www.iFourWinns.com

on my 1987 190 Horizon, the cleats on the bow have become loose. Due to where they sit, there is no way to get to the nuts or mounting hardware on the inside of the hull. I tried reaching up through the storage opening under the seat, but I can't get even close to reaching up and over to where the screws would come down.

I have googled this alot tonight and come up almost empty. The best I have found is that maybe there is an access hole behind the back (vertical) cushion, right under where the cleat would sit. However, I am not sure how easy it will be to get this cushion off or if it is possible. Nothing in my searching came up with any answers pertaining to my model boat.

I found this site just now and am hoping someone here might have some experience with mounting cleats to the bow in a similar situation. I will next be able to get up to my boat this coming Friday to work on it. I am hoping to come up with a few different ideas as to how attack this when I get to the boat. Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks-

Hi Bob, I have a 2007 H190, and had the same problem. My bow cleats were coming loose. The only way I could get to the nuts was through the bow seat. I had to get into the most ridiculous position to get as much of my arm possible into the bow seat hole, but was able to successfully reach both nuts with a box end wrench and tighten those suckers down. I did not realize that I should have been wearing a long, sleeve shirt as I got fiberglass in my arm and was pretty cut up for 3 or 4 days. I don’t know if our hulls are the same as there is a 20 year difference in age, but there was no other way to get to the nuts to tighten them, other than the bow seat. I did not even consider the vertical cushions. I’m not sure how those come off. Good luck.

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Mac
2007 Four Winns Horizon 190

The vertical seat backs will have studs and nuts holding them on. There well be an access hole behind them, if not, you could cut one.

I had a similar issue on my 2004 Sundowner with the rear cleats; they were clearly factory fitted before the engine went in as there was no way of getting remotely close to the nuts with the engine in place. I had the choice of removing the engine, or cutting access holes. Guess what method I chose ! In my case, I fitted 8" screw in deck plates to the holes I cut, so it looks neat; behind the seat back, that'd not really be essential.

For some reason FW did not use locknuts (nylocs) on cleats . Maybe it's because the cleats did not come with locknuts, just nuts and spring washers.

My last boat did not have a bow cleat and I wanted to install one but never got around to it because there was no easy access. I found this video searching around for a way. Basically it is a cleat with a backing plate and you screw in from the top to the backing plate so you do not need access to back.
So if you have no other choice you could cut a hole in the fiberglass or you could cut the bolts holding what you have and try this setup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd6S0kL48b4

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--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

That's pretty cool....not exactly rocket science, but very handy. Good find!

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

That pop up cleat is cool. Little pricey but cool. Going to work on this tomorrow
Will advise as to how it goes.

Yes, very simple idea and obviously you don't have to buy that one. I believe there are other cleats at like west marine or defender of similar design. If i remember the others were all pretty pricey too but they do look like quality stainless pieces.

_________________
--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

Meant to take pictures, but never did.... for 1, with my 1987 model, there is no way to get my arm up to where the bolts come down. The space going up is not enough to get my arm into it. I was able to remove the back padding. There were 4 screws in between the seems of cushion sections. After I removed those, I learned the cushion was also screwed from the inside of the hull back into the cushion. learned this by pulling and those screws pulled out. After all that there was not an access hole. I need to cut one. Didn't have access to an electric outlet so will do that later. will get this cleat tightened sooner or later. thanks for the suggestions and info.