What type of mooring line do I need?

[E.T.]

Hi everyone. Newbie to this floating thing. I have bought a little Seamaster 23' S, bilge keel, 2.25 tons...with a view to learn this season, (the former owner is going to teach us, and I'm enrolling in various RYA stuff through the year. VHF at the end of March)...so just learning the ropes (literally!).

Anyway, I have acquired a mooring on the mud flats in the Blackwater Estuary. this has a board walk out to the mooring, and the boat will be tied to a short platform - spring lines will be attached to this and bow and stern lines attached to (rough) wooden posts either side of the platform.

Now I need to buy some new mooring lines. I'm told I need something substantial, so what would people recommend? I can see there is Nylon 3 strand, Polyester 3 strand, Multi plat, spun...etc.

Cost isn't an issue - I see it as an investment/insurance! Just need something that will stand up to the chafing and UV.

Recommendations please? Pros and cons?

Thanks!

 

[sailorman]

Nylon either 3 strand or multi plait to a size to suit your cleats

 

[VicS]

As above.

See also the advice on Jimmy Green's website http://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/p/technical/mooring-warp-size-guide

 

[john_morris_uk]

Just don't buy polypropylene - its cheap but suffers uv degradation and rots away in the sunshine very quickly!

Nylon three strand is the standard reply, but nylon multiplait will be just as good for your situation.

PS welcome to sailing.

 

[E.T.]

Thankee kindly

Thanks chaps.

 

[stuey_two]

Welcome to the madhouse!
If there is a club where your mud berth is situated it's members will be a good source of local info for you, to supplement the efforts of the previous owner.

 

[Deefor]

As no one's asked so far, how big are your cleats as, for example, 14mm diameter line IMO is going to be too large.

I've got 10mm Marlow Docklines on my 20 footer with small cleats and do all I ask of them. Not cheap but nice on the hands when working the lines.

Here's a link as an example of cost http://www.marinesuperstore.com/posit/shop/index.php?selectedpartno=DOCKLINE but also available in 10mm http://www.marlowropes.com/index.ph...e-spliced-dockline&catid=52:mooring&Itemid=92

 

[sailorman]

As no one's asked so far, how big are your cleats as, for example, 14mm diameter line IMO is going to be too large.

I've got 10mm Marlow Docklines on my 20 footer with small cleats and do all I ask of them. Not cheap but nice on the hands when working the lines.

Here's a link as an example of cost http://www.marinesuperstore.com/posit/shop/index.php?selectedpartno=DOCKLINE but also available in 10mm http://www.marlowropes.com/index.ph...e-spliced-dockline&catid=52:mooring&Itemid=92

see#2

 

[Deefor]

see#2

Read twice, type once - doh

 

[johnalison]

My preference would be for multiplait, since twists are hard to avoid and three-ply may not take kindly to twisting. When I had a mooring I had two lines and would leave one slack.

 

[sailorman]

My preference would be for multiplait, since twists are hard to avoid and three-ply may not take kindly to twisting. When I had a mooring I had two lines and would leave one slack.

i have 3 strand but with eye splices all made to length to suit the boat, ideal for single handing. come along side & pop them onto the cleats job done

 

[E.T.]

As no one's asked so far, how big are your cleats as, for example, 14mm diameter line IMO is going to be too large.

I've got 10mm Marlow Docklines on my 20 footer with small cleats and do all I ask of them. Not cheap but nice on the hands when working the lines.

Here's a link as an example of cost http://www.marinesuperstore.com/posit/shop/index.php?selectedpartno=DOCKLINE but also available in 10mm http://www.marlowropes.com/index.ph...e-spliced-dockline&catid=52:mooring&Itemid=92

ah. good thought....but just ordered 14mm.
http://www.theanchorstore.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=14mm_8-strand_multiplait_nylon_rope

I'll phone the store tomorrow and get them to put it on hold, 'til I check. I'll pop down to "Gabi" and see what diameter she'll take.

The Jimmy Green advice bit suggests 12mm for a boat up to 23'. The moorings manager suggested I get slightly heavier lines - so I went up a size.

My mooring is quite a way out, and a bit more exposed in heavier weather (his own boat is right near mine) and on a high spring with heavy weather it can be quite choppy, I'm told.

 

[sailorman]

ah. good thought....but just ordered 14mm.
http://www.theanchorstore.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=14mm_8-strand_multiplait_nylon_rope

I'll phone the store tomorrow and get them to put it on hold, 'til I check. I'll pop down to "Gabi" and see what diameter she'll take.

The Jimmy Green advice bit suggests 12mm for a boat up to 23'. The moorings manager suggested I get slightly heavier lines - so I went up a size.

My mooring is quite a way out, and a bit more exposed in heavier weather (his own boat is right near mine) and on a high spring with heavy weather it can be quite choppy, I'm told.

sounds like you need big fenders as well

 

[E.T.]

brainwave!

I've got the old mooring lines in my shed, just popped down and measured them...14mm

Yea

 

[Deefor]

E.T. - have you anywhere near you where you could just buy a metre of say 10 or 12mm and try them on the cleats? Bit more expense but heh, that's boating .

Or, if you want to be confused http://www.marlowropes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29&Itemid=67 and even worse http://www.marlowropes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=66, the "quick reference" section.

 

[E.T.]

E.T. - have you anywhere near you where you could just buy a metre of say 10 or 12mm and try them on the cleats? Bit more expense but heh, that's boating .

Or, if you want to be confused http://www.marlowropes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29&Itemid=67 and even worse http://www.marlowropes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=66, the "quick reference" section.

um...yeah...thanks for that.