Mooring Chain Size

[ydraigcoch]

Firstly hi to everyone (Im new)

I was wandering if you could help me? I am new to owning a boat and am about to put my boat into the water for the season. It's Mooring is a 3 point system using a Bow chain and a Y piece on the stern which is a mix of Rope & Chain.

My Boat is a 21ft Sailing boat (4 berth). Could anyone tell me what the minimum size of chain I should use for the Bow chain? This is to be connected to a Pier then up to my boat.

Many Thanks for your advice

 

[VicS]

5/16" in a very sheltered location perhaps, otherwise 3/8".
Not sure what you man by "connected to a pier" but normally with a sinker one would also use a length of very heavy chain on the sinker with the riser shackled to that.

If your stem head fitting will accommodate a larger chain than 3/8" then use the heaviest possible esp in an exposed location.

Harbour authorities often have rules that cover chain sizes so it would be wise to consult them.

 

[Cliveshep]

I don't know the rules and regs where you moor, but I'd have thought that a length of warp between chain and boat would be kinder to the boat and your foredeck bollard if there is any liklehood of snatching due to wind or wave action.

 

[Searush]

Pointless asking here - it is so dependant on where you moor. I presume you are Cymraeg, just find out what the locals do. There will probably be a local boatman who will sort it all out for you at a reasonable charge, especially if you are local yourself -us English sometimes get "special rates" ;-).

Even if you prefer to do it yourself, take heed of what the locals do, they will know what works & how to do at minimum cost.

 

[misterg]

[ QUOTE ]
...I presume you are Cymraeg...

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think so - (s)he would be YDdraigGoch if (s)he's Cymraeg /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Hello, by the way (not you Searush! the OP).

If I were to guess, I would say you're mooring in Aberaeron?

A bit more information would help get more advice (but I think VicS has already answered the original question).

Andy

 

[ydraigcoch]

Thanks for the replies,

For those who are interested I am Welsh. And just because my user name is not punctually correct, it doesn't mean I'm not.

Anyway, my boat is actually moored in the River Forth in Burntisland Harbour. The Mooring is fairly sheltered, although the boats do get bounced about a bit when a motor moat (tugs, or pilot boats) come into the harbour.

The Mooring chain is looped around an old pier leg. it the runs on the sea bed and up to my boat. A bow bouy is attached to this chain in order to retrieve it. The chain length is to be approx 14m.

The reason I ask, is that I have got myself some 6mm Galv chain (free be), and I was wandering if it would be man enough.

Misterg, where abouts in N. Wales are you from? I am also from N. Wales, although am now living in Bonnie Scotland.

 

[misterg]

Sorry, no offence intended re: spelling /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

PM sent regarding other question (look for flashing red flag on the top of the forums).

I would think 1/4" is OK for an anchor chain, but the trouble is it would get worn quite quickly as a permanent mooring chain, and to me, at least, there doesn't seem like enough 'meat' on 1/4" to allow for this.

Andy

 

[Refueler]

6mm would be a minimum size IMHO. 3/8 ( 9,5 - 10mm) is better and more usual for riding chains.

At least using galvanized - you have one of the correct materials and can see corrosion and wasting of the chain - so to be able to change when needed.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Quote: The reason I ask, is that I have got myself some 6mm Galv chain (free be), and I was wandering if it would be man enough.
_____________________________

Aha, now the underlying question emerges!

Welcome!

The chain is unquestionably ok for the job, in the short term, and a few questions locally will confirm this. Be sure the terms of your mooring don't make stipulations on gear size that invalidate your tenure.

But the thing with all chain is wear and corrosion - it's easy to regard it as almost permanent! You will have to raise it a couple of times a year to check it out and ensure the weaker links are sorted - and not with bang-together bits of tomfoolery!

If the local view is that wear is a big factor thereabouts - cos of the nature of the bed etc - you might want to hunt around for something a bit meatier, otherwise you may not make it past two seasons before you get concerned about link wastage!

PWG

 

[VicS]

I would not be happy with 1/4" chain. It may be OK for an anchor chain(Mine is 1/4") but not for a mooring chain.

I think you should use something much heavier around the pier leg and a little beyond. Then 3/8", maybe 5/16", chain as the riser. Our moorings have several feet (12? ) of, I think, 1" chain on the bottom and then, in my case, a riser of 3/8" chain.

 

[Billjratt]

Your small chain will become a shadow of its former self quite quickly - and it only takes one link to fail....

Do you have the place to yourself?
If not, copy the (sucessful) moorings of others.
Normally there are minimum criteria stipulated by the locals (an association?) in order to protect their boats from yours.

 

[NormanS]

Hi, I live there, and used to keep a boat in that bit of the harbour. You really want some quite heavy chain round the pile, and at least halfway to the boat, with rope from there to the boat. Light chain like 6mm can break with snatching from SW'ly sea coming in, or wash from the pilot boat Alternatively you could hang a weight on the chain, but best ask others at the Sailing Club.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Have a look see what others do nearby. Do they have some form of shock absorbtion for when it gets rough. Chain will wear with constant movement of the boat. Check all of it fairly often. It may pay to double up with rope/warp if you cannot check it often. With rope you need to protect from constant chafing and to pass it through smooth rounded fixings and possibly inside a plastic pipe through eyes, rings, fairleads, is worth considering. Thanks goodness I'm on a swinging mooring and the tackle belongs to the boatyard!

 

[vyv_cox]

Here's some 6 mm chain used as a mooring for a small motorboat, after two seasons. The worn area was where it was in contact with the bottom.

For your boat 6 mm is probably fine for an anchor warp. For a mooring you need to consider that the chain will be in constant motion, producing ideal conditions for corrosive wear, which is what the photo shows. I know of a boat that was overwintered in a relatively exposed location, the new 1/2 inch pick-up chain wore right through by March.

I would recommend at least 3/8 inch chain for this job. It has little to do with the size of the boat, although that is clearly a factor. Even 1/2 inch would not be too much, with either lighter chain or heavy rope for the pick-up section, i.e. above the buoy.