Cameron
New member
How often should I be having a mooring serviced on the west coast of scotland? Is this an annual event?
Many thanks in advance.
Many thanks in advance.
Mooring Servicing
- Thread starter Cameron
- Start date
MacW
Member
regretfully,yes,usually every year,although some leave it for 2 years. depends on wear and tear, heavy boat, local squalls,tideway etc, and quality of components. There are a couple of people servicing moorings in the area. can`t remember who they are but if you phone the Kames hotel in the West Kyle or maybe Rothesay harbour office I`m sure they`ll put you on to somebody. Price? - No idea.
cheers
Pete.
cheers
Pete.
cerro
New member
Round the Clyde Kieth 01369 830121
William_H
Well-known member
Moorings fail mostly from wear/rust of the chain and shackle links. The best way to extend the life of the chain/shackles is to start with more metal ie heavier chain and shackles. So a mooring will be safe for a period between inspections that depends on the weight of the gear. Usually (hopefully) the chain is heavier at the bottom and lighter near the bouy. So you should keep an eye on the condition of what chain you can see. Of course the lighter chain may have been replaced more recently and the heavier chain may be well worn.
From my experiences a 5/16 inch (diameter of metal in the links) chain is barely good for 12 months from new. The problem being that the galvanising wears off where the links rub which promotes rust which occurs fast because the protective layer of rust is immediately worn off.
You should get your mooring inspected ASAP. Get the diver (or is it lifted?) to give you a detailed report of the size of the chain, swivels and shackles and the degree of wear. ( a 5/8 inch chain may go down to half thickness and still be ok for another year but a 5/16 chain half worn may not last many months.) This report coupled with another report say in 12 months tie will give you an idea of what sort of period you can safely expect. If any chain is replaced try to provide it yourself from a scrap yard and get really heavy stuff. good luck olewill
From my experiences a 5/16 inch (diameter of metal in the links) chain is barely good for 12 months from new. The problem being that the galvanising wears off where the links rub which promotes rust which occurs fast because the protective layer of rust is immediately worn off.
You should get your mooring inspected ASAP. Get the diver (or is it lifted?) to give you a detailed report of the size of the chain, swivels and shackles and the degree of wear. ( a 5/8 inch chain may go down to half thickness and still be ok for another year but a 5/16 chain half worn may not last many months.) This report coupled with another report say in 12 months tie will give you an idea of what sort of period you can safely expect. If any chain is replaced try to provide it yourself from a scrap yard and get really heavy stuff. good luck olewill
GMac
New member
Don't dive on moorings, you can't tell sweet FA as to the condition of the chains especially if there is any growth on them. Not to mention some insurance companies expressly forbit diving.
Don't use galvanised chain on anything that is permently immersed. Quite often the galvanising can accelerate the chain 'wasting'. Eerr.. strange you say?. Galvanising is designed to fizz off to protect the chain below. While doing this a very small electric current is generated. It is far from un-common for the galvanising to dissappear in spots and this current carry on working on the unprotected bit hence faster wasting.
That is beside the fact the deeper you go the less Oxygen there is and rust needs oxygen to happen. You will also find rust is not a major issue when talking mooring failures. 50% of mooring failures are chafe and 45% are wear. The last 5% covers the weird and wonderfull, rust falls into this bit.
Willian H, no disrespect but Aussies do have lots of failures due to believing their major chain manufacturer recommendations and fitting small galvanised chains. A subject I and the boss there discuss often
Big and Black is the way to go i.e big chain lasts longer and black being not galvanised.
We look after a few moorings (1 of the 2 that cover 6500 of them) and the only bit of chain smaller than 16mm is the bit from the buoy to the boat i.e where it is very visable. We check them once every 3 years and have the smallest amount of claims in Australasia according to one big Insurance company. Sydney Harbour has the most.
