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Catalina 25 Specific Forum

mooring with rope AND a chain?

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cayugaboater
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/02/2009 : 19:57:21

Thx for the tips on mast-stepping. My new question pertains to mooring. On my old kind of beat up 73 O Day 23 (anyone want to buy it?)I would moor from the mooring ball to the front deck cleats AND, run a chain from the bow cleat to the mooring chain, beneath the ball, with swivels here and there to keep from tangling. The mooring ball and chain used to sometimes whack up against the O'Day but it didn't make any noticeable difference with all the other scratches

Now I have a nice catalina and I don't want it bunged up, but it gets rough out there, and the rope broke once and I lost my boat, hence I started putting on the chain for backup.

Would welcome any suggestons if anyone has a better idea, or if anyone does something similar but protects the boat somehow from the mooring ball and/or chain scraping against it, I'd like to know how you do that. Thanks.

89 wingkeel;std rig.
Sail #5811

Edited by - on

cks
Navigator

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126 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2009 : 12:46:39

Do you have 2 pendants running from the mooring? I've had one but not both lines fail even after some strong storms. 15 feet half inch pendants should hold you through anything. I think you're asking to become a gelcoat repair expert with those chains.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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5902 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2009 : 13:14:42

I agree with two rope pendants. Attach each to the mooring ball with chafe protection, and then tie each to one of the bow cleats. The boat should stay put, and it shouldn't get marked.

Pendants should <u>not</u> be attached to the bow eye with a spring-loaded clip. Those clips can twist and will become unclipped. If the pendants are tied to a bow cleat, they will remain attached.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 09/03/2009 13:18:46

cayugaboater
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2009 : 15:53:28

Sure this a naive question, but how do you keep the two ropes from tangling and twisting themselves into a knot and then breaking, do you put some kind of spreader bar on them? Initially I did do it with 2 ropes, but they knotted each other up as the boat would move around in circles relative to the ball and they eventually broke--was why i started using a chain. I guess I'm not familiar with how you run two ropes and keep them from tangling each other up.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2009 : 06:44:42

This mooring bridle plate is used to attach a double bridle to the mooring ball. It's made by Taylor and the online price is $164.

I haven't searched for best price, so you might be able to find it for less. It doesn't look too complicated, so you might be able to fabricate one out of standard parts.

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cayugaboater
1st Mate

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Response Posted - 09/04/2009 : 09:27:10

Thanks Steve, that looks like the solution to my problem, cause I definitely cannot depend on just one rope, I'm on the "rough", east, side of my lake without any shelter from west, northwest wind and waves.

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cks
Navigator

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126 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2009 : 10:12:17

This isn't the most "green" solution and i should be flogged for this, but an old sailor next to me taught me to tape both lines together with duct tape at several points- you may have to re tape them every few weeks or so, but it works. Also, look on ebay for the pendants, you can find them sometimes for half the price what what you'll see on some internet sites.

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2009 : 07:32:54

Garden hose over a chain makes for good chafe protection.

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cayugaboater
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2009 : 11:44:56

Well the chain I was using was a really big, thick chain, garden hose would never fit over it. I was slipping those foam noodles over it when i used it, but they kept dislodging.

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Frank Law
Navigator

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USA
159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2009 : 12:35:39

A late thought I used 2 mooring lines one time as a hurricane was coming up the East coast. After the storm I checked the boat and found a branch had lodged between the line and tangled everthing and really shortened the lines.. I have had good luck with One line 1/2'' coming from the bow eye which has a backing plate..
Frank Law
About Time
1983 sr,swk

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cayugaboater
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2009 : 19:08:06

Well yea, but when the one rope goes, so goes the boat. Mine went a mile down the lake, crashed on rocks. When i had the chain I made it far longer than the rope from the cleat, so it hung down thru the water connected lower on the mooring chain with a swivel, so rope and chain never tangled. Now that I have this nice 89 cat 25 though, Im afraid of having a chain whang up on it. So, guess the two rope system with the bridle mechanism is the answer? Does that thing really work? Still seems like they could tangle up when everything is just laying on the water in dead air and drifting around, no?

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2009 : 06:53:45

Cayuga - if Garden hose doesn't fit, take your chain to the nearest-by farm supply and ask what hose they have for sale by the foot. I know that our local supply has rubber hose with ID's as large as 3". If your chain is that big, you have bigger problems than chafe protection...

EDIT: Thought I should add the obvious... If you do this, check for the first few days to be sure the rubber hose doesn't mark the hull (black rubber may leave black marks, etc.) If it does you can make a sleeve to go over the hose (canvas or other cloth) or wrap it in tape, or paint it. This is not an issue with garden hose, of course.

Edited by - Prospector on 09/16/2009 07:24:52

Scooter
Navigator

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USA
228 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2009 : 05:23:32

If you're lucky you might be able to find an old fire hose to protect the lines near the hull. They come in very large sizes and if you're lucky you can get them cheap or free since the Fire Departments can't use them if they get too old. They have a canvas covering that is designed to take abuse.

It still may create scratches on the hull but almost anything will if it rubs on the hull long enough.

I have some I'm going to use to create bumpers on the dock.

Good Luck.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2009 : 06:44:50

There are all kinds and diameters of clear and white hose for head plumbing, water lines, etc. at WM and elsewhere.

Steve's pennant swivel should prevent twisting from causing a problem as soon as anything (wind) pulls just a little on the pennants--they should unwind. (In salt water, growth might eventually prevent swiveling...) If you try to fabricate one, I'd start with a large anchor swivel and add heavy stainless parts--you might not be able to beat the cost.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2009 : 13:31:37

My pendant is a 5/8" single line with a 13" eye splice and an additional 3' line with eye spliced to the the main line to form a bridal. All connecting points have swivels. I've used this pendant, with one replacement, for 20 years without any problems. The pendant is attached to the boat using the two bow cleats.

Edited by - aeckhart on 09/24/2009 13:33:44

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