Mooring

[Petercatterall]

I've done a search on this, couldn't find anything relavant although I'm sure I have read reams on this forum (when I didn't need the info so it didn't sink in)
Assuming that the kind HM at Conwy finds me a mooring and assuming that somehow self and My Sheralee find our way from Ardrossan to Wales next year... what do I do when I get there??
Somehow I have to pick up the mooring and then secure the old tub with just one rope (is it a rope ?) so she will be safe whatever the elements throw at her. After years in a sheltered marina with lines like knitting wool all around this seems a risky buisness!!
Picking up the mooring is often disscussed but any tips on method single handed and from a whellhouse? The wheelhouse is low so I can just about lean out and possibly hook the bouy but not to easy.
What is the best rope/chain system to use? I guess that the line would use the anchor fairlead but then should I divide it to pass either side of the windlass to the port and starboard cleats or what? could I use chain (with a snubber) just onto the deck then a rope harness to each cleat. Rope/chain sizes are another concern as are methods of minimising wear.
Your advice most welcome and highly valued as always.
(boat is a 32 foot Colvic Atlanta)

 

[pvb]

Foolproof pick-up...

When I'm singlehanding, I use a Handy Duck to pick up buoys. Works brilliantly! Very sturdy and so easy to use. Once secured, you can spend time rigging a more durable system, and I'd probably opt for chain.

 

[Talbot]

I single hand onto moorings using the Bosco boathook. This sytem is great for cleats as well

 

[fireball]

We use a large diameter rope - 14 - 16mm to attach to the bouy with a chain (in plastic hose) as a backup - these are lead through the front roller (ours is a double) to seperate cleats. I then tie a light line over the cleats to stop the chain or warp from jumping off - probably OTT, but gives piece of mind. We keep the mooring line very short so the bow is almost over the top of the mooring bouy.

When we had a little more wind a couple of months back (just before lift out!) I added 2 extra lines - one slightly slack. The there wasn't a problem anyway...

 

[sixpack]

[ QUOTE ]
I single hand onto moorings using the Bosco boathook. This sytem is great for cleats as well

[/ QUOTE ]

Could not agree more having tried the rest I favour the Bosco particularily with the wire sling attached - great for cleats.
I would not use anything else given the choice.

 

[mirabriani]

Good advice from Talbot and AFrogley

Chap in Thames (whats that club under Jubilee Bridge)
uses both of these
You might want to rig a line to the bows to keep her steady while you transfer from the boathook to the permanent line

Merry Christmas Briani

 

[Viking]

Is there anyway you can practices 'picking up' before you leave???

 

[longjohnsadler]

Conwy is pretty tidal so you might want to avoid mid-tide springs first time in.

 

[FWB]

Some moorings have a buoy and rope to pick up but many are just buoys needing your own rope.
When I get ready to pick up an unknown mooring I attach a rope to a strong point forward and lead it 'outside' the boat back to the cockpit. I have a very large snaspshackle on this end and then position myself alongside the mooring buoy. Then snap on the shackle and calmly pull from the bows and secure the buoy. Then take your time to secure to the buoy with whatever you require. I do this single handed. Why people send their crew to the bows, the highest point of the boat, to pick up moorings beats me.

 

[Johnjo]

Why people send their crew to the bows, the highest point of the boat, to pick up moorings beats me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Could not agree more, come along side and depending on the boat you can more than likely keep it in view most of the time.
Saves all the shouting and direction giving by the crew....

 

[William_H]

Presumably this will be your home buoy as is mine. I leave the dinghy tied to the buoy when out sailing, if it is on a long painter tied to the boat end of the mooring rope. you have a huge target to pick up with a boat hook. Pull any part of the painter on board then pull yourself and boat up to the mooring rope. Of course on your initial arrival you will have problems getting ashore unless you carry a dinghy and problems picking up the buoy if there are no ropes. i think rope poly or nylon is essential to provide some snubbing. You will need to keep the rode short to minimise turning circle so snubbing is a concern on highest tide. Use of two ropes will give you peace of mind but there must be a swivel either in the buoy or a separate shackle which is the weakest link which can not be bypassed or duplicated. If you have a choice the small buoy which can be hauled onto the deck is far less trouble than the large buoy left floating as they bang your topsides and get fouled with weed. Of course the buoy must be big enough to take the weight of the chain at highest tide. If it is anything like here the chain and shackles should be checked every year for heavy chain or more often for lighter chain it wears through so quickly.
Good luck on the swing mooring I have been on one for 20 years and think it is easiest especially for sailing onto and off. happy Christmas will

 

[ex-Gladys]

...I'd rather pick up a mooring ANY DAY than manouvre into a tight Marina Berth...

