What are your thoughts on the extra cleats?

[Cloud]

Thinking of getting the 2 extra cleats installed on my RZ4, but don't really like the look of them midship.

Do most people just go with the 4 factory ones? Since the front ones are angled in, wouldn't the mid hit while docking?

[robert theisen]

I have the extra cleats. If you are planning on docking your boat for any length of time they are worth their weight in gold. When you get rollers coming into your dock the widest point of the boat will hit first. That's why we have the extra cleats right in front of the tower. Just my .02 Good luck with your new boat!

[Coop]

In my opinion, these are absolutely necessary if you are docking your boat. You need fenders there because, as Robert points out, it's the widest spot on the boat and will take the hits from the dock. I'm frankly surprised they don't put them there at the factory.

When deciding exactly where you want them, sit in the boat and make sure you can reach that spot from inside the boat to put on the fenders. With the windshield there, if you put them too far forward, they will be hard to reach from the cockpit (at least on the RZ2 -- not sure if the RZ4 is different in that respect).

Finally, the ones with the Tige logo are much more expensive (like double from what I remember). So, you can save by getting the non-logo version (which are exactly the same as the others, just without the logo).

[Timmy!]

I would definitely get them. I don't have them and wish that I did.

[Ewok]

They are just about a necessity. I had them installed on my boat when I picked it up from the dealer. I use them for fenders and/or dock lines. In this picture you can see where I placed them, I can reach them by kneeling on the observer seat or standing up at the helm. You can also reach them with a little lean from the bow. Where I placed them is the best place for fenders.

[Ewok]

Oh yeah, I had plain ones installed, they were 1/2 the price of the Tige branded pop-up cleats.

[gwhite94]

I added them to my RZ4 and use them everytime I dock or tie up.

[halfwatt]

I love my mid-ship cleats. As others have stated, I use mine every time I tie up. Mine are the pop up style, installed on the boat when I purchased it. I have the 22ve, so a different layout, but mine are easy to reach.

[EricU]

Thinking of getting the 2 extra cleats installed on my RZ4, but don't really like the look of them midship.

Do most people just go with the 4 factory ones? Since the front ones are angled in, wouldn't the mid hit while docking?

They are required and shouldn't even be an option for this caliber of boat!!! Even if all you do is boat lift your boat every day, at some time you will be at a dock and you need them for the bumpers.

[Duncan]

Necessity.

[JohnZ3]

Thanks for reminding me of what I need to do this winter. I am tired of tying fenders around the tower when I tie up to another boat or the docks.

I was also surprised that mid ship cleats weren't standard equipment on a Z3.

[JohnnieMo]

That's a sexy RZ2! Matching ropes and fenders too. Well played.

[GUY_RPM]

X2 on that RZ!!!! Dang my boss needs to give me a huge raise. I need to get me some of that!!!!

[Ewok]

Thanks guys, I'll be adding some more goodies soon too.

[Dandy]

I didn't add them to our boat build and wish I did. We have them on our winter list with the dealer. I would highly suggest adding them. When docking this past year, we ended up running a line from front to rear cleat and hung bumpers on it while still using the cleats to tie off to the dock, a lot of line in those when we were done.

We were thinking about adding 2 to each side, just in front and just behind the tower. Ewok, what are your thoughts on this, or did the one work out just fine for you. I was concerned with on, on a shorter dock section, the single might act as a pivot point.

Good luck, but as most have suggested....add them.