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I have a newly bought 26M, which is in a wet slip. It would seem that installing a cleat midship would allow more control by one individual when securing the boat after entering the ship. Does the 26M have a reinforced location that will handle an additional cleat?

Isn't there a black plastic one on the port side? There is on mine...

Alot of people just run a line from a stern cleat to a bow cleat. This gives good control of the boat...

I've tied spring lines to a stanchion base...

Probably most anywhere along the top would be strong enough, but you're gonna have to drill holes in the liner to get at it. You can get hole inserts to cover your hole, but I'd be sure I drill the size hole I can cover first... So, get the inserts first... I think you can get ones like what the factory used, from the factory...either directly or through a dealer...

I think I've heard chatter about home depot or lowes carrying them, but maybe I'm confused...

I considered this mod but just use the winch as a midship cleat on the advice of others here.

Other alternative is the get a cleat that fits on the genoa track, if so equipped, and reinforce track down below for the dockline forces.

DLT Wrote:

Alot of people just run a line from a stern cleat to a bow cleat. This gives good control of the boat...

Probably the best idea, but Catigale wrote:

Other alternative is the get a cleat that fits on the genoa track, if so equipped, and reinforce track down below for the dockline forces.

I have a couple of SS cleats that fit the genoa & jib tracks so I usually put one on the aft end of the jib track as it is closest amidships to help with temporary docking. Once at the slip you can put the regular cleats to work but it is totally unnecsessary to reinforce the jib or genoa tracks for such a purpose, they do easily sustain great stresses while under sailing load. I also use it for a breast line at the slip but the fear mongerers here have chastized me for it. Some folks actually believe that the entire weight of the boat is supported by a cleat but I don't buy it, I am of the opinion that the water supports the bulk of the boat weight.
I think I just set myself up to be stoned

It's a standard practice with sailboats to use the cabintop winches as a mid ships cleat for docklines. They are usually attached with bigger and better backing plates than cleats are. Most just loop the eye of the line over the winch.

I tied a loop on my docking line and cleat it to the aft cleat leaving enough line on both ends to tie to two cleats on the dock, one further back than the aft cleat on the boat and another one, also on the dock, at about half way down the length of the boat. it works with the cleats up front too.

I also use the stanchions for dock lines.

Thanks for all the great advice. I think using the winch as a dockline cleat makes the most sense and will aid in one handing the boat while docking.