Swinging Moorings

[seaesta]

Seaesta has lived on various moorings including the River Axe (Weston Super Mud) , River Crammond, Conwy, and Whitby. I have found that a chain to a robust front cleat works well. I lead the chain over the bow roller inside a thick plastic semi flex pipe which sticks out a couple of feet forward of the bow and goes back almost to the cleat. This pipe serves to hold the mooring buoy away from the GRP hull and reduces chafe. A cord keeps the pipe in situ on the bow roller. The chain is shackled and has a rope extension to wrap round the cleat. The boy and heavy riser chains seem enough to prevent most snubbing but I expect I would fit a subber if the mooring were more exposed to waves.
I recommend glassing in a good cleat/samson post as others have said.
The trouble is that the chain galvanising soon erodes and I have to replace the final section of chain each year to prevent rust staining. Has anyone got a source of stainless chain??

 

[richardandtracy]

RCD & Safety of the vessel.

If it's a choice between fitting a strong Samson post or relying on an RCD controlled & possibly weak cleat, I would suggest that you stuff the RCD where it deserves to be (dry land/ recycling bin) and fit something that's sufficient for the job.

It's irrational being compliant with the regulations if it leads to the loss of your vessel. Prevention of the vessel's loss should be paramount. I'm convinced that the EC will not give you compensation if you stick to the regs & that causes a loss of the vessel & loads of aggro.

Regards

Richard