[C320-list] Using bow cleats for mooring

[Troy Dunn]

+1 on flipping the anchor upside down.   It admittedly looks a bit wonky,
especially if you forget to flip it back and then have your boat hauled for
winter...  ;)

Troy Dunn
Wonky Dog
Hull#514

On Monday, December 19, 2016, Freedman Arthur <saltyvet at mindspring.com>
wrote:

> At my mooring ball I use a double pennant on my C310 with a claw anchor.
> Before one particular forecasted severe storm, I removed the anchor.
> Unfortunately, the wave action in the harbor caused marked severe  pitching
> and swinging of the boat.  Bottom line was the anchor roller wore through
> both 3/4” pennants and the  was bent 45 degrees down from the force of the
> boats peanut catching on the roller.  The boat ended up on the beach and
> spent the winter at the yacht yard being repaired.   Lesson learned is any
> time there is forecasted  severe storm I re-rout the pennants through the
> anchor roller with chafe protection as well as securely tying the pennants
> to the roller.
>
> Art Freedman
>
>
> On Dec 19, 2016, at 3:24 PM, Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
>
> Rather than remove the Anchor (which is a chore), we just pulled the
> anchor out it out enough to flip it over and put it back in the bow
> roller.  Then the flukes are pointed up and don't catch the pennant lines.
> That's a lot easier to do than to remove the anchor and pull it on deck.
>
> But normally when on a mooring ball,  we only use the Port side cleat
> because it is least likely to catch on the anchor during swing unless there
> is a tide/current/wind combination that makes the boat sit awkwardly.
>  When using double pennants, we nearly always flip the anchor upside down
> unless it's very calm.
>
> -Jeff Hare
> #809
>
> PS:  Chris, your particular boat has had its anchor roller upgraded to the
> newer style which is longer than the ones originally installed on your hull
> # and earlier. So, those with hulls in the 400's or earlier, probably have
> the OEM short bow roller unless you specifically upgraded it.  Not sure if
> those are more or less susceptible having the mooring lines from the cleats
> catch on the anchor.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of Chris Nichols
> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2016 2:43 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Using bow cleats for mooring
>
> Hi Scott,
> A fellow Brit c320 owner here. I have used my bow cleats in exactly the
> manner you describe for years without negative consequence on a swinging
> mooring where the boat has been subject to some horrendous conditions.
>
> A couple of thoughts
> 1. Put leather chafing gear on the junk to protect it from the occasional
> twang from the tips of the anchor flukes (I have a boom bail on my anchor
> roller so removal of the anchor is a real chore). This can happen at the
> end of a swing with the right wave timing.
>
> 2. I have no additional protection for my rail edge and you describe using
> adhesive SS. I would want to be really sure this did not create an
> additional chafe point e.g. If the edge of the metal got turned slightly.
>
> All the best
> Chris
> (AmandaRose #476)
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On 19 Dec 2016, at 00:35, Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> >
> > I keep my 1999 320 on such a mooring using a single mooring pennant led
> to the port cleat. I use a 12 foot by 3/4 inch Yale mooring pennant.
> Mooring on the starboard side causes problems with the anchor. I've had no
> problems through more than 12 years with this arrangement, including
> tropical storm force winds. I am in a sheltered creek so no significant
> wave action, tides or wakes. The bow cleats are less likely to fail than
> the mooring itself in my view.
> >
> > The only issues that I've had were due to the hull bumping against the
> buoy, which has scratched the boot stripe.
> >
> > Scott Thompson
> >
> >> On Dec 18, 2016, at 7:05 PM, Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk
> <javascript:;>> 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 boats 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 weight 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 fingers 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 spliced eye at the cleat end and a hard eye at the riser
> chain end. I envisage using some of the self-adhesive thin stainless steel
> sheet to protect the edge of the deck where the line might chafe.
> >>
> >> The real question though is whether these cleats are up to the load -
> compared to 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 less 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 mooring techniques and any alternative recommendations.
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >>
> >> Graeme
> >>
> >> ———————————————————
> >> I work irregular hours and often write emails late in the evening and
> at weekends; that doesn’t mean I expect you to do the same; reply when
> convenient!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
>
>
> Arthur Freedman, DVM
> Hawthorne Animal Health Care
> 978-741-2300
> saltyvet at mindspring.com <javascript:;>
>
>
>
>