I have finished my Skerry and I’m about to sail it, at last!
I need to add cleats or hooks so that I can tie it up to a dock. Visually, I’d prefer adding something to the hull, probably a hook at each end. But both ends of a Skerry are pointed, so I’d need to attach them to the seam between panels. Cleats on the front and back rails might be more secure, but would look worse, I think.
Looking for pros and cons of these two approaches, and other ideas.
In the “other ideas” category, for me nothing says shipshape like a brass cleat on varnished wood, especially when the store shine has had a chance to turn to a lovely salty patina so that the boat looks like a happily-used boat instead of a coffee table. The runner up for me would be a home made wooden cleat. A brass padeye also does the same thing when a cleat would be too big.
The problem then becomes where to put the hardware. For the Skerry, the breasthook and crutch (stern breasthook, aft breasthook, etc.) are the obvious places. If for some reason (looks, interference with a cover, etc.) you don’t want them there, they could go on the seat tops, close to the ends so they’ll be out of the way.
There’s my thoughts, other than you might also want to scatter padeyes throughout the inside for securing gear. My philosophy is you can never have too many tie points, as long as they’re positioned so you don’t hit them if you fall.
Have fun with your new boat, congratulations on finishing it,
Laszlo