Swinging vs Marina Moorings

[Fendant]

I had a swing mooring for 12+ years. I rowed a cheap plastic tender about 100 ft incurrent up to 2-3kn.
The boat had a textile cover. Very annoying was that my boat was the meeting point for all seagulls, requiring fixing the boat cover from year 2 onward and a new cover every 4 years. In addition my fridge needed about 12hours with shore power to get a beer or white wine into a drinkable temperature range. Twice I had deep hull scratches on my port side, onylone burglary. Rowing out to the boat on a dark rainy Friday night was not real fun, neither was removing or reinstalling the cover fully covered with seagull s.......t.

Now I am in a code lock protected marina since 2002. Boat is left connected to shore power, no cover needed.
Access to clean hot showers, walking distance to the pub and nice always helpful neighbours.
Harbor master has a spare key and checks berths every day.
I am spending now 3000 € instead of 600 €, but I believe that this is moneywell spend.

 

[chrisD]

I have kept my boat on a swinging mooring in Chichester harbour for about 15 years, all year round (it is possible to get insurance in a sheltered area). It has survived numerous gales and I don't worry about it any more even if I did at first. It has been bashed twice by clowns sailing through the moorings, but both owned up and paid up. Overall we much prefer a mooring to a marina, the main reason being that there is nothing nicer than sitting in the cockpit away from the wind in the late afternoon watching what's going on amid lovely scenery. Even in winter it can be very pleasant. No marina can match that.

 

[Little Dorrit]

I'm looking at an option in Chichester Harbour not far from the Marina and Birdham Pool. Reading your very helpful comments I am not particularly worried about the tide as I don't think it runs strongly up in the farther reaches of the harbour, but perhaps some will know differently? The location is a comfortable row, probably less than 100 yds, so I think is well within my capabilities; I also know that there is a ferry service in the summer but how regular or flexible the operators are I have no idea. Considering everything so far posted I am mainly concerned as to how easy it is to get on and off the boat as my freeboard might be greater than a lot of other boats (Vancouver 27). The other issues, in addition to this, are the likelihood of being clattered by someone and, without wanting to appear too vein, whether the boat might become a nice roost for the local wildlife...!?

 

[ghostlymoron]

The advantages of my swinging half tide mooring are cheap cost, beautiful surroundings, peace and quiet.
Disadvantages are getting to boat, lack of services.
My trip to the boat, which is in a tidal lagoon, involves trekking across a field, dragging the dinghy down the beach, rowing 100yds to my mooring. I'm not getting any younger or fitter so am considering something more convenient (but possibly not so picturesque or cheap).

 

[GrahamM376]

Yes the birds are a problem but for some reason they leave some boats alone - I have never understood why? I have seen two boats side by side which to me appear quite similar but birds there seems to some big difference. I guess I will not know if my boat is bird friendly or not until I try it out.

Make the neighbour's boat bird friendly, chuck some bird seed on his deck when you go past

 

[NormanS]

I've always had my boats on a swinging mooring, and it's a fair way offshore out in the loch. There are no shore facilities at all, so dinghy, outboard, oars, lifejackets, 'skins, and all the other gear has to go back and forward in the car and then the dinghy. We live more than 100 miles away, so weather conditions at the mooring are unknown. Often, driving there, one of us has said, "Gosh, I hope we can get out to the boat alright, I don't fancy spending the night in the phonebox".

And now, they've done away with the phone box.

 

[alahol2]

Considering everything so far posted I am mainly concerned as to how easy it is to get on and off the boat as my freeboard might be greater than a lot of other boats (Vancouver 27).

When arthritis started to rear its head we switched from trying to use the stern ladder to using a pilot ladder on the beam. I made this one, using whatever was to hand, to see if the idea would work. It worked so well that I never got round to making a 'prettier' one.
It clips onto the shroud bases and is left draped over the guard rails when we leave the boat. When we come aboard it is unclipped and lives in a cockpit locker. Leaving the ladder attached is not really a security risk any more than the stern ladder. With the shrouds as handholds it is a fairly safe way of boarding from the dinghy.

