301 cleat failure
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 300 / 301
Forum Description: 300 & 301 Hints and Tips
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14427
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:29
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 301 cleat failure
Posted By: RichardJ
Subject: 301 cleat failure
Date Posted: 07 January 2024 at 21:09
Not impressed by the build quality of my 301. A mooring cleat has just pulled out through thin fibreglass. No strengthening, no backing plate, zilch.  2 photos attached (hopefully - this forum's UI is dreadful). Has anyone else had cleat issues? Or any recommendations? Richard
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Replies:
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 07 January 2024 at 21:48
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Normally theses things are drilled, tapped and fastened thru the glass to the backing plate which is embedded. My guess…the laminators had a bad day and forgot that plate. Later in the build, they drilled and tapped the fiberglass only and didn’t notice! Obviously a thorough inspection on all deck fittings that you can get to. I’ve heard this happen before. Once on a main sheet block which can cause injury if one is in the way. ------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: RichardJ
Date Posted: 07 January 2024 at 22:04
Another attempt to upload the images  |
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 08 January 2024 at 00:48
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Wow. That’s worst then I thought. Looks like a different method than they use now. It’s thru bolted with nuts and washer. That would work if only the glass weren’t so thin. If the rest of the deck is that thin then you’ll have other problems waiting for you. If you have access to the space underneath, then repair and reinforcement will be tedious but can be done. ------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: mjo
Date Posted: 08 January 2024 at 08:29
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Not sure, if they had just a bad day. I discovered several issues like that on my 301: 1. genoa rail Suddenly once a part of my genoa rail broke and 30 cm of the rail and the silder was dangeling at the sheet. The rail was bolted though the glass, fixed with this little washers and a nut. In the area, where the rail broke, the glass was laminated a bit thicker, so the screws had been to short, so there was no washer an no nut.  Issue on both sides. 2. mast support last winter I opended the lining around the mast support to re-organize the cables. 2 of 4 nuts which are supporting the mast plate got loose. They had not been secured. |
Posted By: Ratbasher
Date Posted: 08 January 2024 at 09:20
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Hi Richard - I've been similarly underwhelmed. The basic design appears sound with the really important stuff - keel and chainplates - being strongly fixed. However, the quality of the fitting of some deck gear was poor to the point of negligent, although many other items were done well. As part of a refit last year I had the shipwright inspect and rebed where necessary every single stanchion and cleat base and every single item of deck gear that could be accessed including the toerail fixings. Most were OK but some were not; the pulpit and pushpit fixings were underdesigned so had beefed-up backing plates added. Given your experience with that cleat, I'd strongly recommend you do similar even if it means cutting into linings to access the sites. A cheap endoscope might help in the first instance if you've the time to do the work yourself. Even after that refit, however, I still spread the loads on the cleats at anchor by using a twin bridle and passing the lines through the forecleats and back to the midships ones whatever the forecast. The problems are far from unique to Hanse, however. I've lost count of the number of times I've given other owners a hand with some frighteningly shoddy workmanship on BeniBavJeans - and even a Rassy which I used to sail. ------------- H400 (2008) 'Wight Leopard' Gosport, UK |
Posted By: Jojo
Date Posted: 08 January 2024 at 10:53
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First I feel sorry for you You’re in for a rather large repair costly or time consuming It look like the fibreglass and gelcote was under a lot of stress before the failure It’s a lot cracking and delaminating in to the deck The torail has 2 screws that look as they come out a mm in your picture My guess is that this was a ongoing problem that weakens the laminate from over stressed mooring Those distanceblock don’t make it better as they make the force stronger to the laminate A plate will spread the load better but a larger mooring damper will also help those stormy days Take this to your insurance and see what you can get Best wishes and regards jonas ------------- 3 Cabin, Hanse 342, Deep draft, Tiller version. |
Posted By: sailingfree
Date Posted: 12 January 2024 at 06:21
| That’s awful, which cleat was it? |
Posted By: RichardJ
Date Posted: 12 January 2024 at 11:04
| The rear starboard one |
Posted By: Mergus
Date Posted: 02 May 2024 at 19:09
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Thanks for posting this, I also inspected my cleats on 301 and
identified that on the port side there was similar small cracks in the
gelcoat. The cleat is really attached to the deck only with bolts and
small washers without any reinforcement laminated into the fiberglass
(that I have seen on other boats and regarded as the standard). Luckily the port aft cleat is easily accessible through the aft berth and I removed the bolts, and attached a large aluminium plate (with bit epoxy between it and GRP) to the hull to have a better reinforcement. Have to try to reinforce also the other cleats in near future, but those appear to be bit more difficult to access 
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