Marine Hardware
Stainless Steel Boat Cleats
316 marine grade, mirror polished, weld-free cast construction. Factory-direct from Profab Machine with custom sizing and OEM support.
Boat Cleats Supplier
Stainless Steel Boat Cleats Manufacturer in China
A boat cleat gives your docking lines a fixed, load-bearing attachment point on deck or dock. When that cleat fails, the line goes with it. Profab manufactures stainless steel marine cleats from 316 grade material, investment-cast and mirror polished to meet the demands of saltwater, UV exposure, and repeated mechanical loading. Surface treatment follows a graded process: degreasing, mechanical polishing, and final passivation. Every batch is inspectable against our surface roughness (Ra) and reflectivity standards.
You can order standard sizes from 4″ to 12″ or specify custom dimensions for OEM programs. Profab supports prototype evaluation and scale-up production with no hard minimum order, making it practical to qualify a new cleat style before committing to volume.
- 316 marine grade — chloride and salt spray resistant
- Mirror polished finish — Ra value on request
- Weld-free cast construction — no weak points at joins
- Custom dimensions and OEM labeling available
Product Range
Types of Stainless Steel Marine Cleats
Profab supplies four standard cleat configurations in 316 stainless. Each style addresses specific deck layout and loading requirements. Custom profiles are available on request.
Horn Cleat
| Also called | Open base cleat |
| Material | 316 SS |
| Surface | Mirror polished |
| Sizes | 4"–12" |
| Mounting | Through-bolt |
The most widely used style on docks and deck. Solid two-arm profile gives fast wrap-and-lock for any line diameter.
Hollow Base Cleat
| Also called | Recessed base cleat |
| Material | 316 SS |
| Surface | Mirror polished |
| Sizes | 4"–10" |
| Mounting | Through-bolt |
Recessed base reduces weight while maintaining structural integrity. Common on mid-size sailboats where deck load distribution matters.
Folding Cleat
| Also called | Flip-up cleat |
| Material | 316 SS |
| Surface | Mirror polished |
| Sizes | 5"–8" |
| Mounting | Flush recessed |
Arms fold flat when not in use, eliminating trip hazards on high-traffic decks. Used on motor yachts and charter vessels.
Pop-Up Cleat
| Also called | Flush mount cleat |
| Material | 316 SS |
| Surface | Mirror polished |
| Sizes | 5"–8" |
| Mounting | Flush cut-in |
Spring-loaded mechanism keeps the deck surface clean when not in use. Preferred on sports boats and racing yachts where deck aesthetics are a priority.
Material Specification
Choosing the Right Grade
304 Stainless
Standard grade for indoor machinery, automation, and dry or mildly humid environments. Good resistance to cleaning chemicals. Cost-effective for high-volume orders. Not suitable for continuous salt spray or chloride-heavy process environments.
Food · Automation · Indoor
316 / 316L
Marine and food-grade standard. 2–3% molybdenum addition raises chloride pitting resistance significantly above 304. Required for outdoor, marine, offshore, and food equipment with CIP chemical cleaning. Especially 316 stainless steel has excellent resistance to corrosive saltwater effects.
Marine · Chemical · Pumps
17-4PH
Precipitation-hardened martensitic grade. ≥ 1,310 MPa tensile strength in H900 condition — significantly stronger than 316 at equivalent cross-section. Specified for ball joints in motorsport, aerospace, and high-cycle fatigue applications where load ratings are the primary constraint.
Aerospace · Motorsport · Hi-load
Applications
Where Stainless Steel Boat Cleats Are Used
316 stainless steel mooring cleats perform reliably in saltwater, UV, and heavy load conditions that corrode lesser materials within a season. Below are the vessel and facility types that require them most.
01
Sailboats & Yachts
Offshore sailing puts cleats under sustained lateral loads from mooring lines and dock lines in tidal surges. 316 grade resists crevice corrosion at the bolt interface, where lower grades fail first.
