[Rhodes22-list] Mooring advice

Sun Jun 9 08:42:00 EDT 2024

Matt,

On mooring balls I’ve used, there is a steel rod running thru the center of the ball from top to bottom.  The chain to the anchor attaches to a ring at the bottom.  The mooring line to the boat attaches to a ring on the top of the ball.  The steel rod connects everything together.  With the mooring line attached to the top of the ball, it doesn’t need a float.  It is just hanging off the top of the ball waiting to be snagged with a boat hook.  If the mooring line is attached to the bottom of the mooring ball, you either need to use floating line like polypropylene or a float.  Otherwise, the line will be underwater and difficult to snag.  Polypropylene line is not as strong as nylon and less UV resistant.  How was your mooring setup?

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium 
1978. Sanford MI

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 9, 2024, at 8:26 AM, ROGER PIHLAJA <Roger_Pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Matt,
> 
> I would use 3/8” nylon double braid with an eye splice and a thimble and shackle at the mooring ball.  Use of a thimble and shackle will greatly reduce chafe.  But, keep an eye on it anyway.  A properly done eye splice is nearly as strong as the line itself, much stronger than any knot.  Don’t forget to safety wire your shackles.  I like to run the mooring line thru the bow eye (the one you broke) and then up to the bow line chock and cleat.  Using the bow eye lowers the point of attachment on the boat, thus reducing the loads.  But, there are others on the Rhodes list that prefer to just run the line up to the line chock and cleat.
> 
> Roger Pihlaja
> S/C S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> 1978. Sanford, MI
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jun 9, 2024, at 7:57 AM, Matt Wilson <mwhornblower at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Roger,
>> 
>> Sorry for the confusion. How should I attach the nylon mooring line from
>> the boat? Currently my mooring line is a chain and is attached to a shackle
>> directly underneath the mooring ball. Do I tie a knot to that shackle or
>> ??
>> 
>> The owners of the mooring is the City of White Bear Lake.    They have
>> loose guidelines but do not specify mooring pennant material.
>> 
>> Matt
>> 
>>>> On Sun, Jun 9, 2024 at 6:34 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi Matt,
>>> So the line from the bottom of the mooring ball is leading to the anchor?
>>> I like to use all chain with a shackle and swivel at the mooring ball.  It
>>> it somewhat controversial whether to use a swivel or not and where to put
>>> it.  I like to put it at the mooring ball because I can inspect it and
>>> replace it relatively easily.
>>> 
>>> I’m surprised the owners of your mooring field don’t have their own
>>> rigging guidelines.
>>> 
>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>> 1978. Sanford, MI
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>>> On Jun 8, 2024, at 11:21 PM, Matt Wilson <mwhornblower at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks guys,
>>>> 
>>>> What’s the best way to attach a line to the bottom of the mooring ball. A
>>>> metal shackle and bowline? Anchor hitch?
>>>> 
>>>> The fiberglass appears to be totally intact.  I never found the U ring
>>> but
>>>> one of the bolts was still in there broken cleanly some rust present the
>>>> backing plate on my 1990 boat appears to be wood and there was no metal
>>>> plate present either on the outside or inside. We had a sudden gust about
>>>> 40mph maybe a bit more on a windy but sunny day. Thanks for the warning
>>> on
>>>> the glass. I’ll look again more closely tomorrow but I didn’t see
>>> anything
>>>> as I was installing the new one.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Sat, Jun 8, 2024 at 7:56 PM Graham Stewart <gstewart.gm at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> I would go with a double line (3/8 or larger)  that goes through the
>>> chocks
>>>>> to the bow cleat. I would not use the bow ring.
>>>>> Graham Stewart
>>>>> gstewart.gm at gmail.com
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sat, Jun 8, 2024 at 5:05 PM Matt Wilson <mwhornblower at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Thank you Stewart,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I know these are general boating questions so thanks for the help. What
>>>>>> size and type of line would you recommend?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Matt Wilson
>>>>>> Hornblower II
>>>>>> White Bear Lake MN
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sat, Jun 8, 2024 at 3:41 PM Graham Stewart <gstewart.gm at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Are you connecting the bow ring to the mooring with chain alone? If
>>> so,
>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> run the risk of wearing right through the metal hardware or chain. The
>>>>>>> connection to the boat should  always use lines. You can add a snuber
>>>>> for
>>>>>>> shock reduction.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Graham Stewart
>>>>>>> gstewart.gm at gmail.com
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Sat, Jun 8, 2024 at 1:04 PM Matt Wilson <mwhornblower at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Sorry everyone,
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> I spent a few hours putting in a new, heavier bow ring and then we
>>>>> had
>>>>>>>> folks out for a stunning sunset sail.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Yes the ring that attaches the boat to the trailer. That ring was
>>>>>>> attached
>>>>>>>> to my mooring and broke from fatigue during a 40 mph sustained gust.
>>>>> I
>>>>>>> use
>>>>>>>> a chain on a mooring on a fairly  large MN lake.  It’s mostly
>>>>> sheltered
>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>> when those SE breezes come up there is about 1.5 mi of open water so
>>>>>>> there
>>>>>>>> can be a fair amount of wave action on top of sustained 20mph winds
>>>>> at
>>>>>>>> times.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Should I be concerned that the boat fiberglass could be damaged?  Any
>>>>>>>> thoughts on some kind of spring or a better set up?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Thanks so much,
>>>>>>>> Matt Wilson
>>>>>>>> HornblowerII
>>>>>>>> White Bear Lake, MN
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Fri, Jun 7, 2024 at 4:13 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Hi Larry,
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Are you referring to the ring on the bow which is used to winch the
>>>>>>> boat
>>>>>>>>> onto the trailer?  Does the bow have a big hole where the ring used
>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> be?
>>>>>>>>> What sort of conditions did it take to do that?  What are you going
>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>>>> to do to repair ?
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Does your boat have bow line chocks?  If yes, then just route the
>>>>>>> mooring
>>>>>>>>> line from the bow cleat thru the line chock and down to the mooring
>>>>>>> buoy.
>>>>>>>>> You could rig a bridle thru each line chock.  But, the boat won’t
>>>>>> ride
>>>>>>>> too
>>>>>>>>> far off center with just one.  I wouldn’t bother with rigging the
>>>>> 2nd
>>>>>>>>> line.  I presume this will be temporary?
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>>>>>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>>>>>>>> 1978. Sanford, MI
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On Jun 7, 2024, at 3:36 PM, Larry Gioia via Rhodes22-list <
>>>>>>>>> rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>  I've seen setups where a yoke is created by a line tied at each
>>>>>> end
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> the 2 foredeck cleats and leading around the bow, connected to a
>>>>>>> separate
>>>>>>>>> line that goes to the mooring.
>>>>>>>>>> And I am curious about that sheared bow ring.
>>>>>>>>>> Larry
>>>>>>>>>> On Friday, June 7, 2024 at 03:29:27 PM EDT, Matt Wilson <
>>>>>>>>> mwhornblower at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Hi everyone,
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> I just had a bow ring shear off during a storm.  Any advice on
>>>>>>> mooring
>>>>>>>>> to a
>>>>>>>>>> buoy without one…just using the foredeck cleat.
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Much appreciated,
>>>>>>>>>> Matt Wilson
>>>>>>>>>> Hornblower II
>>>>>>>>>> White Bear Lake, MN
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>> 