Just An Observation On Moorings

[epervier]

Went out on the water today, on a work boat with a friend of mine to act as tea maker and a second pair of hands, just for the craic you understand, I enjoy all aspects of boating not just pleasure boating. But I was somewhat surprised, what some people tether their expensive pride and joy to.

Job description, lift and inspect three moorings and report back or replace as needed, as agreed by the clients, first mooring, remove entire ground tackle and replace with new, second mooring lift and inspect, no paperwork for 3 years, this is the shackle from riser to boat and is how it came onto the boat, the mousing is the only thing holding the two parts together, two weeks ago it had a 12 ton motorboat on the end of it. the erosion of the threads is astonishing.

third mooring like the second had no paperwork for three years, and the job entailed replace all the top of the mooring from the swivel,10 meters of chain, new buoy, riser, pickup buoy,two strops,the kelp was over eight feet long and the mussel growth was such you couldn't see the chain.This has a 54' yacht attached to it, when the mussels were beaten off the top five metres of chain were more than 50% eroded.

 

[AndieMac]

Some folks have a real head in the sand mentality regarding moorings.

It's a hard days work on a mooring barge, dragging heavy chain around, working low off the deck, especially if there is a bit a wind about. Those boys earn their money.

 

[epervier]

Some folks have a real head in the sand mentality regarding moorings.

It's a hard days work on a mooring barge, dragging heavy chain around, working low off the deck, especially if there is a bit a wind about. Those boys earn their money.

His words not mine, Quote:- "Yotties are the worst they'll make do with a 50p shackle and some bailing twine and wonder why they lose their boat" I can't write the rest of his description of them

I will add, his tackle is all traceable back to manufacturers, all chain, swivels, and shackles are stamped with their BS no for the use in underwater environment, no B&Q hardware fittings here.The moorings he lays are on his insurance for 1 year, and continues with yearly inspections, and he is an approved moorings contractor, insured with.................GJW.

 

[AndieMac]

We relocated a number of swing moorings prior to a marina build, and because the folks were so good about moving out, a contractor was engaged to lift and service and of course record the new locations.

It's a real eye opener to see what some "boaties".........well, alright then, yachties used to hold their pride and joy in place.
We found old engine blocks, which apparently roll very nicely along the sea bed in a big blow, and just like you corroded/eroded swivels and shackles.

Does your mate use old train wheels as the mains weights Dave?

 

[The Dogs Pollacks Brother]

Replaced ALL of ours this spring.....even added to the ground anchor and we now have 2 massive lumps of concrete burried 1m in the sea bed. We were shocked at the state of the riser though.......shackles were in a very poor state and the chain was not a lot better (added to the concrete blocks now!). Ground chain was ok but it is absolutely massive anyways. Our riser is now 18mm chain with big big shackles where needed.
The old boys at the moorings told us not to worry about galvanised stuff too much as the constant movement and rubbing of the contact points will very quickly wear the galv off anyways.............£300 spent which should do us for 3 years we think,but would be happy with 2 years tbh.
But what cost for peace of mind though eh?

 

[Chrusty 1]

His words not mine, Quote:- "Yotties are the worst they'll make do with a 50p shackle and some bailing twine and wonder why they lose their boat" I can't write the rest of his description of them

I will add, his tackle is all traceable back to manufacturers, all chain, swivels, and shackles are stamped with their BS no for the use in underwater environment, no B&Q hardware fittings here.The moorings he lays are on his insurance for 1 year, and continues with yearly inspections, and he is an approved moorings contractor, insured with.................GJW.

I have to agree, it's mind boggling to see what folk will hang their expensive pride and joys on! I live near a drying out river, so can see some of the abortions that folk think is a mooring, and the tide runs fast here, especially on a big spring. I have "had words" with more than one of these 'erberts, as I don't want their boats breaking free, and clobbering mine. The problem is, that the Harbour boards jurisdiction doesn't cover the area of the moorings, so the only governing factor is us yotties, who have a moan at these people.

We have had a number of break aways over the last few years, fortunately the boats concerned were on fore and aft mooring so one of the mooring lines held, but in the case of the last one, it took him three days to respond to a number of phone calls telling him about the problem, his boat was actually lying against a small angling boat on the flood!