 

[Evadne]

It all depends on your freeboard. While it is true that the bows are nearly 2 feet above the water SWMBO has no trouble reaching through the pulpit with the short boathook and snagging the dinghy painter.
Incidentally I've never felt the need to have a snubber on a mooring buoy, there's quite a bit of "bounce" in the riser, it's not like you're tying up to anything solid. With the small mooring buoy we had until the end of this year the buoy was lifted on deck and the chain loop dropped over the central foredeck cleat. Next year we will have a big buoy with a ring on the top, which has to stay in the water, so I intend to fit a short length of chain to go from the ring to the cleat. I'd much prefer the small buoy, but boats with much greater freeboard seem to find the bigger buoy a better option.

 

[robind]

Had a mooring in both Brixham and Beauleigh and loved it. a couple of things you might consider are make friends with local divers. Have them check out your mooring, riser and swivel annually for corrosion (even if its not your responsibility). install a hand bouy with a chain so that its weight sits it tight against the main buoy, using this as a secondary connection with the boat should all else fail. I returned to my vessel on one occasion, the line had nearly chaffed through the secondary chain would have saved her.
Rob

 

[roger]

Its worth asking your mooring authority. Dart Harbour for instance insist on chain.
Mooring is in several stages. The first is to get attached somehow. The next is to get safely moored. Your first approach will be the most difficult as you will have none of your own gear attached - unless you make a special journey out to the buoy first.
There are many ways to make life easier. One method I like is to make up a tall Dan-buoy with a handle at the top. This is attached to warp and then to a loop of chain to the mooring itself.
Lean over the edge, grab handle, lift out Danbuoy, in emergency use the warp, if possible slip chain loop over Samson post. You are then free to secure the chain loop and add snubbing lines if required.
Obviously this method leaves you with a dirty Dan buoy on deck.
It can be useful to lift the buoy out of the water so it cannot move about damaging the gel coat in wind over tide situations.

 

[Petercatterall]

Thanks to all for all the usual good advice.
So.... handy duck or BOSCO for christmas then.
There are several responses advocating the use of 2 ropes or rope and chain. Is there not a possibility that as the boat swings round and round these would wind up together and windlass the bow down?
Where a large buoy is installed (your 'own' buoy) would it be usefull to attach your own small buoy on a light line to this. It would seem a bit easier to pick up the line then the main buoy?
Again, thanks for the tips. Regards to you all

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]

There are several responses advocating the use of 2 ropes or rope and chain. Is there not a possibility that as the boat swings round and round these would wind up together and windlass the bow down?

[/ QUOTE ]
We put a swivel joint at the bouy end of the lines - both Chain and Warp are attached to this - although for the extra lines I attached straight to the shackle on the bouy incase the swivel failed.

Where a large buoy is installed (your 'own' buoy) would it be usefull to attach your own small buoy on a light line to this. It would seem a bit easier to pick up the line then the main buoy?

[/ QUOTE ]
We attach a small bouy to the end of both lines, however we rarely need these as during the prep for departure the tender is tied close to the bouy and the warp and chain laid in the tender - this helps stop getting wet and slimey ropes and premature rusted chains. It is also a darnsight easier to retrieve a line from the tender rather than the water and the tender is a bigger target to aim for.

We do all our mooring work from the bow - same freeboard and multihanded see ...
If I had to pickup singlehanded (in a J Sun Oddy 30) I would run a line from the bow, outside all the rigging and stantion posts back to the cockpit. Probably with a substantial clip on it. Motor up to the mooring, clip the line on somewhere suitable then let the boat fall back on the long line, pull it in from the bow and then tie off properly.... can do variations on this

 

[BlueChip]

[ QUOTE ]
Why people send their crew to the bows, the highest point of the boat, to pick up moorings beats me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because that's the bit of the boat thats furthest away from keels, rudders and propellors. ie parts that when caught up in mooring line/warp/chain are likely to provide amusement for spectators

 

[bob_tyler]

"Next year we will have a big buoy with a ring on the top"

In conditions of wind over tide the ring on top can bash on the bows or sides of the hull, depending on the length of the pendant. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I prefer to be without the ring and attach the pendant below the buoy. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[LadyInBed]

Why people send their crew to the bows, the highest point of the boat, to pick up moorings beats me.

Well my peeps get issued with a long boat hook /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif