Morning Brainstrust. Quick question I'm looking for any feedback about the need for a cleat after Rope Clutch. The boat is setup with cabin top clutch, to a winch and in between a cleat. I want to get rid of the cleat while I'm reinstalling all the hardware as I think it's unnecessary. I'm thinking it was probably put there pre clutches making it now redundant.

Any ideas?

My rope clutches are worn and the halyards slip back a bit when they are winched on. So we have cleats for each clutch. Winch the halyard on then cleat it. Either that or $1K for new clutch on each side of the boat, not to mention installing.

Yeah thanks peoples. These replies confirm my thought process. The clutches are in great condition so the cleat is just wasting space.

I figured if the clutches are slipping I could reinstall it but as mentioned by Traffic Jam if the internals can be replaced or I guess or worse case swapped from low load unworn clutches then the cleat will never be necessary.

Thanks Sam

My philosophy is better to have and not need than need and not have. Will removal actually release usable real estate or just "tidy up" the aesthetics?