Accon’s Pop-Up Cleat

Now you see it, now you don't, but it can firmly secure anchor, dock, or mooring lines.

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Accon’s Pop-Up Cleat

Pop-Up® is a registered trademark of Accon Marine, the folks that brought us Pop-Up bow lights, quick release bimini top fittings (see PS “Chandlery” May 1, 2005), and other specialty hardware.

Accon’s Pop-Up cleats, fabricated in stainless steel, offer a low-profile (just less than .25″) fitting that bolts securely to the deck with four recessed fasteners. The cleat can be easily pulled up out of its housing with thumb and forefinger, and it locks in the upright, deployed position. The cleat and its lifting mechanism are housed in a stainless case. For heavier cleating loads, the case can be anchored to the vessel’s structure by way of a stout threaded rod and adjustable tang that are optional (also fabricated in stainless). A stainless backing plate is also an option, as is a waterproofing cup to contain the cleat housing and any water that might drain into it.

These cleats are available in four sizes, ranging from a 4.5″ cleat to a 10″ cleat (from $84.27 to $181.42, respectively). That’s not inexpensive, and the cleats are heavy (from 1 lb. for the 4.5″ cleat to almost 10 lbs. for the 10″ cleat), but when you consider that all Pop-Up cleats are warrantied for the life of the vessel under normal use, that’s a reasonable bargain.

 

Contact – Accon Marine, Inc. 727/572-9202, www.acconmarine.com.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.