Swing Mooring Guidance for Bayliner

[dgas44]

Hi All,

I am looking for some guidance on swing moorings if possible please? We have bought a Bayliner 642 and will be using a swing mooring in Poole this year. We have previously (a number of years ago) used a pontoon berth so our knowledge of swing moorings is very limited and resources for power boats/swing moorings is very limited I have found. I'd like to know what the recommendation is for securing the boat to the mooring for this type of boat (bow layout attached), where I may be able to get the necessary strops and anything else you think I should be aware of.

Many thanks in advance.

Dan

 

[QBhoy]

Hi. You’ll need a bridle made up and spliced to a swivel. I’d also add in some shock absorbing too. Not to speak untoward of a bayliner (I’ve had one and of the opinion they do wonders for getting people on the water)…but the deck fittings are perhaps not to be trusted in any way, for a swing mooring in any sort of bad weather, I’d suggest. Some shock absorbing should help, but perhaps with a cautious mind, not totally ideal even with perhaps.
that aside, for sure, you’ll need a bridle type arrangement for sure. Like a y piece that goes onto the two cleats then joins into a single piece that goes forward through your anchor roller section and down. Then a swivel piece and shackle before attaching to the mooring itself.

 

[Bigplumbs]

I use the eye at the front that you use to winch it on a trailer. I made up a mooring line with a very large snap style shackle and put a length of hose pipe on it to prevent ware

 

[simonfraser]

Hi. You’ll need a bridle made up and spliced to a swivel. I’d also add in some shock absorbing too. Not to speak untoward of a bayliner (I’ve had one and of the opinion they do wonders for getting people on the water)…but the deck fittings are perhaps not to be trusted in any way, for a swing mooring in any sort of bad weather, I’d suggest. Some shock absorbing should help, but perhaps with a cautious mind, not totally ideal even with perhaps.
that aside, for sure, you’ll need a bridle type arrangement for sure. Like a y piece that goes onto the two cleats then joins into a single piece that goes forward through your anchor roller section and down. Then a swivel piece and shackle before attaching to the mooring itself.

nylon bridle will work well, i had an 8m trimaran on a mooring for years, never used a swivel, did not get tangled to any extend
bridle was 50% of the length of the boat
put the loop of the bridle through the bottom of the cleat and then loop over again, or if that is not possible tie the loops down as they could 'bounce off'

main issue to the swinging mooring was access using a dinghy, you need something reasonable comfortable / safe

 

[colhel]

Is there a secure point in the anchor locker? I just googled your boat and recognise your issue. A bridle between (as already suggested) is one option. Are you on a Stephenson mooring in Poole?

 

[oldgit]

Assuming this is just for summer use and coming ashore for the winter.

 

[dpb]

No need for bridle if you use bow eye which will definately be secure enough.
If it is a drying mooring I would not recommend it for an outdrive personally after seeing the state of mine after a few months on a Poole drying mooring last year and we only dried out on some tides. Lots of silt was in the block when I drained and flushed the system at the end of the season.
There is a debate to be had as to weather it is a good idea to keep a raw water cooled outdrive boat in salt water long term.... you can certainly easily tell the difference between those that have and those that have not after a few years.
The trouble with Poole (we live here) is that unless MDL have re opened their Cobbs Quay slipway since the Autumn, there is pretty much nowhere to easily trailer launch a boat much bigger than 17ft in Poole Harbour.

 

[stelican]

Do you have a winch eye on the hull as this would likely be the strongest point to attach mooring line.

 

[dgas44]

Hi all,

Thank you all very much for your replies. It is very much appreciated.

The boat will be on a swing mooring at Parkstone Bay for the summer and will come out in the winter for servicing, anti fouling, etc. She does have a bow winch/tow eye and as I am pretty tall I reckon I can reach this from the bow.

How long does the rope need to be and how would this connect to the winch/tow eye? Is the rope attached to the buoy permanently or do I have to connect it to the buoy each time I moor up? What would be the procedure for this?

I'm really sorry for all the questions but if anyone has any suggestions/ideas, it would be really appreciated.

If any of you guys want to do a sketch even, then I certainly wouldn't argue with that!

As I said before, online resources for this aren't great and I want to get everything I need in place before we take ownership of the boat.

Thanks again.

Dan

 

[simonfraser]

use a floating rope attached to the end of the nylon mooring line with a small fender at the bitter end
easier to pick up

 

[DavidJ]

Just as an aside.
Many years ago I had a Sealine 195 on a swinging mooring (River Deben at Walderingfield)
I watched it deteriorate significantly over a couple of years.
Suggest you treat yourself to an overnight marina visit now and again for a good wash and scrub up and maintenance in comfort.

