Cost of a swinging mooring

F

firstboat

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Hi all.

New to sailing and looking for a swinging mooring in N Wales.
I have been quoted £900 for tackle / laying the mooring, and £250 a year maintenance after that.

Does this seem a reasonable quote ?
If not could anybody tell me who to contact for a better one ?

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You have not filled in your Bio so we have no idea of the size or type of your boat or where the mooring is. If it is a 60 foot boat the tackle price does not look too bad, if it is 30 fooot I would have guessed £300 to £400 might be about right. If in a cheap area (not South Coast) I would guess £25 to £50 every year to have the mooring lifted and say no more than £150 every 3 years for replacement of tackle, all assiming a 30ft boat. Is the £250 all inclusive maintenance? I would double the prices for South Coast and double again for 60 foot boat. IMHO. If you say where you are someone might be able to recomend a supplier.

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Hi

As you are called FIRSTBOAT I expect you have something around 30 feet or less. Even on teh South Coast (Solent) I would say the price you have been quoted as expensive. Shop around and ask local yachtsmen. I am sure if you ask on this forum and tell us the size and type of yacht, where you want it kept then prices will start winging there way around the cables.

<hr width=100% size=1>Albin Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703
 
OK I actually have not got my first boat yet but I am very inrested in a Sadler 25 fin keel at Portsmouth. The area I have been quoted is at Beaumaris in the Menai in North Wales.

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Hi First Boat,

I have a swinging mooring just to the left of Bangor Pier in the Menai Straits.
It dries on springs so would not be any use for a fin keeler.
I pay an annual "rent" of £275 which includes all upkeep and replacement of ground tackle when needed.

John.

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For a 25 footer the price you quote would be a swingeing mooring . . .

- Nick

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For a 25 footer the price you quote would be a swingeing mooring . . .

- Nick

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What are you getting for your £900? If two huge anchors and loads of really big ground chain then maybe that price can be justified, but maintaining my own mooring for a slightly larger boat I would think nearer half that is more reasonable.

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Location, location, location

Exactly; localities differ and what may be a good mooring for a boat twice your size in a sheltered river with soft muddy banks may be quite inadequate in an exposed bay with a rocky shoreline!

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?
 
Have you considered the do it yourself approach for the swing mooring. You may want to check with the authority for the mooring area but I don't think it is an impossible task. Much dependes on the depth of water at lowest tide and on your own willingness to get into the water. Granted I am in a location where the water doesn't get cold but I am also nudging 60 yo At the quoted prices you could afford a good wet suit and diving gear.
For hardware you need to check out the junk yards etc for reaslly heavy chain. You need about 10 metres of chain with minimum link thickness of half inch. If you can find heavier thats better. don't worry about rust or wear it's a question of lots of metal in the links and weight. You will need 2 anchors. These can be fabricated fisherman type with one fluke or any other large anchors you can get and should dig in at least 2 feet and be say 3 feet long. These are shackled or welded to the heavy chain one at each end. From the centre of the heavy chain you need to shackle a swivel and riser chain to go up to your buoy with a length appropriate to the highest tide expected.
Laying the mooring can be an adventure as the hardware should be heavy but not too heavy for a dinghy . You might consider slinging it under the dinghy on rope from either side. When you are over the mooring site drop it onto the bottom. It will be necessary for you to dive norkel down if it's not to deep to stretch the heavey chain out and bed the anchors into the bottom. The tug of the boat should eventually bed them in properly. Ideally the anchors will lay with one facing the expected worst winds . If you are concerned you can shackle 2 more anchors to0 the centre of the heavy chain on similar heavy chain set at right angles. This will minimise any movement of the mooring. It becomes a question of what chain you can find or afford,. The lighter chain will wear quickly the heavy chain will last longer. MIANTENANCE involves frequent inspection of the shackles and chains for wear like 3 or 4 times per year until you have confidence in how long the chain will last. A chain you might use for an anchor stowed on board might only last a year before it is 50% worn in mooring use hence the need for heavy metal. It can be satisfying to DIY

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There was no initial outlay!

I just pay the annual rent of £275

The chap that lays and owns the moorings also runs the small boat yard on the edge of the shore. The cost also covers his insurance for laying the moorings.

The "rental period" covers April to Sept inc. You can stay on the moorings longer at your own risk - most of the boats stay out until the end of Oct.

He also hauls out and has winter storage for a limited number of boats.

One of the advantages is that he is around the yard for most of everyday and keeps an eye on whats going on and the moorings etc.

There are about 30 boats on "his" moorings in the immediate area and all the yachts are bildge keelers except for one because of drying out on Springs.

My personal rule for safety is to leave or return to the mooring at HW+ or- 3hrs

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