Westerly Oceanquest - is my swinging mooring OK?

[herdman]

I currently have a Westerly Griffin bilge keel that I keep on a swinging mooring in Poole harbour. I draw about 3'1". I am told that at my mooring I will not dry out even at spring lows with a draft up to 3'6" - So no problem. However I need a larger boat and in particular have my eye on a westerly oceanquest - again with bilge keels but this time drawing 3' 11". The boat yard say its fine to have a draft up to 4' on my mooring (and weight is no problem) but it just means that I will dry out during spring lows. I do not mind this but someone told me that its very bad to keep a boat like this for long periods on a mooring as during heavy weather at low tides the boat will "bounce" on its mooring with the rudder crashing down on the ground as the bow rises on a wave... should this be a concern? Do I need a new deeper moornig? And if anyone has any thoughts generally on this model (or any of the others that came after the seahawk) I would be very grateful. In particular is the aft cockpit version preferable?

thank v much in advance,

Giles Herdman.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[philwebb]

Re: Westerly Oceanquest - is my swinging mooring O

What is the bottom like where you are moored ? If it is soft mud then you are not
going to get much of a bounce-you will sink in and refloat on the next tide. I would be
concerned about mud getting into water intakes etc though.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[herdman]

Re: Westerly Oceanquest - is my swinging mooring O

I think ist reasonably muddy - never tried putting an anchor down there - maybe will try it out and double check.... i would hope that the keels would keep most of the inlets out of the mud.....

thanks v much

Giles.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Nick_Pam]

Re: Westerly Oceanquest - is my swinging mooring O

I would hope that the bilge keels would keep ALL the inlets out of the mud!

Taking your question about bounce, it will always depend on the wavelength of the wave in comparison to the length of your boat, but at worst case, if the bow is precisely on a crest and the stern is precisely in a trough, (ie the boat is an odd multiple of half-wavelengths long) there would be a difference in height of the two points on the boat equal to the wave height....ie 1 metre for a 1 metre swell.

I suspect, given the dimensions you have given, this might just tip the balance between bouncing along the bottom and not.....have you ever had your existing boat bottom out on the rudder like this, or do you not know??

The boatyard will obviously tell you it is ok, since they want you to keep paying them for your mooring..!!!!..I personally would not be so sure.........

Settling on the bottom in calm weather makes me nervous enough - that's why I bought a fin keeled boat and keep it in a marina somewhere where the water is deep enough - costs me a fortune though!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Byeee...Gone Sailing!!!!

 

[longjohnsilver]

If it's a muddy bottom I wouldn't be concerned, however if something harder then I'd be looking to move.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[herdman]

Thanks - I will check it out -

GH

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[herdman]

Re: Westerly Oceanquest - is my swinging mooring O

Thanks - I doubt my current boat bottoms out as the draft is that much lower.... I may also have to go for the expensive marine option - esp as by next season I will have 4 children aged 5 and under!

thanks v much

GH

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[aitchw]

Re: Westerly Oceanquest - is my swinging mooring O

<..............by next season I will have 4 children aged 5 and under!>

Sailing's not your main hobby then?



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[longjohnsilver]

Re: Westerly Oceanquest - is my swinging mooring O

Maybe that's why he prefers to be on a secluded mooring! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>