Down here in Florida the wood on your docks need to be replaced every so often. Some of my dock boards have lasted for years and others go in only a few years. I do not think the newer treated lumber lasts as long as the old stuff, but it is safer for the environment. When I was replacing boards this year I thought I would replace the dock cleats so that they all were the same. My dock had odd cleats and I needed or wanted to add a few more anyway.
Sticker shock on what replacing them hit me when I went shopping. The ones I liked were big bucks. I found some large wood ones that were real classy. They must have been for a nice classic old wood yacht, nice red wood smooth varnished cleats. And they were not cheap.
I though they would make my dock look like my dock was owned by a rich guy who's Sh## did not stink. Then I thought a wood cleat would not last. Then I thought a wood cleat would last as long as the dock boards. Then I thought I could easily make wood cleats that looked like these with minimal cost and a little work.
I picked up two ruff cut ceder two by fours and with a band saw cut out the blanks. Then with a belt sander unit, rounded the edges and hand shaped them. After 3 coats of spar varnish they looked great. Each one was a little different, but they are not right next to each other so you can not tell. They are also big enough you can easily tie a big line two and the ceder varnished up and they have a lush red tone which makes them stand out on the dock. Easily seen when looking for a cleat and easily seen so you do not trip over them. They are very classy looking.
Now my wife said that I should make a ceder dock box and bench to go with the cleats to really make the dock look high class. 8-(
What I said to that was a Classic Wood Christ Craft would look nice at the dock also but...