 

[dgas44]

Just as an aside.
Many years ago I had a Sealine 195 on a swinging mooring (River Deben at Walderingfield)
I watched it deteriorate significantly over a couple of years.
Suggest you treat yourself to an overnight marina visit now and again for a good wash and scrub up and maintenance in comfort.

I shall be tying up to the visitor pontoon (100 yards from the swing mooring) every two/three weeks to give her a good clean and rinse!

 

[oldharry]

After a lifetime of keeping saily boats on swinging moorings (and never having lost one thru mooring failure) am I allowed to put in a few words? Well, I will, anyway! Firstly, mooring points on the boat. ChI Harbour Moorings Officer says that the most common failure point in a swinging mooring is the actual cleat or post on the boat to which the mpooring attaches. Boats can often sail around the moorings in strong wind, and as they come to the limit of the mooring they are stopped dead. the shock load can be several times greater than the boat displacement. Just consider the loads involved in stopping even half a ton on the move? So for a swing mooring the first consideration MUST be the attachment point on the boat. Winch points are all very well, and will probably take the full weight of the boat, but shock loads can be in the order of three or four times that.... Yes it will work 99% of the time, but come storm Eunices follow up.....

Next chafe. Rope can chafe through with remarkable speed . Chain equally can saw its way down through your expensive fibreglass as effectively as a chain saw if it jumps out of its fairlead. Bow rollers are usually strong enough if the designer/builder knows his stuff, but cleats and fairleads may simply be fastened to the GRP with self tappers. Fine in the marina, but not for a boat bouncing around on a swing mooring even in a summer gale. They need to be through bolted with backing pads.

As above a swivel at the mooring buoy is a must. when a chain is wound up tight, the links bind so as to nearly halve the length of the chain, and the poor old boat simply gets pulled under by the rising tide. Unless it has enough buoyancy to lift the sinker, (moring weight) in which case the whole lot takes off down the hrabour..... You need to check the swivel several times a season, as they too can seize up, and once the chain locks it....

But with simple care swinging moorings can be great fun particularly if you are in a picturesque spot. Instead of being simply blanked out by the topsides of the neighbouring boats you can enjoy the scenery, and the antics of other boat owners, as well as watching the kids going in for a swim with their Toppers.

 

[colhel]

Not sure I'd like to lean over the bow to reach the trailer winch. Personally I'd look at a way of using the cleats. One way would be to attach the chain loop over one side cleat and pull the chain to the centre, to keep on the bow roller) using a piece of rope or the rope of the pick up buoy.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Not sure I'd like to lean over the bow to reach the trailer winch. Personally I'd look at a way of using the cleats. One way would be to attach the chain loop over one side cleat and pull the chain to the centre, to keep on the bow roller) using a piece of rope or the rope of the pick up buoy.

Minne is a bow rider and it is the easiest thing on the world to lean over and clip it on

 

[colhel]

Minne is a bow rider and it is the easiest thing on the world to lean over and clip it on

Has the OP got a bow rider or a cabin boat?

 

[SaltIre]

Not sure I'd like to lean over the bow to reach the trailer winch. Personally I'd look at a way of using the cleats. One way would be to attach the chain loop over one side cleat and pull the chain to the centre, to keep on the bow roller) using a piece of rope or the rope of the pick up buoy.

Perhaps better to moor up temporarily then secure using the dinghy before going ashore?

 

[colhel]

Perhaps better to moor up temporarily then secure using the dinghy before going ashore?

Perhaps yes. But there's a long fetch in Poole Harbour and a small boat like the OPS and a dinghy is going to bounce around a lot, hence I'd be cautious about leaning over the bow and possibly what @oldharry was eluding too in his post.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Has the OP got a bow rider or a cabin boat?

Good point so might be more difficult but still doable. Perhaps have a short piece of rope already attached to the winch eye

 

[dgas44]

Hi All,

Thanks for your replies and advice/guidance. We had a good chat with the marina and a chandler today (really helpful chap who knows the area) and I feel more confident in what we are going to do/need. The mooring is a trot type with a swivel on the buoy. We will look at either getting a V shape bridle that secures to each cleat and then to the swivel via a shackle OR a Y shape bridle that is secured to the cleats and then runs through the bow roller to the swivel. In each case, there will be tubing to protect from chaffing. What I may do is look at using the bow eye as a back up line just in case. I need to take several measurements from the boat to give to the chandler so they can make up what I need.

Sorry if any of my boating terms above are incorrect!

My boat has a cuddy rather than being a bow rider.

Cheers all and thanks again.

Dan