Tidal Mooring

[Simon391088]

Hi,

My last thread was about trailer sailing, however I've given up on that now as I think it will simply be too much hassle.

The reason I was looking into it was to avoid mooring fees.

However - i'm looking at a 27ft sailing boat with bilge keels.

If I put that on a tidal mooring and leave it for a few months will it still be intact when I see it next?!

My problem is that having had a boat before I know that I will probably only go there for about 5 weeks a year and i'd prefer it if the boat was still afloat when I get there.

Thanks
Simon

 

[sarabande]

You need

impeccable ground tackle, riser, buoy(s) and mooring kit,

oversize fairleads and cleats or bitts

the right distance between buoy(s) and boat (so that the bouy is not overridden.)


And for peace of mind
a decent services battery system with a modest solar panel, plus a reliable bilge pump (or two)

And a friendly neighbour on land or nearby mooring with a pair of binoculars and your phone number

And (they are getting cheaper by the day) a remote camera/alarm which calls your phone when triggered.


Are you going for a club or a private mooring ?

 

[Seajet]

You need

impeccable ground tackle, riser, buoy(s) and mooring kit,

oversize fairleads and cleats or bitts

the right distance between buoy(s) and boat (so that the bouy is not overridden.)


And for peace of mind
a decent services battery system with a modest solar panel, plus a reliable bilge pump (or two)

And a friendly neighbour on land or nearby mooring with a pair of binoculars and your phone number

And (they are getting cheaper by the day) a remote camera/alarm which calls your phone when triggered.


Are you going for a club or a private mooring ?

+1 And if you have a foresail on a roller, either tie it round tightly with a few ties or far preferably remove it.

An auto bilge pump ( as powerful as possible ) to deal with rainwater - or unsuspected leaks - is a good thing too.

The best thing by far though is having a chum who's local to the boat with a pair of binoculars and optionally a key - excellent club chums keep my mind at rest if I'm away for a week or two and there's a gale, but 5 weeks is pushing it IMO.

You can also get GPS based alarms to text or phone you if the boat is sinking or adrift, but that seems a bit late !

 

[VicS]

You need

impeccable ground tackle, riser, buoy(s) and mooring kit,

oversize fairleads and cleats or bitts

the right distance between buoy(s) and boat (so that the bouy is not overridden.)


And for peace of mind
a decent services battery system with a modest solar panel, plus a reliable bilge pump (or two)

And a friendly neighbour on land or nearby mooring with a pair of binoculars and your phone number

And (they are getting cheaper by the day) a remote camera/alarm which calls your phone when triggered.


Are you going for a club or a private mooring ?

+1 And if you have a foresail on a roller, either tie it round tightly with a few ties or far preferably remove it.

An auto bilge pump ( as powerful as possible ) to deal with rainwater - or unsuspected leaks - is a good thing too.

The best thing by far though is having a chum who's local to the boat with a pair of binoculars and optionally a key - excellent club chums keep my mind at rest if I'm away for a week or two and there's a gale, but 5 weeks is pushing it IMO.

You can also get GPS based alarms to text or phone you if the boat is sinking or adrift, but that seems a bit late !

Gosh if Id known all this 40 years ago I would never have left my boat on its mooring

 

[Seajet]

Gosh if Id known all this 40 years ago I would never have left my boat on its mooring

Luckily for me I did understand ' all this ' over 40 years ago.

And roller foresails were not so common on moored boats then so we didn't have to worry about keeping them tied, + boats around 19 and 22' were considered ' average / large ' so we got away with lighter moorings.

Since then and thankfully before October 1987 I upgraded my mooring, I and my club continue to do so as average boat sizes increase.

 

[Tam Lin]

It depends!

 

[ianat182]

If your mooring is a Harbour authority one it would be prudent to advise them of the frequency of use and ask for a periodic check b their patrol. Double up the mooring lines. Check for fine print on your insurance. Doublecheck the mooring quality and recent history renewal of risers etc.
If space allows put some protection on ropes fed through fairleads, secure any sailcovers.


ianat182

 

[NormanS]

Gosh if Id known all this 40 years ago I would never have left my boat on its mooring

+1. Some people worry too much.