Check Your Moorings

Lakesailor

Lakesailor

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We seem to be getting a bit more blowy weather so I went out to check my moorings. Out of three shackles at the top of my riser, two had lost their seizing wire and cable ties (I double-up).
the other shackle is on the tail of the chain.

moorings2.jpg



Lets see how long this lasts.

moorings3.jpg


moorings4.jpg
 
The polyes-termite only attacks epoxy based substances, cable ties are Polly Vinylated Chlorine substrates (PVC) and so are imune from our friend the polyes-termite
 
Having used cable ties up my mast for the last 3 years I can honestly tell you that the clear cable ties from the popular DIY center last 1 calendar year before giving up.... we use them on our mooring tackle - new ones each season, never failed yet.
 
With all those shackles around you can already see the mousing in the second picture is already in danger of being rubbed between the shackles.
Looks like you are in great need of seaweed to encase the whole thing in a soft and resilient mass.
 
That's just the braces part of the belt and braces approach. The seizing wire is the main factor.
Oh. I also whack the ends of the pin threads so they won't come out of the shackle threads.
 
If that were my mooring chain I would date it as less than 1 week old.
After a month you can't see anything for mussels (yes we eat them) and after 6 months if you remove the weed and mussels you find half the chain thickness gone. And the iron mousing wire has gone. I hope enough rust has set in to hold the pin in untiil I get to replace the moussing again. Fortunately in this weather I have a look at it most days while swimming. (sorry did I mention forecast 34 today) olewill
 
If you are in favour of the belt and braces approach, might I suggest a drop of Loctite on the threads. Not only does it stop the pin from turning - it also stops the threads from rusting.
 
Welding or ...

If you want to take it apart later ..... replace pin with same material stud / or long bolt that uses shackle thread and put a locking nut on after it exits the thread ... wind up tight.

Or as LS already does ... a darn good whacking with a ball-pein hammer to spread that last thread ......... (a good centre-punch targeted between the thread and pin is a good one as well ......)

Another reckons Locktite thread lock ... IMHO I wouldn't ... it has CA base and is affected by water / moisture ...
 
Re: Welding or ...

I worked with some RAF aerial riggers a few years ago and they reckoned black cable ties are much more UV resistant than clear ones. They thought the RAF had actually carried out some research to confirm this, they basically always use black cable ties for clipping off cables on masts.
 
Black C/ties ....

I use them for my Dodgers ..... but every time I go to boat - another one has goine brittle and snapped ... Changed odd ones to white ... same. So went back to black as they don't show so easily ...
 
Re: Welding or ...

[ QUOTE ]
Another reckons Locktite thread lock ... IMHO I wouldn't ... it has CA base and is affected by water / moisture ...

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I've been using Loctite in this way for the past 10 - 15 years, and before I changed to using Crosby shackles, I used to get shackles that had corroded down to half their original diameter in places, but the threads were still in perfect condition. Also, I have seen non-Loctited shackles from neighbouring moorings with no thread left despite far less overall corrosion.
 
Good timely reminder for those lucky enough to still be afloat.

I hope you don’t mind some constructive criticism from someone who has always been on a swinging mooring and never come off (which may be your case as well).

I can’t see why you need two shackles. It looks like one shackle could do the job. There is less to go wrong that way. The only shackle on my mooring is the one on the deck forming the loop. The riser chain is threaded through the ground chain and then through itself.

The seizing wire looks like monel (but I may be wrong). With galvanised shackles it would be better to use galvanised wire or plastic coated wire. Monel is not really very compatible. One strand taken from the support cabling the electricity companies or BT use between their poles is excellent for the job. You can get some from your local depot as they throw the old stuff away.

It would be better to use one turn of thicker seizing wire rather than several turns of thinner wire. Several turns of thin wire will corrode just as fast as one turn of thin wire.
 
Re: Black C/ties ....

Black cable ties secure a plastic tube to my aft rail. It serves as a rod holder. I don't remember when I last put them but it must be 5 or 6 years now. Reason at that time was that I changed the tube for a larger diameter. Had to cut the old ones off with side cutters. Seeing that mine probably get more UV than most of you people up north (UV index 10+ all summer) perhaps there are different grades. Mine are about 8mm wide.
 
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