Pendant/Painter lines setup from Mooring

[rschlomann]

I have had my CD 28 on a mooring on Hempstead Harbor Long Island for six years. I always ran the pendant lines through the bow chocks and then to the cleats at the bow. Within the last month we have had some pretty strong winds from the Northwest causing 2-3 ft waves in the mooring field for over 24 hours at a time. On the first occasion I lost about 6 inches off of the bowsprit along with the anchor roller. My thoughts were that the pendant lines caught the roller and with the heavy pitching back and forth, the bow sprit snapped. There was no anchor on the bow at the time and the lines showed minimal signs of chaffing. On the second occasion, a 6-7inch lengthwise section (going aft from the tip of the bow sprit to the bow) was shaved off of the port side of the bowsprit. Again I attribute this damage to the pendant line- more visible signs of chaffing. I've come to the conclusion that my pendant lines are too short but not sure why the problem did not manifest itself earlier as we have had similar conditions in the past. The lines are Samson abt 3 years old, believe they are 12 feet.
I'm now being advised that upon repair of the bowsprit I should run the new pendant lines over the bowsprit and thru the anchor roller instead of thru the bow chocks. Would be interested to know if others are doing this?
Attached photos are taken after the 1st incident. I subequently trimmed the jagged edge to avoid any chance of lines getting caught on this.

[Northstar1014]

Mainesail has given this a lot of thought. When I set up my pennants, I followed his guidance. You may have some info here:

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/mooring_prep

[Astronomertoo]

Mainesail has given this a lot of thought. When I set up my pennants, I followed his guidance. You may have some info here:

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/mooring_prep

This is a good recommendation which I also read recently and will follow for my own boat when I have to go on a new mooring down here. The regular replacement seems to be as important as buying two of the correct type pendants each year, or more often. I can imagine that would be cheaper than breaking or losing my boat.

[rschlomann]

Thanks for the link and replies. Looks like there is alot of info there. Will have to look at it closely.

[adamganz]

Wow! That is unfortunate. Sorry to see that damage.

I have a 28 in Brooklyn. I'm in a tight mooring field so use two 10' pendants. I've had three consistent problems over the years hat I think I've resolved:

Pendants getting twisted under mooring ball:
This seemed to be a more common problem when I had longer pendants.

Chafe on pendants from anchor on bow spritr:
I no longer keep the anchor on the bowsprit when moored. I keep an anchor in the cockpit laserette hat is easy to access in case of emergency.

Chafe on pendants from bobstay:
I wore through two sets of pendants because they were getting caught on the cotter pin where the bobstay is connected to the hull

I don't thing running the pendants over the bow sprit is the way to go - just my opinion. Seems like a lot of unanticioated force on he sprit. One thing I've considered and seen on other boats is bungying, if that's a word, the pendants together after they've passed through the chalks and below the bow sprit. This would prevent either pendant from getting above the sprit. Just a thought.

[tartansailor]

I don't know what I'm missing here, but why is it that you never see a bow ring at the point of the bow, like power boats?
On power boats that ring is used to launch and haul out the boat.
So let's say we put a well backed ring in the stem of the bow, say like a dolphin kicker base mount; then attaching our mooring line to that?
The advantages to that besides eliminating the possibility of chafe would reduce the downward force (smaller angle) on a pitching boat.
I would make it a permanent 10' chain with a small retrieving rope to access the mooring ball swivel end of the chain.
What say you?
richard

[adamganz]

Two reasons I can see: first is it would be pretty near impossible to reach from above on deck when leaving or arriving at the mooring; and second, the mooring lines would sit in the water most of the time and here in sheepshead bay Brooklyn, would take on an organic quality that's is nothing short of revolting.

[rschlomann]

IMG_0372.JPG

I have decided to increase length of penants to 17'.
See photo of bowsprit plank removed.