Over Wintering on a Swinging Mooring

Seah0rse

Seah0rse

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Having been Marina based previously, this will be my first winter on a swinging mooring in Chichester Harbour.

My yacht is old, wooden and has lots of varnish and I am concerned that it may suffer from the effects of weather more so than if it were Marina based afloat or ashore. The main problem I see is the lack of shore power. I have a large winter cover which completely encapsulates the boat (except the masts!!!) to halfway down the topsides so it will be possible for the portholes to be left open for ventilation.

Any views, comments, suggestions would be much appreciated.
 
Are you able to fit a bottomless bucket or similar as an air duct where the cover comes together at the bow and stern? Sometimes you see old fashioned circular life buoys used. A cheap dustbin with the bottom cut out would be good.
I've only tried this when ashore but don't see why it shouldn't work when afloat. Just make sure everything is well tied down.
 
Bucket

Hi Dur

I think there will be plenty of air circulation as there are four holes in the cover where the mooring lines would go if she were in a Marina.

My question is really about whether she will fare any worse weatherwise being exposed on a swinging mooring rather than tucked up in a Marina Berth with the heaters on.
 
Insurance

Ours runs from beginning of April to end of October .. They do want extra for the added risk .. No one about on the river .. etc .. So we have 7 months on the river and 5 in a marina ..
 
Check the boat after every gale, but apart from that, the boat will benefit from being head wind, not drying out, or being cooked by the sun (?) on just one side. Is it possible that she has spent more winters like this than in a marina?

Finally.....
ventilate
ventilate
ventilate!

....and look forward to the New Years Day sail! :-)
 
Wintering on a mooring

Some points which might already be obvious - As you will be more exposed on your mooring, your winter cover will take much more of a beating than it did in the shelter of a marina. It would be wise to inspect it and re-inforce it where it is at its most stressed including chafe points.
Agree with others who have suggested frequent visits - probably more than you might have done previously. Maybe you could use her more during the 'off-season' from the mooring than before - a double benefit? CBT
 
I definitely agree a swinging mooring needs more visits. Assume anything that could go wrong, will.
Does she leak. can the auto bilge pump cope? What happens if the pump/sensor/battery fails?

Assume the padding round the bridle over the stem head will wear in record time.

Have an easy access flap. You may be called out on a dark windy night to investigate, and you don't want to be fumbling with tight knots and a cover that starts blowing away the moment you partly release it.

Keep some long-life milk on board. The first thing you want after relief at finding all's well is a cup of tea.
 
Thanks for your all your replies

Mooring line to bouy is heavy duty chain maintained by Chi Conservancy I believe.

Good point about Insurance.

Yes, Chafe was a problem in the Marina anyway. I used foam rubber at the tops of the stancions but they tended to pop out so I will focus on that.

The impression I have is that she will be no worse off with the lack of heating aboard.
 
I have kept boats on swinging moorings all year round in Shetland. Agree with all the above but have serious reservations about using a cover. I once had a boat take a heavy mooring anchor ashore when the sail cover worked loose then the main slowly worked itself half way up the mast. Admittedly winds were into 80 knots. However, a winter cover working loose in a full winter gale could do a lot of damage to your varnish work, and possibly the mooring. That apart she will probably be better off on the mooring as the designed in ventilation will work best head to wind.

I would also ask for details of the mooring and when it was last lifted and checked - if only for your own peace of mind. I have seen boats bounce mooring weights along the bottom as they sheer and fall off broadside to the wind. Only a metre or so movement each time but eventually . . . .
 
There is another boat near to mine which has a rather loosly fitted cover (I think) which makes me think the mooring should be okay. I noticed that the substantial chain is freshly galvanized.

I also hanked off the sails this W/E in prep for cover.

My cover is custom made and is secured to a belly strap around the topsides which itself is held in place by under hull warps.

Thanks for your valid points tho. I might just check with the mooring owners.
 
Emsworth Channel - Better without a cover there IMHO, it is quite exposed. If it is a Conservancy mooring, it will have been properly and regularly maintained. If not, then you need to ask the owner what has been done.

I would also be concerned that under hull warps could chafe the paintwork.

And visiting regularly - at least once a week - and after every gale or heavy rainstorm is not optional.

I never heard of a boat in Chi Harbour hopping its sinker in the Chichester mud, though I stand to be corrected! usually the sinkers are half a meter in to the goo! The vast majority of mooring failures here in Chi are caused by corroded chains on private or contractor moorings, or more usually, failed mooring cleats on the boat concerned.
 
Well Harry, quite a few years ago I walked down the Ferry Path at Itchenor to find a 30' cat neatly parked at the top. It had bought with it the whole mooring...hook, line and sinker as it were.
Two years ago a 26' boat did an exit stage left across Printead Bay and parked itself on thge rocks, complete with all its gear. I won't say which one as its for sale!

SeaHorse, it may be worth asking the conservancy if you can move to a more sheltered channel. At Itchenor they move all boats staying on there moorings up towards westlands for more shelter.
I would say that the Emsworth Channel is one of the more exxposed mooring areas in the harbour.
 
I appreciate and value your comments.

It is a Conservancy mooring and I will ask them if they are happy for me to fit cover and if they want to move me.

I have previously used the cover in a Marina and, yes, the under hull warps and belly strap does not do the paintwork any favours but it is the varnish that I want to protect from rain and frost
 
Seanick said:
It had bought with it the whole mooring...hook, line and sinker
Click to expand...

And another at Dell Quay. Lifted the sinker out in a gale on a spring tide. The boat ended up against the pub wall. Eventually a bilge keel came through the bottom. I seem to remember that they concluded that the swivel on the chain had seized and with one twist every tide the chain got shorter and eventually the boat lifted the sinker when bouncing in the gale.
So give the swivel a poke every time you go out to check it is free
 
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