PS. Isn't it sad that I know my spelling is very dodgy but I just can't figure out where. I know it's there somewhere
Don't use galvanised chain on anything that is permently immersed. Quite often the galvanising can accelerate the chain 'wasting'. Eerr.. strange you say?. Galvanising is designed to fizz off to protect the chain below. While doing this a very small electric current is generated. It is far from un-common for the galvanising to dissappear in spots and this current carry on working on the unprotected bit hence faster wasting.
That is beside the fact the deeper you go the less Oxygen there is and rust needs oxygen to happen. You will also find rust is not a major issue when talking mooring failures. 50% of mooring failures are chafe and 45% are wear. The last 5% covers the weird and wonderfull, rust falls into this bit.
Willian H, no disrespect but Aussies do have lots of failures due to believing their major chain manufacturer recommendations and fitting small galvanised chains. A subject I and the boss there discuss often
Big and Black is the way to go i.e big chain lasts longer and black being not galvanised.
We look after a few moorings (1 of the 2 that cover 6500 of them) and the only bit of chain smaller than 16mm is the bit from the buoy to the boat i.e where it is very visable. We check them once every 3 years and have the smallest amount of claims in Australasia according to one big Insurance company. Sydney Harbour has the most.
PS. Isn't it sad that I know my spelling is very dodgy but I just can't figure out where. I know it's there somewhere
AndCur
Member
Hi
Were I moor in Groomsport there is an alarming rate of mooring failures which
can easily be put down to lack of servicing and cheap shackles. In my view the only shackles that should be used are the BS stamped tested one's. Its all vital that these are properly tightened and lockwired etc. I replace the shackles on my mooring every season the the chain every second year just for piece of mind.
Cheers
Andrew
Were I moor in Groomsport there is an alarming rate of mooring failures which
can easily be put down to lack of servicing and cheap shackles. In my view the only shackles that should be used are the BS stamped tested one's. Its all vital that these are properly tightened and lockwired etc. I replace the shackles on my mooring every season the the chain every second year just for piece of mind.
Cheers
Andrew
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Mooring Servicing ... one of the biggest errors ...
Is where people mix the materials ....
It is generally advised by HM's in UK etc. that Galvanized or second choice is Black metal gear used. Stainless is usually frowned on as absolutely no indication of when it will give way.
Galvanized will visibly deteriorate and is obvious when needs replacing ... Black will also.
The comments about "fizzing" are accepted ... but I prefer that to other scenario of not knowing when it wil fail.
Back to mixing ... I have seen moorings where Galv or black has been used on ground / swivels etc. and then stainless up to boat ... owner saying he doesn't want rust stains on deck etc. or he says he believes SS to last better etc. Then he wonders why hes replacing bits more often than matey next to him with his Galv / Black stuff ...
Moral is never mix the materials ---- all Galv or all Black and sorry it's my view - Never Stainless.
Oh - nearly forgot ... as most buoy fittings etc. are galv - best to stick with galv and accept the "fizzing " .....
I know Gmac - you service moorings ... so have I in the past - but thats another story !!
Is where people mix the materials ....
It is generally advised by HM's in UK etc. that Galvanized or second choice is Black metal gear used. Stainless is usually frowned on as absolutely no indication of when it will give way.
Galvanized will visibly deteriorate and is obvious when needs replacing ... Black will also.
The comments about "fizzing" are accepted ... but I prefer that to other scenario of not knowing when it wil fail.
Back to mixing ... I have seen moorings where Galv or black has been used on ground / swivels etc. and then stainless up to boat ... owner saying he doesn't want rust stains on deck etc. or he says he believes SS to last better etc. Then he wonders why hes replacing bits more often than matey next to him with his Galv / Black stuff ...
Moral is never mix the materials ---- all Galv or all Black and sorry it's my view - Never Stainless.
Oh - nearly forgot ... as most buoy fittings etc. are galv - best to stick with galv and accept the "fizzing " .....
I know Gmac - you service moorings ... so have I in the past - but thats another story !!
bilbobaggins
N/A
A small point to add....
