My O'Day 22 has an eye on the bow,I suppose for winching on to the trailer.Is this also a suitable mooring eye? I have been tieing off to the bow deck cleats.I was thinking of a stainless hook at the eye, to save valuable seconds of sailing time! Any comments or suggestions? (I also thought the boat would ride easier at mooring tied off closer to waterline) Thanks!
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
D
david lewis
Bow Eye Friction
I would not recommend a stainless hook in the bow eye to tie to a mooring. A boat on a mooring will be constantly in motion and the metal to metal contact will result is continual wear. You should also have a backup connection to the mooring in case the primary fails. I have seen mooring lines start to melt from the friction produced during hurricane bob so I bet the metal will wear out quickly. Replacing mooring lines sounds a lot easier than a new bow eye. dave
I would not recommend a stainless hook in the bow eye to tie to a mooring. A boat on a mooring will be constantly in motion and the metal to metal contact will result is continual wear. You should also have a backup connection to the mooring in case the primary fails. I have seen mooring lines start to melt from the friction produced during hurricane bob so I bet the metal will wear out quickly. Replacing mooring lines sounds a lot easier than a new bow eye. dave
E
Eric
Use a nylon with chain backup
I have my 23' moored with a nylon line taking all of the pull, with a slightly longer chain w/ stainless eye as a backup. I got all the chain sizes/lengths from a local boat shop- they have a mooring chart/specs, based on OAL.
I have my 23' moored with a nylon line taking all of the pull, with a slightly longer chain w/ stainless eye as a backup. I got all the chain sizes/lengths from a local boat shop- they have a mooring chart/specs, based on OAL.
J
Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Bow eye is a good idea
John - You need to check that the bow eye is in good shape and well backed, then I'd use it. The angle of the mooring pennant is more horizontal so you'll put less strain on the tackle and on the boat. I would have an overlong pennant that I would pick up and attach to the deck cleats, then as I left in the dinghy I'd attach a second line to the bow eye. That line would be short enough to take the strain from the cleats and introduce some slack into that line. I don't think you really need to worry about chaffing through your bow eye. Even if it were to happen, you just take the nuts off the thing and replace it. I would make sure that if you use some form of hook on the pennant it locks securely. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
John - You need to check that the bow eye is in good shape and well backed, then I'd use it. The angle of the mooring pennant is more horizontal so you'll put less strain on the tackle and on the boat. I would have an overlong pennant that I would pick up and attach to the deck cleats, then as I left in the dinghy I'd attach a second line to the bow eye. That line would be short enough to take the strain from the cleats and introduce some slack into that line. I don't think you really need to worry about chaffing through your bow eye. Even if it were to happen, you just take the nuts off the thing and replace it. I would make sure that if you use some form of hook on the pennant it locks securely. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
W
Warren
No On The Bow Eye
Do not attach your mooring pennant to the bow eye. The metal to metal contact will wear through the eye in short order. Also, the eye is really ment for trailing, I have seen many a bow eye pulled out! The arrangement that has worked for me for 29 years is a large single pennant (3/4" +-), over the bow with a single smooth chock to a large cleat. I use a section of bicycle intertube over the pennent & through the chock. I also have a long enought pennent so I can "bowline" it around the mast.
Do not attach your mooring pennant to the bow eye. The metal to metal contact will wear through the eye in short order. Also, the eye is really ment for trailing, I have seen many a bow eye pulled out! The arrangement that has worked for me for 29 years is a large single pennant (3/4" +-), over the bow with a single smooth chock to a large cleat. I use a section of bicycle intertube over the pennent & through the chock. I also have a long enought pennent so I can "bowline" it around the mast.
J
Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Think about your mooring for a minute
John - The guys are right about the possibility of pulling bow eye out. It could happen if what you've got isn't in good shape. That's why the first part of my comment is to make sure the bow eye on your boat is strong and well secured. If it is, its the perfect place to attach to. With respect to the guys who are afraid the thing is going to chafe through, I disagree. If your bow eye is quality stainless, and the fitting you attach it to is also quality stainless, you will need decades to wear it appreciably. If you use cheap stuff, all bets are off. You could get galvanic corrosion, and if there are barbs on the fitting it could score the bow eye. But, if they're both high quality, smooth, polished stainless, I really don't think you'll have a problem. Think about your mooring for a moment. You have chain with is a lot less smooth than your bow eye rubbing on shackles that are also a whole lot less smooth than your bow eye. But they don't chafe through. If you were really worried about it, coat the fitting in one of the rubber products designed for tool handles, or run a line through the bow eye and secure it to itself. Why am I so hung up on this? Because the bow eye is really the right angle for the mooring to be attached. First, its going to result in better holding power for your ground tackle. By decreasing the height of the attachment point you will increase the relative scope of the mooring mushroom and increase its effectiveness. At the same time, you will no longer be trying to pull the bow of the boat down into chop. It will be free to ride up and over stuff resulting in a lot less stress to the boat, and lots smoother motion for equipment, and people, aboard. I attached my daysailer to her mooring using the bow eye and it worked great for me. If my Catalina had a bow eye, I'd moor her on it too. Good luck with whatever you choose to do. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
John - The guys are right about the possibility of pulling bow eye out. It could happen if what you've got isn't in good shape. That's why the first part of my comment is to make sure the bow eye on your boat is strong and well secured. If it is, its the perfect place to attach to. With respect to the guys who are afraid the thing is going to chafe through, I disagree. If your bow eye is quality stainless, and the fitting you attach it to is also quality stainless, you will need decades to wear it appreciably. If you use cheap stuff, all bets are off. You could get galvanic corrosion, and if there are barbs on the fitting it could score the bow eye. But, if they're both high quality, smooth, polished stainless, I really don't think you'll have a problem. Think about your mooring for a moment. You have chain with is a lot less smooth than your bow eye rubbing on shackles that are also a whole lot less smooth than your bow eye. But they don't chafe through. If you were really worried about it, coat the fitting in one of the rubber products designed for tool handles, or run a line through the bow eye and secure it to itself. Why am I so hung up on this? Because the bow eye is really the right angle for the mooring to be attached. First, its going to result in better holding power for your ground tackle. By decreasing the height of the attachment point you will increase the relative scope of the mooring mushroom and increase its effectiveness. At the same time, you will no longer be trying to pull the bow of the boat down into chop. It will be free to ride up and over stuff resulting in a lot less stress to the boat, and lots smoother motion for equipment, and people, aboard. I attached my daysailer to her mooring using the bow eye and it worked great for me. If my Catalina had a bow eye, I'd moor her on it too. Good luck with whatever you choose to do. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
F
Frank
Bow Eye OK
Hi I had a 1972 Shoal Draft O'Day for 20 years and moored her to the bow eye. I never had a problem.
Hi I had a 1972 Shoal Draft O'Day for 20 years and moored her to the bow eye. I never had a problem.
P
Paul Palmer
Bow Eye Mooring
I agree with Justin. I have moored my OD25 for the last 2 years by the bow eye with a metal quick snap fitting. I have experienced no ware at all. Knowing the quick snap fitting is the weakest link I also have two back up lines, one on each side of the bow to the forward cleats. There is plenty of slack in the backups so all the strain is on the bow eye. It works great for me. Paul
I agree with Justin. I have moored my OD25 for the last 2 years by the bow eye with a metal quick snap fitting. I have experienced no ware at all. Knowing the quick snap fitting is the weakest link I also have two back up lines, one on each side of the bow to the forward cleats. There is plenty of slack in the backups so all the strain is on the bow eye. It works great for me. Paul
- Status
- Not open for further replies.