 

[Nina Lucia]

We keep our Vancouver 27 on swinging moorings last 12 years, and never really had a problem. Friday evening from South East London to Portchester Probably one of the best view, right on the main entrance of the Portchester castle any time of tide

I'm looking at an option in Chichester Harbour not far from the Marina and Birdham Pool. Reading your very helpful comments I am not particularly worried about the tide as I don't think it runs strongly up in the farther reaches of the harbour, but perhaps some will know differently? The location is a comfortable row, probably less than 100 yds, so I think is well within my capabilities; I also know that there is a ferry service in the summer but how regular or flexible the operators are I have no idea. Considering everything so far posted I am mainly concerned as to how easy it is to get on and off the boat as my freeboard might be greater than a lot of other boats (Vancouver 27). The other issues, in addition to this, are the likelihood of being clattered by someone and, without wanting to appear too vein, whether the boat might become a nice roost for the local wildlife...!?

 

[LadyInBed]

Alahol2 - I like your ladder, do the 'pegs' go through the steps, dowled to the steps, or just rest above and below on the steps?

 

[Little Dorrit]

It certainly is quite an ingenious ladder design. It's difficult to see exactly how it's made any better pics or a description of the construction?

 

[Fendant]

Yep, I think too that it is a very practical design. Would love to see more detailed pics or a drawing/sketch .:encouragement:

 

[sailaboutvic]

We used an swinging mooring in the early days on the river Ord , we loved it and once use to the boat being there I stopped worrying about it on windy nights ,
but the truth is if I could had got a Marina berth at an affordable price I would had jump at it .
I just wonder how many that have said there prefer a swinging mooring because " it easier to moor up , nice and sit on the boat , no fenders or ropes " would opted out from a Marina berth if it was the same cost has the mooring .
35+ years on , We now spend nine month of the year on anchor, just like being on a swing mooring we still love it and prefer it to an Marina and it nothing to do with the cost , there plenty of harbours which are free but we still anchor out , although the three winter months we spend in a Marina make a very nice change but we do live on the boat , I think now if we had to be land base and only using the boat at weekends , I would go for an Marina berth . Mainly because what we use to do in our stride in our 20s takes a lot longer and its much harder 35 years on .

 

[pvb]

When arthritis started to rear its head we switched from trying to use the stern ladder to using a pilot ladder on the beam. I made this one, using whatever was to hand, to see if the idea would work. It worked so well that I never got round to making a 'prettier' one.
It clips onto the shroud bases and is left draped over the guard rails when we leave the boat. When we come aboard it is unclipped and lives in a cockpit locker. Leaving the ladder attached is not really a security risk any more than the stern ladder. With the shrouds as handholds it is a fairly safe way of boarding from the dinghy.

Out of interest, why did you put the grooved, non-slip side of the steps on the underneath?

 

[pyrojames]

,

We used an swinging mooring in the early days on the river Ord , we loved it and once use to the boat being there I stopped worrying about it on windy nights ,
but the truth is if I could had got a Marina berth at an affordable price I would had jump at it .
I just wonder how many that have said there prefer a swinging mooring because " it easier to moor up , nice and sit on the boat , no fenders or ropes " would opted out from a Marina berth if it was the same cost has the mooring.

I don't think I would. I occaisionally get an in water marina berth during the winter, but invariably fing that wind and or tide prevent me sailing on some occaisions. Tide you can work around to some extent, but with a long keel and offset prop, it can be extremely challenging to get in and out in inclement conditions. I can get to and from the mooring in the rib, even in 8s. I had to abort once in 9s and find a more sheltered spot to wait out the blow, but only once in 15 years.

 

[Little Dorrit]

Yep, I think too that it is a very practical design. Would love to see more detailed pics or a drawing/sketch .:encouragement:

http://jazz606.com/2011/12/01/109/
http://www.classicboat.co.uk/practical-advice/making-a-boarding-ladder/

 

[Fantasie 19]

Can't really add to what's gone before, but I've had a swing mooring all the years I've had a boat, primarily for money/cost reasons.. I solo sail but if I'd been in a marina I would have figured out to how arrive/leave a pontoon by now (or have been chucked out of the marina for causing untold damage )... downsides of the mooring? In order..

