Walker Bay Sailing

[SkipperCanuck]

Yes, SkprJohn, noodles do compress under load and they can stay that way, especially if it is really hot weather and if compressed for a prolonged period. They also perish chemically over time. I agree that it would be easier to replace them annually, so I will make the collar so it can be opened. That is an excellent suggestion.

I am thinking of using a heavy nylon zipper, but a nylon cord lacing with grommets may be better, cheaper and stronger. I will send along photos in a couple of weeks or so, once the gadget is installed. BTW a friend has suggested a mooring anchor made from a large rubber tire, with its whole inner area filled with about 200 lbs of concete (cast into a garbage bag stuffed into the cavity before filling), and with a 3/4" rebar loop cast into it, for shackling to the chain. In a silted bottom, the flat circlar shape causes the anchor to gradually sink into the ooze and once buried, the vacuum it forms with the bottom holds it very securely. This system is used in several yacht clubs in Massachussets and it seems to work well for smaller vesels. The advantage is that the mooring anchor can be rolled easily up inclined ramps, etc, to ease placement from a small boat, without use of a crane. My mooring area is in a very well shelted cove with a sandy bottom in twelve feet of fresh water.

A vessel as large as yours is would require a very much larger mooring, especially in the seas that you must experience there. There is a marina here which uses 1200 lb. concrete blocks as mooring anchors (in an current-swept tideway) and they moor vessels as large as 50' there, but charge 500 dollars a season (or 5 dollars a day) for using a mooring.

Regards, SkipperCanuck

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Skipper,
The moorings here in Reeds Bay need to be steel or lead. Concrete loses to much weight when submerged unless it is very very heavy. We have no ooze, mud, sand. Our moorings set on top of a rock called pahoehoe (smooth lava). 10 to 12 feet deep. If you could send me a couple containers of ooze I'd appreciate it.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[Jai]

I just bought a walker bay 10 and want to use it primarily for rowing around my local waterway. I was wondering if it would be a bad idea to leave it permanently in the water behind my home. I do not have a lift and it is a little difficult getting it out of the water and into the yard because of the fence on the seawall. Will barnacles attach to this type of material ? I would appreciate any answers that could be offered.