Some years ago, on passage up north, we arrived off a well-known sailing centre with a dead engine rather late at night and well-tired, picked up a big, solid-looking mooring 'fit for a frigate', in a line of occupied moorings, and turned in. In the morning, it was blowing hard, and we prepared to move on. The pick-up line was a polyprop rope with a spliced eye, as thick as your arm, which had been dropped over the foredeck bits, then lashed closed. Bombproof!
The two of us were on the foredeck, just preparing a slip line through the spliced eye and over the bows ( the eye being too big to run through our bow roller ). I lifted this big loop clear of the bits, to ease it forward and clear, and it disintegrated into fragments in my hands!
Oh, yes, we got the headsail on her PDQ before we 'encountered' those astern of us, and got clear - but not without an adrenalin rush.....
Another sharp learning moment.
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Some years ago, on passage up north, we arrived off a well-known sailing centre with a dead engine rather late at night and well-tired, picked up a big, solid-looking mooring 'fit for a frigate', in a line of occupied moorings, and turned in. In the morning, it was blowing hard, and we prepared to move on. The pick-up line was a polyprop rope with a spliced eye, as thick as your arm, which had been dropped over the foredeck bits, then lashed closed. Bombproof!
The two of us were on the foredeck, just preparing a slip line through the spliced eye and over the bows ( the eye being too big to run through our bow roller ). I lifted this big loop clear of the bits, to ease it forward and clear, and it disintegrated into fragments in my hands!
Oh, yes, we got the headsail on her PDQ before we 'encountered' those astern of us, and got clear - but not without an adrenalin rush.....
Another sharp learning moment.
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Neil_M
New member
Re: Mooring Servicing ... one of the biggest errors ...
All the discussion centres on chain. My local yard (hence the mooring I currently rent) uses no chain & deploys a short scope of thick polyprop only from a big mud anchor. This seems to be against all the good practice I've read here & elsewhere, yet I've never known any boat come to grief on these moorings, even back in '87. Opinions?
All the discussion centres on chain. My local yard (hence the mooring I currently rent) uses no chain & deploys a short scope of thick polyprop only from a big mud anchor. This seems to be against all the good practice I've read here & elsewhere, yet I've never known any boat come to grief on these moorings, even back in '87. Opinions?
Aja
Well-known member
Kames Hotel have new owners and their moorings are unlikely to be top of their list at the moment.
I can confirm that their moorings are services by Neil Cunningham of Cunningham moorings in Toward.
Phone number : 01369 870334
There are plenty of mooring suppliers in the Clyde area. A call to your local Sailing Club will give you a background to who is used in your area.
It all depends where you are. Neil will lift the mooring for inspection on request. Otherwise will lift to clean bouy etc onlyu and dive to check rest of mooring.
Regards
Donald
I can confirm that their moorings are services by Neil Cunningham of Cunningham moorings in Toward.
Phone number : 01369 870334
There are plenty of mooring suppliers in the Clyde area. A call to your local Sailing Club will give you a background to who is used in your area.
It all depends where you are. Neil will lift the mooring for inspection on request. Otherwise will lift to clean bouy etc onlyu and dive to check rest of mooring.
Regards
Donald
jaycee
New member
hi,please be very careful with plastic thimbles.from my own experience they can crack easily especially as in my case they are just below the mooring bouy and are subject to uv light just below the surface. i now only use metal ones.
stevebrassett
Well-known member
Re: Mooring Servicing ... one of the biggest errors ...
The moorings supplied by my boatyard seem to be all rope, although I've never lifted one to see how far doen the rope goes.
The moorings supplied by my boatyard seem to be all rope, although I've never lifted one to see how far doen the rope goes.
ex-Gladys
Well-known member
Re: Mooring Servicing ... one of the biggest errors ...
