Cleat fastening

[Bill Perkins]

I was browsing through a book I’ve gotten allot out of : Reuel Parker’s “The New Cold-Molded Boat building “. I was brought to a stop by a detail I hadn’t noticed before . Mr. Parker uses Stainless Steel bolts even if the cleats are bronze . The fastener holes in the cleats were sized assuming bronze bolts ,correct ? Haven’t these proved sufficient ? I used bronze bolts ,and wondered what professional yards were doing . I think the gold platers I’ve admired at the Woodenboat show were fastening bronze with bronze , right ? Still , it's hard to argue that stronger is not better .

[Dan McCosh]

I was browsing through a book I’ve gotten allot out of : Reuel Parker’s “The New Cold-Molded Boat building “. I was brought to a stop by a detail I hadn’t noticed before . Mr. Parker uses Stainless Steel bolts even if the cleats are bronze . The fastener holes in the cleats were sized assuming bronze bolts ,correct ? Haven’t these proved sufficient ? I used bronze bolts ,and wondered what professional yards were doing . I think the gold platers I’ve admired at the Woodenboat show were fastening bronze with bronze , right ? Still , it's hard to argue that stronger is not better .


I don't think Stainless is necessarily stronger. Some bronze bolts are incredibly expensive and difficult to find, however.