A rope cleat is usually a metal double hook — a T-shaped or anchor-shaped fitting — around which a rope or line is belayed in figure-of-eight turns. You find them on flagpoles, scaffolds, boats and anywhere a line has to be made fast quickly and released just as quickly.
The Dutch term for it, kikker, also covers a few other very specific building components.
Four meanings of the Dutch term
- Rope cleat — the double hook the rope is belayed around. The rope is wound in figures of eight; the last turn locks the previous ones
- Sash window catch — the small pivoting plate, usually metal and sometimes wood, that locks a sliding sash window
- Block under a plane iron — on a block plane, the often adjustable block under the blade at the sole of the plane; sliding it changes the mouth opening and therefore the shaving thickness
- Small closing piece on inward-opening timber windows — a small part fitted on the widened bottom sill to improve the water check where a meeting stile is used
How to belay a rope on a cleat
- Take one full turn around the base of the cleat first
- Then cross the line in figures of eight over both horns, two or three times
- Finish with a locking hitch over one horn so the line jams itself
- Do not heave it dead tight: it must still release under load
Points to watch
- Material outdoors — use stainless steel, bronze or hot-dip galvanised steel outside; bare steel quickly stains visible surfaces with rust runs
- Fixing — always screw a cleat into solid timber, or bolt right through the structure; fixed into sheathing or plaster alone it will pull out
- Sash window catch — on an old sash window a bent or worn catch is often the reason the window no longer pulls up tight; replacing it is usually easier than straightening it
Related terms
- Cleat
- Sash window
- Block plane
- Bottom sill
- Ironmongery
- Water check
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.