Reliability of Mooring Buoys

[Gary Wyngarden]

I'm reading a cruising guide to the Queen Charlotte Islands, a remote and challenging area about 60 miles off the coast of British Columbia, in preparation for a trip next year. The author recommends testing all mooring buoys by backing down on them once you're tied up to make sure they will hold.This brought to mind a comment from a Canadian friend who sailed his 47 foot ketch to New Zealand and back. He said that he never used mooring buoys because he wasn't sure of their maintenance and didn't know whether a rusty link of a chain or faulty shackle was ready to give out. He said that he knew that his own ground tackle was in good shape.I've heard lots of stories of mooring buoys blown ashore in winter storms and have seen one or two on the beach or rocks.I'd be interested in any experiences others may have had with mooring buoy failures. Do you test a mooring buoy by backing down on it before entrusting the safety of ship and crew to it's security?Gary WyngardenS/V Wanderlust h37.5

 

[tom h]

Inspection b4 hookin up

if possible, I always look at the chain at the ball or float. If it looks bad, is the rest healthy?Can it survive my stay? In other words, we will be here for two nights, with no wind expected. Which is different than the same chain with high winds expected.

 

[Ross]

during Huricane Isobel we had a boat get loose

from a mooring at a very well run marina. I never did learn the complete nature of the failure.Murphy's law is immutable. And the corollary is also to be given great regard. When something goes bad it will do so in a manner to cause the most inconvenience to the greatest number of people.

 

[ConchyJoe]

Mooring bouys are in mooring fields.

If yours doesn't break loose, someone elses will and take your boat with it.I don't trust them, the ones around it, or the other boats around it.

 

[Rick I]

I'm always amazed

at the folks who'll pay good money to tie up to what passes as a secur mooring in some places. Case in point, Farmer's Cay in the Bahamas. Every year without fail some poor sucker ends up ashore because the mooring didn't hold in the night. With most mooring you pays your money and you takes your chances. I sleep much better knowing my hook is dug in.

 

[Tom Spohn]

Gary

Why not put your question to the BC Provincial Parks folks. Ask them how often they are inspected and how they are anchored, and what boat displacement and wind value they are rated at. Their response will be your guide.