Marina berth v swinging mooring....

[zaragozo]

Times is 'ard so I am close to giving up my marina berth and moving to a swinging mooring. The mooring has just been laid, and is costing the same as a years marina fee but is freehold and mine in perpetuity.
It's in a more benign, easier to get out and away spot, with neglible currents and close to better shore facilities and several hostelries. It's a 25 minute drive from home (instead on an hour to the marina) and so apart from the hassle of outboarding to and from the boat it seems to be a no-brainer. Except I'm a little concerned that the mooring is chained onto what the HM calls a 'huge big ship chain' which is laid in a long length and is also connected to half a dozen more moorings. He assures me that it'll cope with up to a 40 footer, etc, etc. I was really expecting the mooring to be independent and chained onto a huge block of concrete or big metal lump etc...
Am I right to be worried? Surely this big chain could be pulled out of position by 6 boats hanging on to it in a big blow? I'd welcome any comments from swinging mooring experts (so to speak)...

 

[wotayottie]

no - I dont think so. Just make sure you are properly insured. More likely to have trouble with security I would have thought

 

[Iota]

not an expert but a recent convert to a swinging mooring. The set-up you describe is not uncommon and appears to work. The only problem I have seen but not in my location is where the chain system allows them to be laid closer together and a mobo and sail clashed as the mobo has different swing characteristics!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Searush]

mooring floor chain

This is a very common technique as it allows accurate spacing in a restricted area. You can also lay several parallel such chains & get an accurately spaced matrix of moorings. Individual weights can shift, a continous chain is less likely to shift & even if it did all the moorings remain at fixed distances. Much of the effectiveness of an anchor comes from the weight of chain on the ground, you have a reall big, solid chain down there & it will probably have one really big weight at each end.

Individual moorings tend to be placed by individual ownerss in relatively uncontrolled areas. Some moorings will be good, others virtually ineffective. Spacings are variable & may change with poorer set ups.

Just sitting on your mooring before or after a trip (or even instead of a trip if the weather is poor) is 100 times better than a marina berth. Less social activity, but much more peace & tranquility. I wouldn't ever consider a marina unless I was so old & infirm that I needed steps to get aboard!

 

[ytd]

we once had a mooring made from a length of railway track shackled to 5m of ships chain. It was too heavy for any of the local barges to lift so a diver would inspect it annually. Eventually it had to be mooved because of new moorings in the area. When a tug finaly lifted it the rail track was no where to be seen. The chain alone had held our 7 ton boat through some big blows.

After many years on a mooring a marina berth is luxury. No stuffing about with the dinghy and no running out of water or batteries.

 

[Searush]

(cut)

After many years on a mooring a marina berth is luxury. No stuffing about with the dinghy and no running out of water or batteries.

Now that's just bad planning innit?
How would you cope with a western isles cruise, or one around southern ireland, where marinas ar widely spaced & most stopovers are in deserted anchorages/