02
Motorboats & Pontoons
Bow and stern cleats on motorboats handle spring-line loads during berthing and fender attachment. Mirror-polished 316 cleats hold up to fuel, bilge water, and regular deck washing without surface degradation.
03
Docks & Marinas
Stainless steel dock cleats sit outdoors year-round. Marina operators need hardware that won’t rust and stain the dock surface. 316 stainless deck cleats require no protective coating and are easy to inspect and replace.
04
Commercial & Workboats
Fishing vessels and commercial workboats operate in continuous saltwater exposure with heavy line loads. Weld-free cast 316 cleats eliminate the failure points that fabricated or welded cleats develop under cyclical stress.
Why Profab
Precision Machined to Your Exact Specification
Direct-from-Manufacturer Advantage
We are the original manufacturer—eliminate all unnecessary middlemen. That means you get the most competitive prices in the market. Enjoy maximum profit margins while ensuring consistent, high-quality stainless steel parts tailored for your business.
Engineering Support and Fast Sampling
We work closely with your technical team to understand and respond to your unique part needs. Whether it’s a CAD file, material conversion or specific tolerances, we can quickly provide samples and provide expert feedback to accelerate your product development.
Volume Discounts for Scalable Business
The more you order, the more you save. We offer tiered pricing for bulk orders, helping you stay competitive as you scale your business. Enjoy more flexible terms for long-term partnerships.
Technical Reference
Sizing Guide
Table 1 — Recommended Cleat Size by Vessel Length
| Vessel Length | Typical Line Diameter | Recommended Cleat Length | Suggested Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 20 ft | 3/8" (10mm) | 4"–5" | Horn Cleat | Small boats, dinghies, tender dinghy docks |
| 20–30 ft | 7/16"–1/2" (11–12mm) | 6"–8" | Horn Cleat / Hollow Base | Day sailors, center consoles, small motorboats |
| 30–40 ft | 9/16"–5/8" (14–16mm) | 8"–10" | Horn Cleat / Folding Cleat | Mid-range yachts, sportfishing boats |
| 40–55 ft | 3/4"–7/8" (19–22mm) | 10"–12" | Horn Cleat / Pop-Up Cleat | Larger yachts, commercial charter vessels |
| 55 ft & above | 1"+ (25mm+) | 12"+ custom | Heavy-duty Horn / Custom | Commercial workboats, megayachts — contact Profab for custom spec |
Table 2 — Stainless Steel Grade Comparison for Marine Cleats
| Grade | Key Element | Saltwater Resistance | Typical Application | Profab Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | 18% Cr / 8% Ni | Moderate — freshwater and light coastal use | Inland marinas, lakes, protected harbors | Available on request |
| 316 | 16% Cr / 10% Ni / 2% Mo | High — full saltwater and offshore | Standard marine cleat grade — most orders | Standard (default) |
| 316L | Low carbon 316 | High — same as 316, lower sensitization risk | Welded assemblies and chemical exposure environments | Available on request |
| Duplex 2205 | 22% Cr / 5% Ni / 3% Mo | Very high — chloride-resistant in warm tropical seawater | High-load offshore hardware, tropical deployments | Custom order |
BLOG
Boat Cleats Knowledge Base
How to Stop Your Boat Cleats from Squeaking
Boat cleat squeaking has three distinct causes, each needing a different fix. Identifying the right type prevents a minor noise from becoming a hardware failure.
How to Size Your Boat Cleats Correctly
Correctly sizing boat cleats requires matching line diameter, boat length, and environmental load, plus specifying the right material grade and backing plate for a mount that holds.
Backing Plates Decide Whether Your Boat Cleat Actually Holds
Backing plates determine whether a boat cleat holds under load or pulls through the deck. Here is how to choose the right material, size it correctly, and install it properly.
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Often Ordered Together
Stainless Steel Deck Filler
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