....in West MErsea moorings are laid differently to elsewhere, with the anchors and connecting bit going across the channel. Certainly at low tide it appears most of the connectors are big rope, and the risers are chain
....in West MErsea moorings are laid differently to elsewhere, with the anchors and connecting bit going across the channel. Certainly at low tide it appears most of the connectors are big rope, and the risers are chain
Mirelle
N/A
Re: Mooring Servicing ... one of the biggest errors ...
I seem to recall that one otherb place where they are laid across the channel is Orford. It is a brave man who anchors amid the moorings there!
I seem to recall that one otherb place where they are laid across the channel is Orford. It is a brave man who anchors amid the moorings there!
michael_w
Well-known member
Re: Mooring Servicing ... one of the biggest errors ...
I heard that the moorings in Falmouth are all on a wire grid system. Probably a load of old balderdash.
I heard that the moorings in Falmouth are all on a wire grid system. Probably a load of old balderdash.
twisterkai
New member
Re: Mooring Servicing ... one of the biggest errors ...
Not heard that one before. Whenever I've seen moorings being serviced in Falmouth they all appear to be self contained bits of kit. The only exception, afaik, are the small craft moorings at the top of the Penryn river, where it's very sheltered with boats generally no larger than 20'.
Not heard that one before. Whenever I've seen moorings being serviced in Falmouth they all appear to be self contained bits of kit. The only exception, afaik, are the small craft moorings at the top of the Penryn river, where it's very sheltered with boats generally no larger than 20'.
G
Guest
Guest
The grid system ...
When made up of squared areas of chain ... anchored down at intervals ....... it becomes a very good and secure system Hillhead Sailing Club had this in Titchfield haven ... with each boat between fore and aft risers .. a line between with floats on .........
It allows a far greater number of boats to be secured in a given area .. and in a sheltered haven - is a marvelous way of cramming them in - getting max. potential.
But it must be maintained well and is about the only one mooring system I know that is dictated and actually serviced by the club fully ... in that immediate locale that is .. (before others jump on me !!)
When made up of squared areas of chain ... anchored down at intervals ....... it becomes a very good and secure system Hillhead Sailing Club had this in Titchfield haven ... with each boat between fore and aft risers .. a line between with floats on .........
It allows a far greater number of boats to be secured in a given area .. and in a sheltered haven - is a marvelous way of cramming them in - getting max. potential.
But it must be maintained well and is about the only one mooring system I know that is dictated and actually serviced by the club fully ... in that immediate locale that is .. (before others jump on me !!)
GMac
New member
[ QUOTE ]
Hi
Were I moor in Groomsport there is an alarming rate of mooring failures which
can easily be put down to lack of servicing and cheap shackles. In my view the only shackles that should be used are the BS stamped tested one's. Its all vital that these are properly tightened and lockwired etc. I replace the shackles on my mooring every season the the chain every second year just for piece of mind.
Cheers
Andrew
[/ QUOTE ]
Surprisingly the cheaper shackles seem to last longer than the tested. We suspect it is due to the lack of clean metal in the cheapies.
The key thing is use the BIGGEST that will fit. If this means a 32mm in 20mm chain so be it. The best way to secure them is weld the buggers. Obviously this is not easily done at times.
Hi
Were I moor in Groomsport there is an alarming rate of mooring failures which
can easily be put down to lack of servicing and cheap shackles. In my view the only shackles that should be used are the BS stamped tested one's. Its all vital that these are properly tightened and lockwired etc. I replace the shackles on my mooring every season the the chain every second year just for piece of mind.
Cheers
Andrew
[/ QUOTE ]
Surprisingly the cheaper shackles seem to last longer than the tested. We suspect it is due to the lack of clean metal in the cheapies.
The key thing is use the BIGGEST that will fit. If this means a 32mm in 20mm chain so be it. The best way to secure them is weld the buggers. Obviously this is not easily done at times.
Birdseye
Well-known member
Does anybody know an outfit who service moorings in the Bristol channel?
Cameron
New member
Thanks for all of this. Have had the mooring serviced this year and will keep up annually in the future.
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