Hello all,
I keep my
boat on a
mooring at a sailing club where we have to evacuate if there is a
hurricane watch. I just bought the
boat in June, so this is my first
hurricane season as a larger boat owner (Pearson 323). Sure enough, we had to evacuate during Isaac last weekend. The
mooring field just outside the Club Mooring field has rating to cat 1, so several of us relocated there. However, I was unable to use my custom- made mooring penants and relied on
dock lines. Many of us did the same thing.
We ran two large diameter
dock lines through the plastic, tear-drop shaped ring attached to the mooring ball lines. Ours held, but
barely due to chafing. At least 4 other boats wound up on the rocks as a result of chafing.
When I paid at the mooring office, I was informed that the best connection is two lines (one on each side of the bow) connected to the mooring ring with a bowline
knot.
I'm wondering how secure one feels with his boat moored using 2 bowlines and if anyone has any other suggestions?
Another owner used a metal cable to secure his boat and it nearly cut through the plastic ring.
It was a sad sight to see those beautiful boats sitting up on the rocks after the storm. One even appears to be resting upright on its
keel, but the boat is really lodged in trees and rocks. Sad. . .
Any mooring suggestions would be appreciated. I have perused the
books and don't see any solutions. Fire hose has been suggested, but I'm told it will chafe as well.
Thanks,