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Mooring at Anchor Buoy

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Bill Sloane
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/30/2002 : 20:11:55

Advice on mooring at anchor buoy? I just moored my boat for the first time and as it happens, it was blowing from the west strongly and my boat looked like it was tacking up wind until the buoy line stopped it. Does one need to secure the rudder? Length of line from buoy? What about the swing keel? I assume that stays down. I want to keep the boat on my buoy for about a month in front of my house before I haul it out. It is on Hammersley inlet in South Puget Sound. A narrow protected waterway, but the tide moves through well.

Bill
'78 C25 #496 'Suede Shoes' SR/SK
South Puget Sound

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2002 : 20:41:12

Bill,
We used a 10' line which results in the boat pulling the buoy more sideways as opposed to upwards - reducing the chance of dislodging the buoy's anchoring device.
We put a foam pipe insulator around the buoy line so it floats - reducing the chance of it tangling with buoy anchoring hardware. We also placed a swivel on top of the buoy to reduce wear on the buoy line itself.
We tied our rudder to center to reduce yawing and wear & tear to the pintles and gudgeons.

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Jeff
1st Mate

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37 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2002 : 23:24:31

Hi Bill,
We saw you off Boston Harbor Saturday. We were on Tybreaker, southbound for our slip at Swantown. You were northbound.

When we take a Washington State Marine Park buoy, we make a bridle with 3/4" nylon line. One end is made fast to the port bow cleat, then the line is passed through the buoy ring, and the other end is made fast to the starboard bow cleat. We like to shorten the bridle as much as possible. This keeps the buoy up close to the boat and does not allow room for the boat to get a running start at the buoy, lessening the impact should buoy and fiberglass meet. We also tie a bucket off one or both of the stern cleats to act as sea anchors. I've had the misfortune of having the anchor line wrap itself around our fin keel when the wind is contrary to the current. The fin keel underbody shape seems to make the boat hunt when at anchor rather than sit still as a full keel does. My guess is that the swing keel does a similar dance. The buckets help settle the boat down so she faces into the current rather than swing to every little puff of air.

About whether to leave the keel up or down: I don't have first hand knowledge, but I've heard of possible problems should the swing keel drop unexpectedly. That 1500 lbs comming to a sudden stop represents considerable force. I've been waked by inconsiderate powerboats when at anchor and can imagine that violent motion causing a swing keel to fall. So I'd be inclined to leave it down. And locked if that's possible.

Hope this helps. Good sailing to you.

Edited by - Jeff on 10/02/2002 01:18:14

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2002 : 19:06:32

There are many ways to moor a boat. The Catalina tends to dance about quite a bit so the question is how to stop this dance. 1) One line 6'long off of either port or stbd bow to the eye of the buoy. Another line 15' long to the stern cleat of the same side. This will keep one side of the boat at an angle to the wind.
2) one line to the buoy through the eye and back with a small riding sail rigged from aft stay and boom. Make it from a cheap blue tarp and secure it with bungee cord. This causes the stern to ride steady keeping her bow to wind.
3) Drop a stern anchor and set it well aft with only enough scope to keep the boat headed on way. This is similar to mooring between two buoys.
4) Drop something off of the stern like a bucket to drag as the boat turns. This wont stop the motion but will slow it down.
5) If your not far from shore tie to shore but make the line very visable, orange floats etc.
6) Set another buoy and tie between the two.

Doug&Ruth
Boatless in Seattle
Tacoma Wa.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2002 : 21:36:59

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
1) One line 6'long off of either port or stbd bow to the eye of the buoy. Another line 15' long to the stern cleat of the same side. This will keep one side of the boat at an angle to the wind.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
That's an interesting approach, Doug... Sorta like heaving to on the mooring. You'll sail up and fall back a little, but you shouldn't do the swinging thing. But how does it handle a 180 degree current or wind change?

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 10/01/2002 21:41:12

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