The hardware used to secure lines to the side of the boat is the cleat.

The hardware used to secure lines to the side of the boat is the cleat.

• A. Cleat
• B. Bitt
• C. Post
• D. Pulpit

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how lines are secured to a boat’s side. A cleat is the hardware designed for belaying a line; its two horns give a solid point to wrap the rope around so it stays secure under load. You lead the line to the cleat, wrap around the horns with a cleat hitch or a couple of turns, and the tension is held by the friction of the wraps. A bitt is a vertical post used for mooring lines on larger ships or at dockside, but it’s not the standard fitting on the side of a small boat. A post by itself is too generic and not a specific tying point, and a pulp it is a guard rail at the bow, not a tying point. So the fitting used to secure lines to the side is the cleat.

The main idea is how lines are secured to a boat’s side. A cleat is the hardware designed for belaying a line; its two horns give a solid point to wrap the rope around so it stays secure under load. You lead the line to the cleat, wrap around the horns with a cleat hitch or a couple of turns, and the tension is held by the friction of the wraps. A bitt is a vertical post used for mooring lines on larger ships or at dockside, but it’s not the standard fitting on the side of a small boat. A post by itself is too generic and not a specific tying point, and a pulp it is a guard rail at the bow, not a tying point. So the fitting used to secure lines to the side is the cleat.