STOL71
Well-Known Member
Looking at getting a swinging mooring on the river Orwell. Wondering if anyone knows how safe the area is and if there is a lot of theft from boats. Many thanks.
I gave up a swing mooring on the Orwell this year, it was half way between Levington and Pin Mill. In the couple of years I was there I had no problems with theft or vandalism, but some b**t**d hit the boat and scarpered. Though the damage appeared minor, getting gelcoat sorted, and straightening the pushpit has been a right pain in the backside. Of course that doesn't include the Raymarine GPS receiver that got damaged. I'd say it was a safe area because it is isolated, however if something does happen no one is going to see it.
That can happen on any mooring in a tidal river
Particularly where there is commercial shipping. Over the years a lot of yachts have been damaged/sunk by ships in the Orwell, and no doubt elsewhere. Other yachts of course are even more likely to hit moored boats, but generally the damage is less severe. However very aggravating if the culprit just boogers off.
We've been on a mooring at Pin Mill for four years, no problem with theft but we've been hit twice. Both times it was near the end of the season. Both times no one got in touch with us or the yard. The first time they twisted the pulpit (also bending the steel it was bolted to). The second time they scratched the side and smashed the nav light.
This year we're in SYH!
Having said I have no problems, I left my mooring on Saturday, and on return on Tuesday it was gone. Sunk, cut, whatever it's not there. Just been serviced, but now need the chap who serviced it to come and grapple for it and fit a new riser bouy and strop. Rather unimpressed!
Crikey, where was that? Couldn't have been a 'servicing fault' maybe?