Rusty mooring chain vs Shiny stainless deck fittings

[Andy Cox]

This might be more applicable to us UK boaters, but I'm wondering what others here do when wanting to pick up a visitor berth and end up with a loop of really orrible rusty chain that then has to go through your nice shiny fairlead and onto a equally nice and shiny bollard or windlass?

I've done it once and was horrified at the damage the chain was doing to my nice shiny deck fittings:disgust: I've only anchored since then.

I was wondering about having a strop made up that has a snap shackle on one end and then comes up in a 'V', with each end of the V going through the fairlead and onto the bollard on each side of the foredeck.

Having pre rigged the strop on the foredeck, it's then just a matter of pulling up the chain and attaching the snap shackle whilst we potter ashore for lunch :encouragement:.

Andy

 

[Portofino]

The same , just have a pre set L of mooring line already made up , with a loop for the bollard at one end and large chain hook at the other end .
It’s just long enough so any bow mooring chain is about 30 cm below the fairlead / boat / fibreglass.
Idea is to keep any chain off the boat just dangling off the bow .Seems to work .

 

[IDAMAY]

Exactly what we do Andy. We definitely don't want any chain near either the deck fittings or, perish the thought, the gelcoat!

 

[Andy Cox]

Exactly what we do Andy. We definitely don't want any chain near either the deck fittings or, perish the thought, the gelcoat!

Thanks guys, that confirms what I'm thinking. I'll have a measure up and get something made up.

Cheers
Andy

 

[petem]

The same , just have a pre set L of mooring line already made up , with a loop for the bollard at one end and large chain hook at the other end .
It’s just long enough so any bow mooring chain is about 30 cm below the fairlead / boat / fibreglass.
Idea is to keep any chain off the boat just dangling off the bow .Seems to work .

Porto, would you use the same line if using your own anchor (i.e. snubber)? Also when you say 'bollard' do you mean windlass?

 

[jrudge]

I assume this refers to a boat too long for the mooring and on pulling the lazy line you get chain?

I have never come across this in my 5-6 years in the med. It seems form the replies others come across it - would you not ask for a berth that fits?

 

[MapisM]

would you not ask for a berth that fits?

+1.
Any marina which gives you a berth where you must pull the bow line up to its chain end doesn't deserve your money.

 

[Andy Cox]

+1.
Any marina which gives you a berth where you must pull the bow line up to its chain end doesn't deserve your money.

You Med guys are going off on a tangent

This situation has nothing to do with marina berths but relates to picking up a mooring, which is essentially a big rusty chain anchored on the sea floor, rising to a big float. There is then a short length of equally rusty chain with a loop in the end that you lift aboard and put over your bollard or windlass etc.

This type of mooring is prevalent in UK waters and is used either as a permanent seasonal home for your boat or for temporary visiting boats and is typically called a swinging mooring.

My original post was more to do with how to secure the boat without having to bring all that rusty chain on board. :encouragement:

Andy

 

[Portofino]

Porto, would you use the same line if using your own anchor (i.e. snubber)? Also when you say 'bollard' do you mean windlass?

Mean cleat but perhaps you can see why “ bollard “ is interchangeable on my boat .People ( guests of mixed boaty experiences) call them bollards .
Never use a snubber at anchor .Risk assessment dismissing them is based on the fasted possible up anchor and off .





The red is the made up stretchy loop, hook / carabiner yellow , chain blue for illustration to show its use .
Sorry no pic of the real contraption.

 

[Portofino]

I assume this refers to a boat too long for the mooring and on pulling the lazy line you get chain?

I have never come across this in my 5-6 years in the med. It seems form the replies others come across it - would you not ask for a berth that fits?

+1.
Any marina which gives you a berth where you must pull the bow line up to its chain end doesn't deserve your money.

It’s all blame on Italians
Tnx MapisM :encouragement:

I used your “blue book “ reg doc for consistency so,s all the docs sing from the same hymn sheet in case we get a jobsworth doing our paperwork .
So I,am runing round in a 15 M boat with 13 M scrawled on a Brit laminated reg doc .
Picture the screen we arrive at a typical “ acceuil “ pontoon near a capitainerie I stay on board wife trots in bikini clad with the doc pack , they eyeball the written L ( and Beam which is correct ) and direct us to a berth .

Adding to the issue is the 42 badge , from 2004 same hull was badged 48 - more like it .

As regards “ doesn’t deserve your money “ well they charge for what’s written on the reg doc so basically under charge by 2 M every time That’s what they tap in to the system and photo copy .So when we return they call up the boat on the system and just want to eyeball a current insurance doc if there’s a que .

Nice problem to have tbo .

 

[jrudge]

You Med guys are going off on a tangent

This situation has nothing to do with marina berths but relates to picking up a mooring, which is essentially a big rusty chain anchored on the sea floor, rising to a big float. There is then a short length of equally rusty chain with a loop in the end that you lift aboard and put over your bollard or windlass etc.

This type of mooring is prevalent in UK waters and is used either as a permanent seasonal home for your boat or for temporary visiting boats and is typically called a swinging mooring.

My original post was more to do with how to secure the boat without having to bring all that rusty chain on board. :encouragement:

Andy

Really! Don't you put a rope through the loop on the top of the big float? I can't imagine anyone bringing chain on board - as you say it would cause significant damage in a short period of time.

 

[Andy Cox]

Really! Don't you put a rope through the loop on the top of the big float? I can't imagine anyone bringing chain on board - as you say it would cause significant damage in a short period of time.

This might help



A chain is used at the top as this is a very common way of keeping the boat in a permanent non marina situation and therefore it has to withstand adverse weather conditions (British summer) for prolonged periods of time and a rope strop probably wouldn't cut it with the insurers.

We're marina based, but it's an option when visiting somewhere and for whatever reason anchoring might not work.

Andy