Products from Clamcleat
Clamcleat is a family-run company now in its third generation, specializing in the manufacture of rope cleats. The story of Clamcleat began in 1963 with a simple problem: a light pull-cord knob that came off. This sparked the idea to develop a better way of securing it. The result was the invention of the first Clamcleat cleat—made from two pieces of acrylic with angled ridges, enabling smooth and reliable rope fastening without moving parts.
This simple, unique device was the first major innovation in rope cleats in over 40 years. After exhaustive development work and material trials, the first nylon cleat was produced in 1964. In 1965, Clamcleats Limited was formed, initial patents were filed, and the Clamcleat trademark was registered. One of the early distinguished customers was Sir Francis Chichester, whose vessel, Gipsy Moth IV, was fitted with ten CL201 cleats, helping him set the first speed record for single-handed circumnavigation in 1966-67.
The first Clamcleat cleats were made from engineering plastic. In 1972, aluminum cleats were introduced to meet the higher performance demands of racing, and the Clamcleat Racing range was born. Today, many designs are available in both materials. The range has expanded to over 125 models for various applications, such as mid-air, deck mounting, or sailcloth fixing. Innovative accessories are available, like the "Keepers," which won a category at the 2005 DAME Design Awards.
All Clamcleat products are designed and manufactured at the company’s factory in England—from design and toolmaking, through casting and molding to finishing and packaging. This guarantees that all production stages are closely controlled to ensure high-quality cleats. While Clamcleat rope cleats are primarily sold in the sailboat and windsurfing markets, they are used in numerous industrial applications as well. With sound engineering and efficient administration, Clamcleat is dedicated to offering quality products and personal service to customers worldwide.
