Replacing Padeyes with Cleats--No New Holes!

Advice
#1

I have four padeyes on the sides of my kakak for tying down the anchor line. That is, although the anchor line is attached to another padeye inside the cockpit, I put a slip knot on one of the deck padeyes to fasten the line at the best location and length. You can see the padeyes here:

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I realize now that cleats or jam cleats would have been much better, but I don’t want to replace the padeyes if I have to drill any new holes. If new holes are needed, I’ll just live with the padeyes.

Note that I never use the anchor in strong wind or current.

My plan is to see if I can find any cleats whose attachment holes are the same distance from each other as the holes in my padeyes (namely 35 mm or 1 3/8 inch).

Any other ideas or tricks that you can suggest?

Thanks!

#2

Look at Sea-lect the make Duff and have dimensions I think.

#3

http://www.sealectdesigns.com/categories/deck-hardware/cleats

#4

Excellent. I’ll measure again, but I think these might work: http://www.sealectdesigns.com/groups/1421-clamcleat-mini

or these: http://www.sealectdesigns.com/groups/1321-open-base-cleat

Thanks!

#5

topkayaker.net is another dependable supplier. You may need to dig a bit on the web site, but they have stuff of that sort including well nuts for fastening etc.

#6

Thoughts on which of these would work best?


#7

Cleat is easy to put cord around and remove. Line through a jam cleat if it slips or is pulled the wrong way it’s free and gone no? Unless it’s tied off in a secondary position.

#8

Doing reentries with a regular cleat could get interesting.

I think I’d prefer the pad eyes…or just put a short loop around a seat side that I could clip an anchor rope to.

#9

Yes, the end of the anchor rope is clipped onto a padeye inside the cockpit, so even if the rope comes out of the jam cleat it wouldn’t be lost.

#10

Yes jam cleat would be more sleek.