Mooring

[tartansailor]

Hello All,
Anyone have a procedure for setting a mooring?
I wish to buy a mushroom anchor for my CD25 and
was wondering what size would do the job.
The MMLW is 5' and my draft is 3'.
Thanks in advance.
Dick

[MHBsailor]

Hello Tartansailor,

First, I would check your local Harbormaster's mooring regulations for what are acceptable mooring anchors, ground tackle and pendants, as they will vary based on local conditions (tides, holding ground, etc.) and are legally enforceable Chapmans provides some good general guidance, as do a number of other sources (e.g., Hamilton Marine's website - which taught me that the load rating of every component of the system including shackles and swivels is based on the component with the highest load rating so there are no "weak links"). The frequency of required mooring tackle inspections and who is authorized to conduct the inspections is typically also prescribed in the local Harbormaster's regulations.

Last September we experienced some stronger than normal northerly winds associated with what seemed like a month of pummeling by storm-after-storm, and my 3300 lb Typhoon Senior's 200-lb mushroom anchor (in a shallow anchorage with 20-ft 5/8 chain and 20- ft of 1/2-chain and a 16-foot MaxiMoor pendant so decent scope considering the swing room constraints in the mooring field) which was fine all season until then drug about 50 yards even through it was properly set earlier in the season by the marina foreman whose been doing it for many years (he screws the bell in using the work boat by circling several times ). This year I'm going to a 300-lb mushroom for some extra insurance (a 250 lb mushroom is the minimum for a neighboring mooring area with strong tidal swings for that length of boat) as my town doesn't have any mooring regs. The bottom in the mooring field I'm in is mostly mud. As the local mooring shop co-owner said, "Get the bigger anchor and ground tackle - you'll sleep better at night when the storms roll through." After last September I can say from personal experience that he's right.

JD

[Megunticook]

Is your bottom mud? A mushroom works well in those conditions. If you can get one of these American-made steel mushrooms they're much better than the Chinese ones: http://www.annesanchors.com/mushrooms-mudsuckers/.

I got a 200lb. mushroom for my Typhoon Senior. Using 3/4" bottom chain and 1/2" top chain--so far so good.

Once you get your gear check back in and I can offer some tips on installation. I'm not a pro but talked to some and did research.

Watch this video of Wayne Hamilton (local harbormaster and owner of a marine supply store here in Maine) explaining moorings: https://www.offcenterharbor.com/hm-hami ... ings-1804/

[Mbigos]

I second following the Hamilton mooring recommendations. Wayne Hamilton is has a great commercial fishing, boatbuilding, and recreational marine retail business. He is also the Searsport, ME (population 2645) harbormaster and rates the systems to 60 kts. (After 60 kts are coming, seek a hurricane hole or get hauled.) See also this chart from the 2020 Hamilton's catalog https://www.magazooms.com/HTML5/Hamilto ... ch=mooring.

As you choose your mooring system, remember that the chain does most of the day to day work absorbing energy and keeping your boat in place. A mushroom is a great device - if it works into the mud, it turns the mud around it into thousands of pounds of holding power.

[tartansailor]

Sincere thanks NarragansettSailor, Megunticook, and Mbigos.
It's next to the Roosevelt Inlet Coast Guard Station, so we'll see what happens.
Dick