Rinker 410

Michael T

I wouldn't use a cleat unless I saw that it had a backing plate that was large enough and properly bedded. I would never use a pop-up type cleat as I'm pretty sure that would damage those type - but I would certainly use the tie downs for trailering as they are real solid. It's the '"snap" loading that can crack the gel coat around a cleat, the tie downs are IMO designed for that type of load.....I don't think you'd pull a cleat out but you could crack the gel coat if the cleat wasn't backed properly. We did a lot of slalom water skiing and tubing for 30 years and I saw a lot of people crack their gel coat by not using the right towing places on their boats.