1/. Worrying about the boat when we have bad weather - the mooring is comparatively sheltered, but I've been out to her before in a recorded F9 and she was bucking like a bronco...

2/. Dragging tender to water, loading up, and rowing out to boat, and worse having to do the reverse when you come back...

3/. I day sail so I have to pick my tides if I want a sail, that can mean early starts and coming back in the dusk..

She has a low freeboard so getting on board is no issue, I have no mains power but if I needed it I'd just go into Northney for half a day.. showers I can get in the club... and beer... last season we had seals in the moorings so that was pleasant... and I have a much better view for a beer and a cigar than a bunch of other boats and a pontoon.... on balance I wouldn't change...

 

[alahol2]

http://jazz606.com/2011/12/01/109/
http://www.classicboat.co.uk/practical-advice/making-a-boarding-ladder/

Yes, the first of those is essentially what I copied. The triangles just sit above and below the treads held in place by the whipping, no dowels or sockets. The sides of the triangles are routed into shallow grooves for the rope to sit in and stop them falling out.

Out of interest, why did you put the grooved, non-slip side of the steps on the underneath?

There is actually a tread pattern on both sides of the planking. The bottom tread is made up from two planks glued and screwed together. Like I say, it was made from bits and pieces. One day I'll make a posh one.

 

[Little Dorrit]

...One day I'll make a posh one.

I would like to see the posh one! Thanks for the information

 

[Seajet]

Can't really add to what's gone before, but I've had a swing mooring all the years I've had a boat, primarily for money/cost reasons.. I solo sail but if I'd been in a marina I would have figured out to how arrive/leave a pontoon by now (or have been chucked out of the marina for causing untold damage )... downsides of the mooring? In order..

1/. Worrying about the boat when we have bad weather - the mooring is comparatively sheltered, but I've been out to her before in a recorded F9 and she was bucking like a bronco...

2/. Dragging tender to water, loading up, and rowing out to boat, and worse having to do the reverse when you come back...

3/. I day sail so I have to pick my tides if I want a sail, that can mean early starts and coming back in the dusk..

She has a low freeboard so getting on board is no issue, I have no mains power but if I needed it I'd just go into Northney for half a day.. showers I can get in the club... and beer... last season we had seals in the moorings so that was pleasant... and I have a much better view for a beer and a cigar than a bunch of other boats and a pontoon.... on balance I wouldn't change...

Agreed, though now the slipways are regularly cleaned of the super-slippery weed it makes a big difference; my Mum broke her wrist, a friend got concussion and I've seen countless people go over badly on the slips, so JB who instituted the independent pressure washer is to be applauded for that.

A chum with a Centaur who moved to Emsworth marina is lucky the boat came with midships cleats one can attach a spring to then steer the stern into the pontoon when solo, but it's still a tricky manouvre, especially as the old pontoon fittings had a ring on the end, not a cleat one might have a chance of dropping a loop over or grabbing with a boathook; it always seemed to me a 50/50 chance of a crash landing straight out of Thunderbirds !

Another snag with pontoons in winter, especially at places like Emsworth is / was the pontoons floating at quite an angle, and covered in ice; last I heard 3 people had gone in and drowned there in winter conditions, and that was years ago; I suspect most marina's have a quietly similar tally.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I just wonder how many that have said there prefer a swinging mooring because " it easier to moor up , nice and sit on the boat , no fenders or ropes " would opted out from a Marina berth if it was the same cost has the mooring.

Hmm. Good question. I think these things are all part of the balance: inconveniences, conveniences and cost all get considered. Even if a marina berth only costs me £200 p.a. I'd still go for the swinging mooring, I think, but if the swinging mooring cost me £2,700 p.a. I might well thing "soddit" and go into the marina instead.

My Hunter 490 lives on Loch Ken. Last year I was allocated a pontoon mooring but swapped it for a swinging one at the same cost. The pontoon there is nice and handy, but it's a dinghy training place and I prefer to have the boat out of the target area.