My insurance company would have his guts for garters if his boat damaged mine.

 

[fireball]

His words not mine, Quote:- "Yotties are the worst they'll make do with a 50p shackle and some bailing twine and wonder why they lose their boat" I can't write the rest of his description of them

Blimey - tar with the same brush why don't you ...

We do our own mooring checks - every year - inspecting and replacing chain/shackles as required (I don't know the spec - I'm a winch monkey).

Doesn't stop me worrying when we get a blow come through though ...

 

[Chrusty 1]

Blimey - tar with the same brush why don't you ...

We do our own mooring checks - every year - inspecting and replacing chain/shackles as required (I don't know the spec - I'm a winch monkey).

Doesn't stop me worrying when we get a blow come through though ...

He's right though, some yotties are clueless.

 

[DAKA]

He's right though, some yotties are clueless.

I havent a clue what this thread is about seeing as I havent read it but , I find your comment totally irresponsible Chrusty , you must have known it would have been inflammatory for some , myself included..........











What the hell do you mean 'some'

 

[Chrusty 1]

I havent a clue what this thread is about seeing as I havent read it but , I find your comment totally irresponsible Chrusty , you must have known it would have been inflammatory for some , myself included..........











What the hell do you mean 'some'

I can only offer my most humble apologies

I shall go away now, and crawl naked for a mile over broken glass........

 

[burgundyben]

Went out on the water today, on a work boat with a friend of mine to act as tea maker and a second pair of hands, just for the craic you understand, I enjoy all aspects of boating not just pleasure boating.

I'm the same, from yacht racing to bimbling about on Playtime to rowing a skiff to safety boat driving for the sailing club, messing in boats is messing in boats.

 

[Scarron]

His words not mine, Quote:- "Yotties are the worst they'll make do with a 50p shackle and some bailing twine and wonder why they lose their boat" I can't write the rest of his description of them

I will add, his tackle is all traceable back to manufacturers, all chain, swivels, and shackles are stamped with their BS no for the use in underwater environment, no B&Q hardware fittings here.The moorings he lays are on his insurance for 1 year, and continues with yearly inspections, and he is an approved moorings contractor, insured with.................GJW.

Just as a matter of interest being as mine probably needs servicing and is not a million miles away from where you were working, approximately how much was he charging to replace risers swivels etc on mooring No 2? - I am fore and aft moored in a nearby river.

 

[burgundyben]

probably

??

 

[Scarron]

??

Oh OK - definitely needs servicing..

 

[epervier]

We relocated a number of swing moorings prior to a marina build, and because the folks were so good about moving out, a contractor was engaged to lift and service and of course record the new locations.

It's a real eye opener to see what some "boaties".........well, alright then, yachties used to hold their pride and joy in place.
We found old engine blocks, which apparently roll very nicely along the sea bed in a big blow, and just like you corroded/eroded swivels and shackles.

Does your mate use old train wheels as the mains weights Dave?

In a word yes,those that are prepared to pay for them, they are one of the insurance companies preferences for use as the main anchor in our local gloop, along with sampsons in tandem, or crows foot, and of course ships anchors, mine has a 475kg train wheel but that was 365 + vat on it's own 4 years ago, plus chain, shackles, swivel,riser, riding chain, main and pickup buoys, it ain't a cheap past time this boating nonsense, but as a % of the cost of the boat, a bit of paper saying this is a certified mooring gives peace of mind.

Here's one we prepared earlier, as they say,780kg ships anchor,with all the rest up to 350kg buoy, it isn't what it weighs, it what it can have suspended from it.

 

[epervier]

Just as a matter of interest being as mine probably needs servicing and is not a million miles away from where you were working, approximately how much was he charging to replace risers swivels etc on mooring No 2? - I am fore and aft moored in a nearby river.

I'd rather not say, as it not my business,and I think the mods would take a dim view of touting for customers on their forum, but would happily forward his details in a pm, if you wish.

 

[epervier]

I'm the same, from yacht racing to bimbling about on Playtime to rowing a skiff to safety boat driving for the sailing club, messing in boats is messing in boats.

Totally agree Ben, a bit of banter is OK, stinky verses yottie verses dingy but those jet skiers gotta go