mooring a Cape Dory 26

[mahalocd36]

As a further precaution, I lashed the 2 pennants together for the first few feet so that they cannot separate and drop in two different directions over the ball.

This is what Mattapoisett Boatyard does - our pennant comes from the top of the ball, and doesn't split until a few feet away from the ball.

[Paul Grecay]

I have been on a mooring in Delaware Bay for about 10 years. For the first 5 years I had two lines and nothing but problems fouling around the chain etc. etc. When the NE blows, my boat bears the brunt of the bay from that direction (fairly protected from all other directions). When the mooring lines foul, they chafe on the chain. They don't function properly and sometimes even shorten as they wind around each other. It was always a mess despite all kinds of swivels etc. I switched to one stout line properly secured to both cleats.....I have good chafing gear consisting of clear tubing seized to the line...it never fails and never fouls. Recently I added an anchor riding sail and everything works really well. I am convinced that when it comes to mooring lines, less is moor.

[Joe Mac Phee]

The single pennant approach works great on many boats. On my cd-30 ketch, which has a bowsprit and bob-stay, the chocks are placed to the side to clear the bowsprit. I have tried one pennant and it causes the boat to sail on the mooring since the offset chock places the boat at an angle. The pennant chafes not only on the chock, but also on the bob-stay. In heavy winds, I was concerned about side loads on the bob-stay and bowsprit.

The 2 pennant approach we now use makes the boat lie quietly with head to the wind. The design described earlier in this thread has been in use for over 15 years without problems.

The rain has stopped in New England and I am off to the boat!

Joe Mac Phee

[Al Levesque]

The key to getting the benefit of two lines is to tie the two lines together from the mooring shackle almost all the way to the boat. Use marlin, tape, whatever keeps them together. there is minimal load on the marlin. After tying them together, check to see if there is excess separation that will allow them to wrap around the buoy. That means that the lines can only separate from the chocks to the vertical distance down to the buoy. Those windless days when the bouy bumps against the boat is when the untied lines fall on opposite sides of the buoy. Keep them tied and they won't do it.

[Paul Grecay]

What a good idea. I will try it....Thanks!