Mooring a 1985 MONTAUK 17

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ddqarch
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Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2021 7:49 pm

Mooring a 1985 MONTAUK 17

Postby ddqarch » Tue Dec 06, 2022 2:10 pm

How can a 1985 MONTAUK 17 without any cleats be moored to a dock from both stern quarters?

As a relative newcomer to Boston Whalers, I was surprised to learn that cleats were frowned upon by the boat's designer. My 1985 Montauk 17 has stern cleats on each corner, which I confess are very useful. They do seem to be letting in water as evidenced by slight dark stains coming out under the mounting points. I could remove and reinstall with better bedding compound, but I was wondering about going back to the original no-cleat spirit of the boat. I need to tie up both corners at the dock due to my docking arrangement. Using the eyes on the transom seems awkward.

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Phil T
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Re: Cleats

Postby Phil T » Tue Dec 06, 2022 2:29 pm

1992 Outrage 17
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jimh
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Re: Mooring a 1985 MONTAUK 17

Postby jimh » Thu Dec 08, 2022 6:28 am

Use the transom towing eyes as attachment points for mooring lines. Use dock lines with an eye splice at one end. Pass the eye splice through the eye of the towing eye. Then thread the other end of the dock like though the eye splice. This will create a very secure mooring attachment point.

If you want to leave the dock lines attached to pilings in a permanent slip, you can just tie a bowline knot in the dock line end after passing it through the towing eye.

If you want to have a cleat at the transom that is suitably secure and reliable for holding permanent dock lines on a long term basis with the boat left unattended, you will need to through-bolt the cleat through the transom.

Another option might be to install snap-shackle fittings on the ends of the dock lines so they can be quickly snapped onto the towing eyes. A suitable snap-shackle might be something like this:

https://www.westmarine.com/ronstan-2200 ... 21046.html

You would braid a eye-splice in the dock line through the snap-shackle fixed loop. If you were worried about unindented accidental release of the snap-shackle you could fit a rubber band to the release pin to provide even more tension to prevent release.

ddqarch
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Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2021 7:49 pm

Re: Mooring a 1985 MONTAUK 17

Postby ddqarch » Sun Dec 11, 2022 5:47 pm

Excellent advice. Thank you both.