what size pendants do I need for an oday 28? boat stays on a mooring field on the Hudson river ( tidal river with strong currents). guy at west marine store couldn't figure out size of lines or lengths. thank you
mooring pendants
- Thread starter egreen024
- Start date
Welcome to SBO.
What are other boats in your mooring field using? I would start there.
What are other boats in your mooring field using? I would start there.
Speak with the contractor who puts in and maintains the moorings in your area. He’ll probably sell you what you need and take care of you as a customer. Might not be the cheapest but it’s always good policy to have the mooring guy as your friend. 
To answer your question directly, I’d suggest 5/8” dual pendants 7-12ft long with spliced-eyes and chafe guards. Add a fiberglass pick-up stick on a 3/8" 4' line to one of the spliced loops. Put floats on the pendants every 2 feet so they don‘t sink and wrap on the chain beneath the mooring float. Those currents will cause your boat to do crazy things, especially when the wind opposes current.
ps- you can buy split foam pipe insulation from HD or Lowe’s and use that with zip ties to float the lines. Much cheaper than “marine” floats.
edit: I recommend name brand shackles from Crosby or Acco. Not that Chinese-made no-name stuff they sell at WM.
To answer your question directly, I’d suggest 5/8” dual pendants 7-12ft long with spliced-eyes and chafe guards. Add a fiberglass pick-up stick on a 3/8" 4' line to one of the spliced loops. Put floats on the pendants every 2 feet so they don‘t sink and wrap on the chain beneath the mooring float. Those currents will cause your boat to do crazy things, especially when the wind opposes current.
ps- you can buy split foam pipe insulation from HD or Lowe’s and use that with zip ties to float the lines. Much cheaper than “marine” floats.
edit: I recommend name brand shackles from Crosby or Acco. Not that Chinese-made no-name stuff they sell at WM.
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jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,966
Welcome to the SBO site.
It is tough to make these decisions. Money. Will it be a calm water experience or should I plan for the next hurricane like the one that came ashore at Sandy Hook.
@Maine Sail has been a member here for many years providing down to earth science based solutions to sailors. He has an excellent website with many helpful ideas for the new boater. One of them is about mooring pendants.
And if you find the info helpful and can share a few bucks it will help him keep the information available for future sailors. His story is on the website home page.
It is tough to make these decisions. Money. Will it be a calm water experience or should I plan for the next hurricane like the one that came ashore at Sandy Hook.
@Maine Sail has been a member here for many years providing down to earth science based solutions to sailors. He has an excellent website with many helpful ideas for the new boater. One of them is about mooring pendants.
And if you find the info helpful and can share a few bucks it will help him keep the information available for future sailors. His story is on the website home page.
Mooring Pendants Thoughts & Musings - Marine How To
Yale Maxi-Moor II Pendant Over the last few years I have been repeatedly asked how I handle my mooring pendants. This article is about how and why I use the methods I use to keep our boat safe and
marinehowto.com
It's worth a few extra $ to reduce headaches, save time and be on good terms with those upon whom you rely. It's hard to put a value on those kinds of things, but in my experience, it's always worth more than the cost.Might not be the cheapest but it’s always good policy to have the mooring guy as your friend.
-Will
You may find that your bow cleat is too small for the recommended pendant.
If that's the case, I'd suggest he add an intermediary dyneema loop that's at least as strong as the pendant. If the loop goes through any chocks or over the deck edge, it should also have added chafe protection where it might rub. Dyneema is more chafe resistant than polyester or nylon anyway, and because it has near-zero stretch it will also move less than the pendent over the same surfaces (less sawing action making it even less likely to chafe).Edit - New England Ropes makes one called " Cyclone Mooring Pendants" smallest diameter is 1/2"
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Kept my 25 footer on a mooring in a field where waves occassionly reached six feet. I use two 5/8" lines with good chafe protection and survived storms others did not. Your big problem may be a cleat that will accept a larger line. Do not, under any circumstances, just toss a loop over your cleat and forget about it.
we have strong currents and sometimes around fall waterchestnuts wrap themselves around mooring ball. recommended size is 5/8 but was wondering if I should go 3/4. 2 years ago we made our own at our club and last year one broke off.
everyone has diferent sizes . we on a tidal river with a mooring field. club has a class we could make our own. ( 2nd year one broke off)
Welcome to the SBO site.
It is tough to make these decisions. Money. Will it be a calm water experience or should I plan for the next hurricane like the one that came ashore at Sandy Hook.
@Maine Sail has been a member here for many years providing down to earth science based solutions to sailors. He has an excellent website with many helpful ideas for the new boater. One of them is about mooring pendants.
And if you find the info helpful and can share a few bucks it will help him keep the information available for future sailors. His story is on the website home page.
Mooring Pendants Thoughts & Musings - Marine How To
Yale Maxi-Moor II Pendant Over the last few years I have been repeatedly asked how I handle my mooring pendants. This article is about how and why I use the methods I use to keep our boat safe andmarinehowto.com
just want something durable i changed mooring ball set up. pendants used to attached to chains under ball now a got a new ball where it attaches on top.
Does the new ball does have a steel shaft that connects the pendant to the anchor chain?
Mooring pendants have a life span, it is short. Chafe is the enemy. Protect the pendant from chafe and UV exposure and it will last longer.
Mooring pendants have a life span, it is short. Chafe is the enemy. Protect the pendant from chafe and UV exposure and it will last longer.
I equate the lines to insurance and the value of what your boat is worth-would you use clothes line?
Everybody hates to spend money but you will sleep better when you have good lines!
Everybody hates to spend money but you will sleep better when you have good lines!
I had 3 1/2" 3-strand nylon pendants (on my Catalina 22). 2 to the bow cleats and one longer one as a safety to the bow eye. They tangle some as the boat moves, but I like the setup. Unfortunately we were out of town for a week when we should have hauled her out. There were high winds while we were gone. When we went to haul her out, we found that the line between the float and the sea anchor had somehow wrapped around the keel. Almost had to go diving in Lake Superior in October. Eventually we managed to get everything free, but noticed later that 2 of the 3 mooring pendants were pretty much garbage after all the chafe and stress, Moral of the story -- check on her often.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,966
There is no better form of security than to inspect the systems you put in place for the boat’s safety. Surprisingly this methodology works for many things in life.
“Moral of the story” was only part of the answer. The solution that would likely have prevented this is to put floats on your mooring pendants at least every 2 feet to prevent sinking and chain wrap. The next thing is that your mooring buoy should float deep enough for the pendants to ride over (not under) the buoy if there is a pull reversal after a slack period. It’s better to undersize than to oversize the buoy. It’s all part of a system.
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