Dragging Mooring

[Porthandbuoy]

Sheolin has dragged her mooring.
It happened quite quickly. One moment everything looked okay, the next she went stern first a couple of hundred yards up the loch, before coming to a halt too close for comfort to the shore (gravel & moderate size stones)
She's still afloat, albeit in shallower water, but there's still four hours of flood left.
Nothing much I can do. Far too rough to risk a dinghy trip.

 

[footsoldier]

Obviously that's very worrying. Do you know the mooring's service history?

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Obviously that's very worrying. Do you know the mooring's service history?

Yes: Annually, with receipts.

 

[awol]

Sheolin has dragged her mooring.
It happened quite quickly. One moment everything looked okay, the next she went stern first a couple of hundred yards up the loch, before coming to a halt too close for comfort to the shore (gravel & moderate size stones)
She's still afloat, albeit in shallower water, but there's still four hours of flood left.
Nothing much I can do. Far too rough to risk a dinghy trip.

I feel for you! Aren't there any work boats in the area. Even the Modplod might be contacted.

 

[Neeves]

Who specified the size of the mooring? On what basis was the size of mooring defined.

If the mooring was defined by a mooring contractor who also services the mooring then they have a responsibility, part of which would be to support you NOW. They should have insurance covering such events.

Contact them, NOW.

It sounds as if you need a bigger mooring.

 

[[2574]]

Sheolin has dragged her mooring.
It happened quite quickly. One moment everything looked okay, the next she went stern first a couple of hundred yards up the loch, before coming to a halt too close for comfort to the shore (gravel & moderate size stones)
She's still afloat, albeit in shallower water, but there's still four hours of flood left.
Nothing much I can do. Far too rough to risk a dinghy trip.

Ouch. How is the mooring anchored? Concrete block? Railway train wheel? Anchors? It’s pretty wild here on the Clyde.

 

[awol]

Wind is dropping. You should be able to get out but take a friend. There is plenty of time to worry about your mooring once the boat is safe.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Wind is easing. I've been taking bearings since I first posted and she looks okay for now. Just hope I can get out before low water.

 

[dunedin]

Contact the Coastguard ASAP. Though not risk to life, it might be that the RNLI - or one of the many tugs etc in Gareloch - would be happy to help avoid the boat running ashore. Good exercise if nothing else.
Wishing you a happy outcome from such a worrying predicament.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

All sorted. The wind eased and I was able to row out and move Sheolin to a yard mooring, FOC for the next month. The mooring will be upgraded next spring.
It was a couple of hours shy of the top of the tide when I clambered aboard. When Sheolin sheered with her stern towards the shore she had 2.5m below the keel (3.2m tide today). I don't think she touched bottom when she dragged, but I'll be checking for that when she's hauled out for the winter.

Thanks all for the words of comfort and advice.

 

[dunedin]

Brilliant - glad you had a happy outcome

 

[LadyInBed]

When you got aboard, I assume you just dropped the mooring and moved to the yard mooring.
It will be interesting to hear what caused your mooring to drag.

 

[Daydream believer]

Ouch. How is the mooring anchored? Concrete block? Railway train wheel? Anchors? It’s pretty wild here on the Clyde.

If it was a wheel off a train, it may have been the wrong type. I would recommend driving wheels off a 4, 6, 4 for gravel, & mud . But in any even NEVER use an underground train wheel. Has anyone done tests ?

 

[Porthandbuoy]

When you got aboard, I assume you just dropped the mooring and moved to the yard mooring.
It will be interesting to hear what caused your mooring to drag.

Not enough wagon wheels. Lots of windage.

 

[awol]

Glad she's safe. Wagon Wheels are a lot smaller now compared when I was young!

 

[Boathook]

Was that location after dragging ?

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Was that location after dragging ?

No. Sitting in 11m at low water springs approx 120 yards offshore. Ended up in 4m with 2 hours of flood left.

 

[Neeves]

Any chance of further info on the mooring.

I ask because, normally, moorings rely on weight (and maybe physical size). As the yacht is moved around by wind and tide the mooring device, block, anchors (commonly Danforth types set in an opposing pattern) in your case steel wheels - sink into the seabed and their holding increases as they bury.

If your mooring had been serviced recently the lump on the seabed would not have had much opportunity to sink (to sink they need a bit of movement). I go and watch our mooring being serviced - they lift the blocks with the riser rope. The tension is taken up and, like our practice to tension the rode and allow time and chop to break the anchor free, they then sit tight until the movement of the work barge breaks the block free.

So I am interested.

I note you will use a yard mooring - presumably the same technology as your mooring .... ?? and will not be moved, until after the winter, back to your own mooring. I assume the yard mooring is rated higher than you own mooring.

Not enough wagon wheels. Lots of windage.

I don't see your yacht having much windage.

This is our mooring



It weighs about a ton. This is a standard mooring in and around Sydney. The chain lies on the seabed and there is a lighter chain, about 4m of 3/4" chain that is a sweeper chain, then a rope riser. The operator is holding the riser.

Our cat is in the distance behind the operators back. We dragged our mooring in strong wind about 50m and now have two such blocks. Our mooring had been recently serviced when it dragged. Our cat has a windage a bit less than the near by yacht in the picture, the one on the left, which is 50'.

Jonathan

 

[Porthandbuoy]

@Neeves
My mooring consists of a single railway wagon wheel, circa 200kg I believe, with a length of heavy stud-link chain threaded through it; not sure how long that is. I think that would be what you refer to as the ‘sweeper’. The stud-link chain is shackled to another length of chain, somewhat greater than the max tidal range, followed by a rope riser to the buoy. This ensures there is no chance of the rope abrading on the sea floor.
The bottom is a layer of shell and stone on hard grey clay. When I’ve watched my mooring being lifted it’s always been clean, so I don’t think it sinks into the clay much, if at all.
Next year there will be TWO waggon wheels.

 

[Neeves]

@Neeves
My mooring consists of a single railway wagon wheel, circa 200kg I believe, with a length of heavy stud-link chain threaded through it; not sure how long that is. I think that would be what you refer to as the ‘sweeper’. The stud-link chain is shackled to another length of chain, somewhat greater than the max tidal range, followed by a rope riser to the buoy. This ensures there is no chance of the rope abrading on the sea floor.
The bottom is a layer of shell and stone on hard grey clay. When I’ve watched my mooring being lifted it’s always been clean, so I don’t think it sinks into the clay much, if at all.
Next year there will be TWO waggon wheels.

Just reassure your self about the yard mooring - that it has 2 wheels, or more.

Jonathan