Rick, I was after a square mooring bit to butt against the bowsprite and found one at: http://www.deepblueyachtsupply.com Model Number: 00MB4X4 Material: Cast Bronze or stainless Base Size: 4-3/8" x 4-3/8" Height: 3-1/2" Screw Size: 3/8" Weight: 2.0 lbs. Price: $120.15Now only: $84.11 The one in the picture is the next size up from this. I did the Gaff cutter conversion design a year ago but need some custom stainless work done and couldn't find anyone. I will have more time to look this year I hope. This will take the sail area up by 40 square feet without the topsail or the yankee. I expect to have the main made with the traditional vertical panels and if the balance is off it should not be to terrible to add or remove a panel along the leech. Of course that requires the initial boom and gaff to be a bit long. I made a fife rail for my mast last year to handle all of the halyards and topping lift lines. I used this last season when I was flying the spinnaker which added 2 more lines. So far on the fife rail I have the main, jib, and spinnaker halyards, then the spinnaker pole topping lift and the boom topping lift. The gaff cutter will need - main, main gaff, jib, staysail, yankee, topsail and boom topping lift. That is a lot of cleats - voila a 7 pin fife rail. The little minature marlin spikes act as a quick release if you take the tension off the halyard. Thanks, Doug --- On Wed, 12/3/08, Rick Langer <farreach@optonline.net> wrote: From: Rick Langer <farreach@optonline.net> Subject: M_Boats: Bow Cleats To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 9:43 AM Hey Doug, Thanks for the pictures and the information. On second thought I think using just the mooring bit might be the solution. It's a lot simpler than trying to fit cleats on top of the deck joint. Where did you get that mooring cleat? I found one on the Defender site; http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|7504|292249|410597&id=38627 but it's 7" across which might be a little too big ($49). WM has one for $143. As usual I stopped right there. Gaff rigged cutter? I can't wait to see it. Sounds like it will increase sail area. Will balance be a problem? It sounds exciting. Take care, Rick _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats