Installing Bow Cleat

[Hawgwild]

I have a Caravelle 187FS (Fish and Ski) that didn't come with a bow cleat. I've seen on a TV show where the host put tape over the boat before drilling to protect the gel coat. A) Does this work? and B) Besides the cleat is there a backer bar or something other than the screws that keeps the cleat from pulling out of the fiberglass? Is this something that I can safely do without ruining my warranty on the hull that Caravelle offers?

[tommynitro]

Hawgwild,

The tape over the gel coat trick does work, it prevents the gelcoat from cracking when the drill bit hits it. Definitley do that when drilling. A good secure bow cleat should have a backing plate that will go on the underneath side and be through bolted, meaning you will have to drill all the way through and put the backing plate and stainless steel lock nuts on the back side of the cleat to secure it properly to the bow.......

Good luck,