Cleat and Stringer mount for Canoe

thingiverse

This was a real toughie. I'm putting this here as proof of concept and for other people to work off since few people will probably build this exact item. So far it seems solid. I built it for use with this cleat: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007G2JBBO (I tried printing a cleat, but the metal one held the rope MUCH better) And this stringer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055N2HBW I wanted to use both those items in my canoe, but I didn't want a permanent mount. So the issue was, "How do I make a clamp?". I looked around and I didn;t see that anyone else had made a complete screw clamp design. Okay, drawing board time. Multiple issues existed. 1. How do I get a bolt with full threads along it's entire length? 2. How do I make the "tip" of the clamp "float" so the threads don't bite into it. 3. How do I make it float without falling off? 4. How do I pressure from the clamp tip against the side of the clamp. Solutions: 1. I used stainless threaded rod rather than bolts. 2. I print a "cap" to put on the tip that will rotate freely. 3. I secure a nut to the tip of the threaded rod with superglue and put the "cap" over it 4. I put a nut in the backside of the threaded rod. Assembly of this thing once it's all printed is a PAIN IN THE ASS! 1. Cut the rod to length (I made my rod 52mm, but it can be a bit longer. Note it's hard to trim later. 2. Press-fit the nuts into the sockets on the base unit and secure with superglue. CAREFUL NOT TO GET IT IN THE THREADS HERE! 3. Insert a rod into the base unit. 4. Put the Clamp Cap over the tip of the threaded rod. 5. Put a nut on the tip and secure it with superglue. MAKE SURE THE THREADED ROD DOES NOT STICK PAST THE NUT FACE! 6. Put the Clamp Tip over the nut and secure it to the Clamp Cap with superglue. CAREFUL NOT TO USE TOO MUCH! THIS HAS TO FLOAT FREE! 7. Put the clamp onto the surface it will mount on. Tighten it by turning the back of the threaded rod. 8. Put the handle on the back of the rod, and the nut inside it. Tighten until the handle is almost snug. We don't want too much slop. Then put epoxy in the back of the handle to secure the nut to the threaded rod and the handle. (This handle does not need to be tight to the base at all. In fact making it tight to the base would be bad.) Crazy, right? Took me awhile to figure out the right assembly order. The tips should probably have some rubber on them so they don't slip. I'll figure that out later.