Mooring bridle & rub rail problems

[igooba]

Anyone with experience mooring their Mac?

I have had my 26m on a mooring in lavender bay Sydney harbour for 4 weeks now.
It is a managed mooring and the guys there have been great as the rope was too big so they made up a bridle out of smaller rope for me. The bridle is tied to the mooring rope loop with a cow hitch. There is lots of movement due to ferries.

A couple of questions if anyone has experience to share -

1) The rubber rub rail on the port side has cracked and wearing through after only 4 weeks. Before it gets worse I want to protect it. I have some clear plastic hose I was thinking of cutting lengthwise and sliding over the rail but I can't think how to keep it attached as there would be a fair bit if pressure/movement.


2)What knot could I use instead of a cow hitch to attach the bridle to the mooring loop? The cow hitch will undo when we drop it in the water to go sailing so currently I have been dropping the mooring rope and keeping the bridle on the boat. This is a bit fiddly for my wife and easy to drop overboard so was thinking of perminantly tying on. (Although this does have its advantages in case we pickup another mooring for lunch and the rope is too big for the cleats.


3)Any ideas for a backup rope in case the bridle gives way?


4) Should I cover the bridle rope in plastic tube (have some clear pipe) to protect where it rubs on the rub rail? Have read lots of conflicting advice about the benefits of protection vs the pipe becoming sun hardened, cracking cutting the rope.


http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-38-mm-x ... 8_p3130578


Thanks for your help
Pete

[sunshinecoasting]

I have no no experience with mooring, but then I never wanted to which is why I bought a Mac, which leads me to this question, why did you buy a Mac just to leave it moored? These are trailer boats and the best and safest mooring is on the trailer. Looking at your pics you have a bow roller for your anchor, why not put the mooring line on the roller and a bolt thgrough the top to stop it jumping off? (Excuse my ignorance if this is a bad idea, as I said, I dont have experience with mooring.) If trailering and rigging the Mac is too much effort or trouble then maybe you would be better with a keel boat?

Cheers, Dennis.

[igooba]

Hi Dennis,

Your suggestion to use the roller might be a good one, I think the bridle helps spread the load without sideways pressure on the roller housing, however might be my only option if the rub rail is going to be damaged.

Regarding my the mooring, I had the Mac on the trailer for 3 years and used it twice due to limited time/work commitments. Since on the mooring have used it 4 times in 3 weeks and really enjoying it. It is actually a great middle ground as I can take it out of the water economically any time I need for repairs or winter storage but can get the benefits of been ready for a sail in 10 minutes without friends and family waiting for me to setup. The other reason was the Sydney boat ramps we're too busy and stressful on weekends.

Cheers Pete

[Boblee]

Really can't see why you are having a rub problem unless the weight of the main mooring rope is too much, we have anchored much longer in total (and rough) than you have moored and see no damage except a bit caused by dragging chain over the rubber when using two anchors.
Think your best option might be to go through the roller and pin it as suggested (thats what it's for) if worried about chaffing on the edges use some hose there but why not try passing both loops from the mooring over the roller and putting them back to the cleats where they are now, there should be minimal chaffing anyway.
IMHO what you are getting is caused by rough new ropes even a bit of Lanolin grease might stop it.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Pete,
It would be easy enough to get the plastic tube to stay in place. Just make a hole in it and tie a piece of gunline (venetian blind cord) to it and then tie it off on the cleat. However the tube will rub back and forward and may damage the rubrail anyway, - worth a try I guess.

There are quite a few Macs on moorings about. There was one in the Broadwater (Interlude). Pretty sure they just use the bow roller.

I occasionally leave my boat on the hook for a week or so and my bow roller spread a bit but now I have a stainless eyebolt in it.
like these
http://www.hardwarestore.com/eye-bolts-3397.aspx
About 4 bucks at Bunnings, think its 3/16 size but cant remember. It also holds my plough anchor on the roller

I would still use your plastic tubing, even if through the bow roller. My anchor rode was wearing through after a windy week on the hook with the boat swinging around madly!

[cruiser]

I have been more concerned with the anchor rode wearing through in a big blow than wearing out the rub rail, although the latter does concern me. I purchased some eanchor fairleads as shown but have not yet bolted them on.

This is a close up of the portside fairlead

Will have to cut a hole in the inside lining to get up under the gunwale to bolt them on - my boat is a 26S. Also need to make up a mounting plate (probably with HDPE - kitchen chopping board) to take up the curve on the top of the gunwale.

[igooba]

Thanks for the tips everyone.

I purchased the eye bolt as thought is a good idea to tighten with my fingers, of course I got the wrong size so will get another!

Have tried the tubing today and will check it in a week, also put a backup rope in and will check in a week.

As I'm typing am waiting for the fireworks on the boat in lavender bay, it's all happening watching the mega boats cram in and park...perfect night for it.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Guess I was wrong with the bolt diameter then - sorry about that...

You are lucky Pete - As an ex-pusser, I would have loved to have been on Sydney harbour today

[igooba]

No worries Paul, my fault, I have about 50/50 success rate with Bunnings, gives me a chance to go back and get another sausage sandwich.

So who's coming for the new years fireworks?

[Mac26Mpaul]

Sydney harbour New Years ,,,,,,,,,,,Yeah yeah,,, ,, At best, I'll be on the Gold Coast where they let off a few sparklers and the odd 6 shooter,,,,

[bartmac]

New Years eve at Tweed heads/Coolangatta is not bad in the harbour

[Boblee]

Yeah Sydney harbour on new years eve was one of the goals when we bought the boat, you never know if it's not sold by then this could be the year for that and a trip on the Hawkbury.