Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I'm wondering...does your pontoon have cleats to tie a dock line to originally and if not did you add any? I ordered some 6" cleats since my pontoon didn't come with any and i'm looking for good places to put them. I can't imagine people tying the lines to the fence but maybe I am wrong.

Mine didn't have cleats but on each side mounted to the floor outside the fence were offset U bolts, 2 per side. I have rope on each one to tie up to docks or other boats.

I used PS cleats!

https://www.pontoonstuff.com/collection ... boat-cleat

I see your cleats are close to the fence, and that's why you are using carabiners. I think I will have the same issue...so i might use the carabiner idea too.

How are the cleats mounted, can’t make out.

Lilguy wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2019 2:54 pm

How are the cleats mounted, can’t make out.

Those bolt from underneath for a clean look if I am not mistaken.

Our Lowe has pop-up/retractable cleats on each side of the boat. Love that I can pop them back in when not in use.

I’m not the most experienced person present with pontoon boats...but I’m surprised to learn that all boats aren’t OEM equipped with cleats!
My South Bay has them (stainless 6”) at each corner and they are not interference-challenged with the fence.

FogHorn wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2019 4:37 pm

I’m not the most experienced person present with pontoon boats...but I’m surprised to learn that all boats aren’t OEM equipped with cleats!
My South Bay has them (stainless 6”) at each corner and they are not interference-challenged with the fence.

Gotta remember yours is 20 years newer than his and these things weren't always the pimped out floating palaces they've become. There's an old Crest and an old Tracker tied up at my dock....yep, neither have cleats and they're just tied off where they could find a spot. The Crest actually just has a couple eye bolts run through the bottom fence rail and through the deck because the fence goes all the way to the edge of the deck front and rear.

First pontoon I ever rode on was catfishing in the Flint River in south GA and the dude who had it would shit if he knew what I paid for mine. They've gone from Lizzie to Sally Carrera.

Steiner wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 12, 2019 4:02 am

First pontoon I ever rode on was catfishing in the Flint River in south GA and the dude who had it would shit if he knew what I paid for mine. They've gone from Lizzie to Sally Carrera.

being new to he pontoon scene i was taken back by how much they can cost new. but's it's like everything else, there is a $10,000 car and a $100,00 car, they both will get you from point A to point B, but one will get you there faster because you have less weight in your wallet slowing you down

I also have U bolts - 2 on the back above the toons mounted to the deck rail cap, and 2 on the front corners also mounted to the deck rail cap. I wanted a couple closer to center so I added 2 6" SS cleats to the deck, outside the fence on the side I normally tie to the dock. Makes it easier to tie up a 24' boat to a 10' platform.

looks like you have a tracker pontoon also (or one that is very similar), that's what I have. I might think about adding some U bolts, I was going to put my 4 cleats near the corners of the boat and maybe put some U bolts near the middle sides. I'm just trying to get some ideas of where to put them.

Mine came with cleats.....why in the hell would anybody make a boat without cleats????? I cant even imagine that.

I only wish mine had the fold down cleats.....they are very nice.

riplipper wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 13, 2019 1:01 pm

Mine came with cleats.....why in the hell would anybody make a boat without cleats????? I cant even imagine that.

I only wish mine had the fold down cleats.....they are very nice.

That was my thought when posting earlier. Not. Knowing the development-history of pontoons I cannot but wonder if the earlier craft were boat-builders or come from some other trade.