Mooring question... swivel or not??

[Captain Crisp]

Hi,
I have a rather strange mooring. It has a huge (3inch thick) rope loop that doesn't reach on deck. At the moment I just loop two large ropes around it. There doesn't appear to be a swivel anywhere and my ropes end up quite twisted.
What should I do? It's a very tidal location so the boat will be going round and round... Will a swivel even fit round that rope?
Thanks,
Crisp

 

[vyv_cox]

In moorings I am familiar with the swivel is at the bottom of the riser. All the Menai Strait moorings were like that.

 

[Captain Crisp]

Maybe it's not working?

 

[Robin]

In moorings I am familiar with the swivel is at the bottom of the riser. All the Menai Strait moorings were like that.

Or at the top end of riser chain with strops attached to that., what we used to in Poole, reduces sandblasting effect when swivel lays in mud plus then is easier to inspect.

 

[Graham376]

In moorings I am familiar with the swivel is at the bottom of the riser. All the Menai Strait moorings were like that.

The Conwy ones had the swivel on the chain where passed through the top of the buoy. Ours here is as you describe, between chain and riser which seems the most common. It doesn't stop our strops winding occasionally if there hasn't been enough wind to stretch the mooring.

Keep wondering what the effect would be, if any, if I moved the swivel to the top of the riser where it's easier to inspect?

 

[TernVI]

Shackle a swivel to the rope eye above the buoy. Then splice your mooring line to the top of the swivel.
Obviously care will be needed to avoid chafing the rope loop.
Cover the swivel with something to stop it touching the bow of the boat when wind is against tide. An old fender with the bottom cut off is one choice.
Not all moorings need swivels, but if your ropes are twisting, you do.

Assuming the rest of the mooring is known to be sound of course.

 

[Catalina36]

Introduce a swivel between the buoy and your bridle, but that bridle should be chain not rope. The swivel needs to go on the shackle on the buoy, not on the thick rope.

Rope can chafe through in a single night in a blow and a chop.

 

[Laser310]

Is that white-beige material an anti-chafe covering?

if so, what kind of line are you using inside it?

the bridle is kind of short

I have found that in tidal locations, it's hard to get a setup that doesn't keep a few twists, even with a swivel - perhaps my setup was defective too though... i had a big problem, because i have a bulb keel, and the chain/rope riser would wrap around the keel, and did not drop off.

One thing you could do is have a big fat dyneema bridle made up - these don't mind twisting as much as other line. There is less friction and chafe against the other side of the bridle, and internally as well, when it twists.

edit - i see catalina above has recommended a chain bridle - i would much rather have a dyneema bridle - dyneema does not chafe badly.., assuming the lead and everything is okay

 

[Graham376]

Rope can chafe through in a single night in a blow and a chop.

Just changed my twin 24mm rope bridle, it's lasted 3 years and still looks OK. Wouldn't have chain near it.