[C320-list] Using bow cleats for mooring

[Scott Thompson]

   Graeme: Here is a bit more information about what has worked for me. I
   use a Yale Maxi-Moor pendant, the 3/4" by 12' version, which has
   breaking strength of more than 9,000 kg. I think that is way more than
   I need. The product is described here:
   [1]http://www.yalecordage.com/maxi-moor.html. You will want a heavy
   galvanized shackle (5/8" if I recall, but best to check) to attack the
   pendant to the mooring chain. My mooring has one large shackle at the
   end of the chain, which keeps the chain from disappearing through the
   buoy to the bottom. Then I use a second shackle attached to the first
   one to secure the pendant. The second one comes off the buoy along with
   the pendant at the end of the season. Both are wired shut with Monel
   wire.

   Note that my mooring chain passes through the buoy and the pendant
   attaches on top. This is different from some systems I see where the
   pendant attaches below the buoy. I figure the fewer underwater
   connections the better!

   How I use the pendant: I pass the large spliced eye through the base of
   the port side cleat and then over the ends. This keeps the boat very
   secure even without using the little blue line you see in the picture.
   I use that line instead to attach a pickup buoy that just sits on the
   deck when the boat is on the mooring, but makes picking up the mooring
   as simple as nosing the boat up to the pickup buoy and having someone
   reach over the side to grab it and pull it on board. No messing around
   with boat hooks required. The one I like is this one:
   [2]https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/products/buoy-mast-mooring-6-ft--del
   uxe-orange-poly-coated-15953.html. This one has a coating over the
   fibreglass that protects it from the UV and also protects your hands
   from exposure to bare fiberglass, and is long enough that you don't
   have to reach down to grab it. Some people attach a tell-tale to the
   top to give better info about what the wind is doing as you approach
   the mooring.

   I have tried attaching a mooring line on the starboard side but it
   tends to hang up on the anchor when the boat swings. I've never had
   this issue on the port side, nor have I seen a need for a second
   pendant.
   Scott Thompson

   On 12/18/2016 7:05 PM, Graeme Clark wrote:

My 1996 320, hull #366, has no bow fairleads, just the usual cleats either side
a couple of feet back from the bow.

Here in Britain it is very common  - but I believe less so in USA - to have boat
s moored on a `swinging mooring' rather than docked or `alongside' in a marina.
 This, for those that are unaware is large gauge chain connected to a heavy weig
ht or block on the sea-bed. The chain is held up by a large floating buoy and a
mooring strop or mooring chain is then connected to the top of the riser chain.
The free end of this has a small "pickup" buoy attached.

Until now I have been using the mooring chain by removing the anchor and leading
 the chain over the anchor roller to the large central bow cleat. It works well
but has two problems. It can be a pain to remove the anchor and stow it (it has
to be taken aft as insufficient room in anchor locker), and it is easy to get fi
ngers trapped when threading chain over the bow roller, especially if the sea is
 a bit choppy . Also the rusty chain leaves stains on the deck.

Instead of mooring chain, I am therefore considering having a double rope strop
made up, to lead either side of the bow to the two bow cleats, having a soft spl
iced eye at the cleat end and a hard eye at the riser chain end. I envisage usin
g some of the self-adhesive thin stainless steel sheet to protect the edge of th
e deck where the line might chafe.

The real question though is whether these cleats are up to the load - compared t
o the large central cleat.  i think they must be as they are, after all, what is
 used to secure the boat alongside in a dock or marina berth. On the other hand
the swinging moorings are a little further off shore from the marina and have le
ss shelter so a strong gale and choppy seas might put quite a strain on them.

I'd be interested to hear of other owners who have used or do use similar moorin
g techniques and any alternative recommendations.

Thanks

Graeme

--------------------------------------
I work irregular hours and often write emails late in the evening and at weekend
s; that doesn't mean I expect you to do the same; reply when convenient!

References

   1. http://www.yalecordage.com/maxi-moor.html
   2. https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/products/buoy-mast-mooring-6-ft--deluxe-orange-poly-coated-15953.html