concrete sinker

simon_sluggett

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I recently saw someone near portsmouth using a large concrete disk about 1.5m across and 30 cm thick for a mooring sinker. It was marked with 1200 kg weight and it was probably something to do with civil engineering. Anyone know where I could get something like this or anything else this big and cheaply!!
Thanks
Simon
 

oldsaltoz

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G'day Simon,

Have you contacted any of your local concrete batching plants, most of them make items suitable for moorings or to order, they use the left overs form batches so are happy to get anything for it.

Avagoodweekend......
 

alldownwind

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[ QUOTE ]
there was a thread a while ago that suggested using a tyre as a case/mold...

[/ QUOTE ]
Yep, round here in mud-land such sinkers are commonplace. Suitable size tyre as a mould, a piece of ply or thick plastic sheet underneath, heavy chain or custom-bent heavy steel rod sticking out of the top. Pour in the concrete, hey presto. You can even roll it 'easily' on its rubber-tyre rim. Don't let it overbalance and fall on your foot, though, as I once did as a teenager. Made my eyes water a bit. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

Keith 66

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There are two of them just of the sally army jetty in Benfleet creek, ex WD about 3ft round and high, several people have hit them over the years, you are welcome to pick them up and walk of with them.
 
G

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There is actually a spec to build to and when Tudor Club near Portsmouth relaid theirs - a commercial co. produced them. Looked nicer than our usual poured into mould on slip jobs !

I think someone to do with ARC may have done it ... but most clubs know about making these.

If you go round Langstone and Chichester harbours - you see odd ones laying around slips etc. You may be able to buy one ? Bloody awkward to move though ...

If you do make one ... 2 tips ... a) build a small mound of sand with polythene over in centre under to create a concave underside - this aids suction in the mud .. b) as well as substantial chain / eye through centre for mooring ground chain .. bend some snaller gauge bar to make 4 lifting rings embedded into side equi-spaced around .. much better to lift it with as then it doesn't swing / revolve so much etc.
 

kds

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Crikey ..."It was marked with 1200 kg weight "... I think 1,2 tons would suit the QE2. Have you got a boat suitable to carry it and lower it over the side ? Or stern ?
Our club has daily 4 knot tides and 8m. rise and we use a tenth of this for boats up to 40ft.
Other suggestions above re tyres are practical ones.
Ken
 

William_H

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As I see it, it is more a question of how to move it. Sure you can pay for a truck to deliver to the water side but then you have to get it to location in the water.
You can lift some reasonable weight but supending under a yacht using 2 jib sheet winches but you have to be carefull where the ropes go over the gunwhale. And of course you can only lift from a place where the watr is deep enough to get the boat over it.
If you have availbale a mooring barge lifter then no problem and if you are going to lift it for inspection you will need a lifter.
If you can get a diver to check it out you will often find in an old moring area lots of suitable weights which can be either moved or left in place and linked by chain to your location.

The most common approach around here is to dive on the mooring. The water is a lot warmer and clear. if you can dive yourself or have a friend then the cost of transportation and manouvring of a concrete weight becomes significant compared to alternatives for mooring which you can DIY.
These can be a collection of weights (each manageable) which are chained together with or without home made or store bought anchors. See my previous posts for more on DIY moorings and anchors olewill
 

penultimate

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Much depends on the nature of the bottom. I use sinkers of this specification which we have found necessary where the bottom is firm. In soft mud a much lighter sinker will suffice and in some instances my mooring barge with a 5 ton lifting capacity cannot lift even small sinkers unless we use a compressed air blow to release the suction. c.f. walking in welly boots in mud.
 

Boots

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It was probably a pre cast concrete manhole cover, often called a "biscuit". They come in various sizes/diameters 1000mm to 2400mm, light and heavy duty. You can get them through builders merchants, but not all carry them in stock, unless they have a "heavy side".

Cost can be about £50 upwards, but the transport could double that.

Also handling it could be a problem! The're heavy!
 
G

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My 25ft Motor-sailer ... I used to move sinkers around for the club at odd times ...

Used to get over the block at lowest possible tide ... rope up and let tide lift boat and block. When LW - we used to dig round it to help break suction - even digging out one side and tipping the block slightly.

The boat used to go bow down alarmingly and then WHOOSH the block would come free ... the block suprisingly once free and suspended in the water only pulled the trim a bit .. and moved easily. Once in place ... it was slack away and at LW dig it in.

Ours were easily near 1 ton - some probably over. But that weight is in air ...
 
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