Mooring Advice

[Canuck2112]

Hello,

I'm thinking about mooring my San Juan 21 next season in my local lake (reservoir). I realize it's only a 21' sailboat, but for the past couple of years, I personally found it a PITA trailering it in/out of the launch every time (like to get our 2-3 times per week). And when the dock is busy (which it usually is), it can be very hectic. The mooring balls are inexpensive to rent for a season. My concern is the possible wear and tear on the standing rigging, keel, etc. Is this something to be concerned about? This body of water is well protected, mooring is close to shore, and is freshwater.

Any advice or past experience welcome!

Thanks

 

[dlochner]

My concern is the possible wear and tear on the standing rigging, keel, etc. Is this something to be concerned about?

Boats are happiest in the water.

The hull will be fully supported by the water as opposed to on the trailer where the weight will be on the keel and bunk boards. The rig does need to be tuned and the sails well secured so they don't come unfurled when the wind blows. Chafe is always a concern, but there are plenty of ways to manage chafe. With the boat in the water on a mooring there will be fewer opportunities for adverse incidents during transport.

Oh, and you'll sail it more often.

 

[rgranger]

I have a friend with a Catalina 22 who moors. No problems.

 

[Hunter216]

I can offer my experience as I moor our Hunter 216 all season. As @dlochner indicates the boat is happy in the water and is ready to use when you show up. I would respectfully offer a few suggestions.

1) I think your boat has a retractable keel. What I found with the 216 with the board down there was some slop in it while the boat was at mooring. I had some concern about wear and tear so I partially raised the board to a point where the slop stopped but the stability was still OK for storms and or boarding etc.
2) You might have greater exposure to theft so if not already done throw a lock on your outboard etc to discourage the drive by opportunists.
3) Kind of funny but develop a check list of things to do before you depart the boat. You might find yourself at home and realize you left some important item on-board. Maybe that’s just my failing seniors memory but I think it happens to lots of people in today’s hectic world. Nothing wrecks that nice calm state you have after a sail than “thinking” you might have left the hatch open etc.

 

[cb32863]

I had my 235 on a mooring for 2 seasons. Not a big deal. Chafe protection for your mooring lines is more of a concern than what you listed. For me #2 & #3 that @Hunter216 listed was also a concern.

 

[Hunter216]

I’ve been thinking about my post and I apologize for the focus being about pitfalls.

Let me try again.

One of the most interesting aspects of a lot of my sail outings is figuring out what to do in departing and returning to the mooring. Most of the time I like the challenge of sailing rather than depending on the motor during the process. Adds a lot of stimulation trying to gauge where the illusive point where forward momentum to maintain steerage vs overrunning the ball is balanced. Kind of a blast to nail the pickup! Even better when you don’t even start the motor for the entire trip!

 

[dlochner]

’ve been thinking about my post and I apologize for the focus being about pitfalls.

I didn't see it as being particularly negative. Just realistic, easily addressed concerns. Put them in the category along with good chafe protection.

 

[Canuck2112]

I’ve been thinking about my post and I apologize for the focus being about pitfalls.

Let me try again.

One of the most interesting aspects of a lot of my sail outings is figuring out what to do in departing and returning to the mooring. Most of the time I like the challenge of sailing rather than depending on the motor during the process. Adds a lot of stimulation trying to gauge where the illusive point where forward momentum to maintain steerage vs overrunning the ball is balanced. Kind of a blast to nail the pickup! Even better when you don’t even start the motor for the entire trip!

That's my world exactly! In this particular reservoir, it's the city water supply, so motors are not allowed. That's another advantage I see to the mooring ball. It's absolute craziness coming into a busy dock that's full of sailboats, canoes, kayak's, and people just hanging out.

Thanks for all the posts from everyone, great assurance. I have a good sail cover, so the sail will definitely be protected.

 

[Serenity on Hudson]

Moored a boat in Oyster Bay in 1990 and never started the motor until I was in the path of some big iron and found the battery dead. Lucky the switch was on B1 not both. Switched to B2 started the engine and got out of dodge. It was night and I was entertaining a sweet young thing so didn't notice the iron thingy barreling down on me. He never even tooted his horn. Must have thought we were a sea gnat! Motored in and out after that. Sailing on and off the ball was easy even though I was only sailing for a year or so and never on a 30 foot boat like this. Just test the momentum fall off in open water to better judge when to turn into the wind to intercept the ball. Never missed picking up the pendent on the first try and I was always alone. Practice, practice, practice!

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Good on you. I've kept our boat on a mooring for 16 years . We like the privacy of the mooring field over a slip.
We used a Watertender 9.4 ,a rotomolded trihull as a dinghy to get out . Very stable getting on and off of. We added a few solar panels and life has been good . Theft is not a concern as it is more work to get out to the boat than it is than just taking something from a boat in the parking lot...I hope ...