Thumb Cleat usually fitted to yards or booms and associated with sail rigging or reefing
Leading Cleat for securing lighter loads e.g. fenders
Rigging Cleat for securing light loads to stays e.g. a pennant halyard
THUMB CLEATS should be mounted in such a way as to bisect as nearly as possible the angle between the standing part of the line and the fall. It is particularly important that the heads of any plugs are flush with the cleat’s surface (or that the heads of fasteners be below the surface in situations where plugs are not used). It should be possible for a loaded line to slide freely up and over the entire fitting from the non cleating end.
LEADING CLEATS should be mounted at approximately 90 degrees to the standing part. Once the line is led into the cleat, do not attempt to take a round turn around the horns, but instead use ony figure-of-eight turns. (NB Use Leading Cleats for fitting light loads only. E.g.for a mooring line it is normally preferable to use a separate fairlead with a horn cleat or kevel instead.)
RIGGING CLEATS should be confined to use with lines such as signal halyards that will not have huge strain on them. The shroud or stay on which a rigging cleat is to be mounted should be well served beforehand. (friction tape makes a good serving in this instance- be sure to start beyond the bottom of the fitting’s proposed location and work upwards for a good ½ “ and above it.) Mount the cleat on the side of the stay on which the halyard is falling, and do so by taking several turns of rigging twine around both parts of the cleat in the grooves provided at each end and in the centre of the fitting.
Wooden Boat Fittings (www.WoodenBoatFittings.com.au) are specialists in wooden and traditional boat fittings they carry a range of traditional cleats, belaying pins, boathooks, fairleads, mast hoops etc. These items can be notoriosly tricky to source. Wooden Boat Fittings are based in Australia but ship worldwide. Mike also has a great deal of expertise in sourcing other traditional items.
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