mooring ball

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getakey

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Newbie at this, have always either anchored out or tied to dock.
We have new opportunity to do an overnight at harbor that has morring balls. I've done soem searching, but lots of varied opinions and techniques.
What is wrong with this technique?:
Tie line to front port cleat and run through ring on ball and then tie other end to starboard cleat.
Will this cause to much chafe on rope in ring?
 
Quite likely, yes. Those rings are often rough with rust. The better way is to use a line with a metal clip on one end and a loop on the other. There are several tools and products on the market that help attach the clip to the mooring ball.

Of course the easiest way is to have the mooring pennant pre-attached to the ball.
 
We have this problem often as well. An additional problem w/ your suggested method is in windy conditions as the boat swings side to side the rope can often "creek" as it slides thru the mooring ring making an irritating sound.

I like to take a line and take a bite out of the middle. Pass the bite through the mooring ring then pass the ends of the line through the bite. Now tie the ends to your cleat or cleats. The line will now not slide through the ring. If conditons are rough or windy as you approach the mooring you may want to use your way to quickly secure. Then do the above with a second line.

When you're ready to leave I either pull in the line until I can grab the bite on the ring, or I grab the bite with a boat hook. Untie my cleats and pull the bite. Off I go.
 
quote:
Originally posted by getakey

Click to expand...


Your not staying there for the summer like that, just over night.

I would assume that the ring for any line is nicley polished from years of use by now.

If its brand new or your worried, just run your fingers along the inside of the loop and feel it.

If you dont like what you feel than tie a line tight to it and tie your bridal to the line.

Or if you like what you feel do what you said, use a decent dock line and double it if you want. Its only 1 night....

Or go buy a big shackle and put it on for the night then put your line through it.

Always good to have a big shackle on board just for such occasions.
 
Chaffing is worst when tying the way you suggested. The easiest way is use two lines. Put the eyes on your bow cleats, run each line thru the eye of the ball or thru the eye of the pennant, then bring each line to its cleat and secure. When you leave, the bitter ends will slide thru and release
 
Where are you mooring? Not all moorings are the same. Out your way, the moorings at Catalina down south are much different than the moorings at Angel Island in SF Bay which in turn differ from the various mooring types up in the San Juan Islands. I have used them all, and most of the different types along the eastern seaboard (we lived full time for months on moorings in Marathon FL and Westport, MA). Your best bet is to contact the harbor master or state park ranger for the specific place you are going and get best practices from him/her.
 
Pascal - thinking your way is easiest, at least for the one night, thanks

Caltexfla- Immediate target is Sausalito Yacht Club as a member invited us over. Good suggestion to contact them. We will probably go for Angel Island later this summer. I've read their mooring instruction from their site.
 
Most boats have high bows. They're quite a ways off the water. I run a line from the bow, outside the railing to the stern. I can reach the mooring ball from the stern. I loop my bow line through, then walk the bitter end up to the bow. My bow line is looped through the mooring. WHen I want to leave, I untie one of the lines and quickly pull it through the mooring.

http://baylinerownersclub.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=18027&g2_serialNumber=2

This can all be made difficult if you're dealing with wind or spring tides.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Monterey10

Most boats have high bows. They're quite a ways off the water. I run a line from the bow, outside the railing to the stern. I can reach the mooring ball from the stern. I loop my bow line through, then walk the bitter end up to the bow. My bow line is looped through the mooring. WHen I want to leave, I untie one of the lines and quickly pull it through the mooring.

http://baylinerownersclub.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=18027&g2_serialNumber=2

This can all be made difficult if you're dealing with wind or spring tides.

Click to expand...


Thanks, I'd already figured I would do it that way as raeaching down from the bow would be difficult even with a hook.
 
Assuming you will be at Ayala cove just loop through the ring as you said but also be aware that stern mooring is also required. same way. The "happy Hooker" tool works well in that area. You will need at least one long line to reach both balls. There is often a loop current in the cove. Tie off on the upstram ball first and the current will take you to the other.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

Assuming you will be at Ayala cove just loop through the ring as you said but also be aware that stern mooring is also required. same way. The "happy Hooker" tool works well in that area. You will need at least one long line to reach both balls. There is often a loop current in the cove. Tie off on the upstram ball first and the current will take you to the other.

Click to expand...


No, I am going to Sausalito Yacht Club. I've asked the member there to see whether it is bow and stern or just tie to one. I've read the requirements at Ayala. Will target that on a future date
 
I don't recall having as strong of tides in Richardson bay, though, the afternoon winds can be strong. We always stayed in Schoonmaker's marina.

More on mooring balls in Ayala:

I use my long 300'er to grab the up current ball, then I back down to the other. Even so, I find it easier when there are no currents. I have my wife keep the bow line from getting under the boat. You don't want to foul a prop in the cove.

If you have spring tides, you have an entirely different game. You'll be lucky to get you bow line on the ball. If you're struggling, I suggest letting it swing from the bow, while you launch your dinghy. Another way to do it would be to use the day use dock until the tides ease up.

On one trip to Ayala cove, we had a fair current running. I pulled up near a mooring ball. I grabbed the ball with the boat hook and drew it close to the stern. Just when I was ready to loop the line through, the boat took off, I was holding on with all my might, but myself, the hook and ball were stretching. WHen I felt I couldn't hold on any longer, I let the hook go. I shot across the mooring field like an arrow. The surrounding boaters all clapped. So, watch those tide charts. Pick your hour.

On my last trip, I saw a fisherman tie a single line between the balls. This single line was loose enough for him to tie to his bow and stern cleat. I suppose it worked if you had only one line. It would be a pain to untie in the morning.

This guy fell off his bow, trying to reach the ball:
http://baylinerownersclub.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=18228&g2_serialNumber=3
 
i often have to pick up moorings single handed and it can be very tricky if you have wind or current. With anything over 30/35' forget trying to hold on the line, it cant actually get dangerous.

what i often do when the mooring has a pennant is temporarily put the pennant either on the windlass capstan if the eye is large enough or over a cleat. Then i can take my time rigging the lines and when all set i release the penant from the cleat or capstan.

whenever i have to get a mooring that doesn't have a pennant, like the large moorings in Newport, I do it from the stern as it's the only way i can get to the ring on the buoy (too heavy to lift obviously). If it's windy, then i rig lines from the mid ship cleats and from the bow to move the rigged pennant forward, always having one line secured.

It's one of those situations where your brain is a lot more important than muscle... think ahead and keep in mind you can get hurt.
 
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