel backing plate to strengthen the mounting point.

Princeton_Man, I think they sell a backing plate for that cleat pictured above. It was  my intention if I went that way to use it.

Thanks!

Mark

[Capt. BassinLou]

I had a third cleat installed on my boat on the driver side, and it's made a huge difference.

[MarkAmerica]

Capt. BassinLou,

With any luck, the cleats I ordered will show up soon. I'm going to do the install myself. The one on the driver's side should be reasonably easy to install. The one on the other side... That could be a booger.

Thanks!

[MarkAmerica]

With any luck, I'll get to try them out tomorrow. I had to trim the backing plates a bit on one edge, but not too much.

They turned out to be precisely the same cleat used elsewhere, so a perfect match.

Thanks all!

[Pat Dilling]

Well done!!  You're gonna like the functionality.