Mooring ropes

[Allan]

I have to change my mooring ropes and would like some advice. I have a for and aft mooring in fresh water. I want to change the ropes from the chain riser to the boat. I will have to splice a thimble to the riser end and a loop on the boat end. What material should I use?
Allan

 

[temptress]

[ QUOTE ]
.....I want to change the ropes from the chain riser to the boat. .....What material should I use?


[/ QUOTE ]

Chain!

 

[Allan]

I have not thought of that! I think I would need a very large pickup bouy. How do I stop damage to the topsides? I think I'll stick with rope like everyone else.
Allan

 

[bobgoode]

Chain and change it as soon as it shows any wear.

If you must use rope then go for polyester, very thick and put lots of chafe protection and a back up line. Never lost a boat in Brixham outer harbour that way. Mind you I did have a lower riser fail, but thats another story.

 

[jonathankent]

I've too got a fore & aft trot mooring. I've used a 3-strand Liros nylon... 12mm. Mine is only 19' and about 750kg so not too much loading. I have put 2 on either end though... 2 stern cleats so may aswell, and then one from each side of the bow on to the single cleat. I always feed the rope through the cleat and then back over on itself and tighten... can't come off the cleat that way. I haven't had any wear problems, but I am in a fairly sheltered part of the river. I spliced thimbles in the ends and used single shackles to the riser chain - not to the buoy!

What size boat have you got?

You say fresh water, so I presume its on a lake?

 

[pete]

I also have a fore & aft mooring but in salt water, 27`boat and tide runs up to around 3.5 knots on springs but would not use chain on the boat.
I use chain up to the buoy then 2ton lifting strops 2 fore and 2 aft , the eyes are reinforced . They are kind on the hands and the boat.
They are easy to inspect for damage and I have just changed the first set after 6 years but they probably had a good few years life left in them.

Pete

 

[Allan]

The mooring is in Cardiff Bay, so there is no tide just the wind. The worst problem seems to be chaffing so I plan to use pvc hose to reduce this. I will have two ropes ont bow cleats and two onto winches via the stern cleats.
Allan

 

[LadyInBed]

If your fore and aft buoys have eyes on the top, put an eye splice in the mooring line and attach that to the buoy eye with a cow hitch.
I also use 4 lines, one to each 'corner' of the boat, it keeps the lateral movement down when there are strong X winds.

 

[Allan]

The bouys have no rings. I will be splicing thimbles into the bouy end. They are fixed to the chain risers with shackles. I'm mainly after recommendations of what is the best material for the ropes.
Allan

 

[jonathankent]

Nylon for mooring... see here