I agree with Stan.

The track was designed to support the stresses of the jib car. The forces experienced in such use are directed more fore and aft, for which the track is secured properly. A track mounted cleat, whether for spring line or docking, exerts significant forces upward and side to side, for which the track is not well suited. Such applications will likely result in damage to the track, as you have found. Lastly, the track may fail if significant force is applied, simply due to its age, which is not a necessarily a design flaw.

By the way, I use the foredeck mounted docking cleat as part of my mast crane system. I have through bolted and spread the transmitted forces using a backing plate to accommodate the nearly 500 lbs of vertical force that is applied by the winch at the start and end of the mast erection process. This is quite different than the original purpose of the deck mounted docking cleat which was designed to sustain mostly lateral (horizontal) forces when docked or moored.

Please do not assume that any fixture will withstand forces outside of its design parameters and remember to account for changes due to age of the device and boat.

Mike
s/v Wind Lass ('91)
Nissequogue River, NY

-----Original Message-----
From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> On Behalf Of THOMAS POLISE via Rhodes22-list
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2021 10:28 AM
To: Lewin <lewin at mail.com>
Cc: stan <stan at generalboats.com>; The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Unbolted track

It was being used as a spring line when it broke track 

> On Jul 26, 2021, at 9:50 AM, Lewin <lewin at mail.com> wrote:
> 
> If a track mounted cleat were only used for bow and stern spring lines would it be less likely to fail?
> 
> ------------------
> Bernard
> 
> 
> On Jul 25, 2021, at 9:27 PM, THOMAS POLISE via Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
> 
> I only posted because there were previous posts about mounting cleats on the track. I have no complaints about the boat and enjoy everything about it.  I know now, the hard way, not to mount cleats on the tracks and wanted to make others aware. I will repair and continue on enjoying everything about the boat. No disrespect was intended, Stan, and I will continue to appreciate everything you did to create this incredible boat. 
> 
>> On Jul 25, 2021, at 6:47 PM, stan <stan at generalboats.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> My O my, I am flattered when those Rhodies who praise the Rhodes engineering get pleasure out of finding what they think is a flaw.  
>> 
>> In the Rhodes 50 plus years, I have not heard of a single genoa track pull off - when used for what it was designed to do; carry the load of the giant 175 genoa sheets. That load is carried by a great number of machine screws; more than sufficient to carry the shear loading placed on them.  Of course Todd did not mean they should be bolted on to the gel coat.  But I think his comment that "I've found more than a few questionable things which needed to be properly "re"engineered." is gratuitously disingenuous. Personally my over the hill engineering mind would think it silly to mount docking cleats to genoa tracks. Even if those tracks had long enough machine screw passing all the way through the outerside of the hull and had fender washers and lock nuts on them, those shiftable docking cleats would distort the thin edges of the genoa tracks making the genoa cars a chore or even impossible to adjust. 
>> If you want to put on docking cleats, mount them to the boat proper. You want a spring line cleat, don't use it for a docking cleat.  You want a boat engineered for docking? Have I got a boat to sell you. No hands, no straps, just three little docking eyes. See attachment. Guaranteed to hold for any winds. Just stop putting moving docking cleats where they are not invited to go. 
>> 
>> stan
>> 
>> 
>>>> On 7/25/21 12:00 PM, THOMAS POLISE via Rhodes22-list wrote:
>>> I found that there are no nuts or nut plates, just curious if anyone else had a similar situation. 
>>> 
>>>>> On Jul 25, 2021, at 11:47 AM, Todd Tavares <tavares0947 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Those are machine screws. There should be nuts underneath or nut 
>>>>> plates embedded in the rail under the gelcoat.
>>>>> 
>>>>> But it wouldn't surprise me if the machine screws were just 
>>>>> threaded into wood or even threaded into epoxy. I've found more 
>>>>> than a few questionable things which needed to be properly "re"engineered.
>>>>> Let us know what you find once you dig into this problem.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Todd T.
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sun, Jul 25, 2021, 11:10 AM Rick Lange <sloopblueheron at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi Thomas,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Would you prefer gelcoat damage?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Never mount a dockline holding cleat without a backing plate.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Rick Lange
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sun, Jul 25, 2021 at 11:02 AM THOMAS POLISE via Rhodes22-list 
>>>>>> < rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Anyone else notice that the jib track is just put in without 
>>>>>> bolts.  I added cleat to track which was yanked out in high winds.
>>>>>> 
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