Mooring
Hey everyone- I'm in the process of buying all of the parts to put together a solid mooring for my cat 22. I bought a 250 lb mushroom mooring, which I think should be sufficient for the modestly sized lake it will be moored on. The mooring will
Be about 15 ft deep.
I didn't realize how dang expensive everything else will be to actually get this mooring together. To save on costs, I am using about 6 ft of super heavy chain (1") at the bottom connected with a swivel to another 15 ft. of 3/8" chain. That will be connected to 15 feet of light chain (1/4"), connected to an 18" buoy. Finally, that will be connected with rope to a pick-up buoy. Sorry I that was convoluted, the drawing I'll post when I get home is clearer.
Am I missing anything glaring here? How are my chains? Properly sized, both in thickness and length? Help me out, I'm a first timer! Thanks!
Freshiecat
My yacht club has some very strict rules on mooring. I will list some of the most important ones for you to follow for a very safe mooring.
Pennants:
All boats shall use polyester / dacron pennants except that boats under 5,000 lbs. displacement and in less than 8ft. MLW may substitute nylon pennants.
Mooring balls shall have flotation on the lower part of the pennants to prevent wrap under the ball.
Heavy Nylon (1” or greater) of at least 6 feet in length may be used between the mooring ball, if used, and the pennants. For systems using flotation instead of a mooring ball,
Heavy Nylon shall be used either above, or below, the flotation, or both. Heavy Nylon may be substituted for light chain in all systems. Two ¾” pennants lashed together may be used instead of Heavy Nylon above the flotation.
Pennant length from surface to chocks should equal two and one half times the height of
the chocks above water and not to exceed three times.
All shackles and swivels used in the heavy chain shall not be smaller than the chain size used.
All shackles used in the light or upper chain shall not be more than one trade size smaller than that of the upper chain or a minimum of 3/8 inch.
1. Follow recommended standards for component sizes
2. Install double-ring type swivel between heavy and light chain.
Do not use double jaw swivels (with clevis and cotter pins) as cotter pins corrode away quickly.
3. Use only screw type shackles (no clevis and cotter pin types).
2. Seize screw shackles with heavy (9g. Or better) galvanized wire, which can be obtained at any store selling chain link fencing and most hardware stores. Plastic coated, heavy gauge copper wire may also be used to seize screw shackles.
3. If chain twists badly, install another swivel beneath the float. Check with either (or all) of the RYC approved contractors to confirm accuracy because swivels are often the weak link.
4. Attach pennants, terminated in a metal thimble, directly to the light chain. In those moorings where the chain passes through the mooring ball, the attachment may be at the top. Where the mooring has a rod through the center with rings to and bottom, the pennants must be attached beneath the float and be directly linked to the light chain. Slip hitches will be permitted only at the juncture between nylon to upper pennants to allow for change in worn pennants.
5. Upper pennants will be double braid polyester. Some boats may be equipped with Dyneema line in addition to their double braid polyester braided lines, depending on their location in the fleet.
6. Pennants must be maintained in safe condition. No nylon upper pennant shall be used more than two seasons. It is recommended that pennants be replaced annually.
7. A short length of chain (18 inches) between rope part of pennant and chain may be used to eliminate rope chafe from float.
8. Eye splice rope pennant onto galvanized thimbles for attachment to chain.
9. Nearer the water surface, one-eighth inch of material diameter can corrode away annually so light chain should be replaced accordingly.
10. Chocks and cleats are part of the mooring system and should be attached securely
t rough backing plates.
11. Double pennants shall be used for all moorings. It is recommended pennants be of equal length.
12. Proper chafe guards must be attached to the pennants at the chocks.
Hope this helps
Bill
