Are swinging moorings superior to marinas? Ken Endean provides insight on living with a buoy.
Who sails to hang out in a parking lot? Marinas offer convenience, yet nothing compares to returning to your boat after time away at her mooring, where stress dissipates without needing to set sail. You escape the bustling shore life and settle into the calming pace of tides and weather.
Cost is another clear downside to marina spots. Previously, the main barrier to boat ownership was the initial vessel purchase price, but over the years, well-cared-for GRP yachts have held up, while second-hand prices have dropped so dramatically that you can obtain a solid cruiser for about a tenth of the cost of a new one.
For several boats in my local marina, the annual fee exceeds their market value, giving a fresh perspective to the term ‘pay and play’. Moreover, does that fee cover a yearly lift-out? Pressure washing? How about dry storage, and for how long? Similar extras can apply to buoy moorings, but the overall marina costs need to be manageable.
Accessibility is another issue for boats. Early marinas were usually designed for vessels around 8-10m long, making it challenging to park longer boats safely, especially during strong winds. For classic, long-keeled yachts, arriving and departing could become a tricky undertaking, reminiscent of tricky scenarios in the ‘Question of Seamanship’ segment of YM.
Marinas have advantages but can feel as impersonal as a car park. Photo: Arterra Picture Library / Alamy
What about structural protection? Insurance companies favor marinas, but severe weather can still take its toll. Total destruction, like that seen at Holyhead Marina, is rare, but boats are tethered to relatively stationary pontoons while constantly subjected to movement. Thus, mooring equipment must be set up correctly and inspected regularly. Ropes may wear, and misplaced fenders could result in damaging hull scrapes.
With buoy moorings, costs are generally lower, although any potential additional fees should be verified. Picking up or dropping off the mooring typically involves a rapid maneuver, lowering the risk of costly errors even without a bow thruster. The mooring equipment is simpler, though its strength and durability are vital, which I will address later. First, let’s delve into buoy life.
When I began contemplating the essentials of living with a boat on a mooring, much felt self-evident, perhaps to those used to buoy life.
While keeping a boat in a marina has become more common, promoting the benefits of buoy moorings might encourage more sailors to consider boat ownership and maintenance.
An inflatable dinghy may need to be inflated and deflated multiple times when on a swinging mooring. Photo: Andrew Sydenham
Utilizing a buoy mooring
For boaters on a buoy, potential issues begin on dry land. Is there secure parking for the car, ideally not in a pricey public lot? Is there cover if it rains?
A club compound and clubhouse would be perfect, but some estuary moorings are only accessible via footpaths leading to remote beaches, far from civilized amenities. Then there’s the question of how to access the yacht. At a boatyard or club, a launch service might be offered, but is it included in the mooring cost, or is there an additional charge, like a water taxi? Otherwise, using a tender is necessary. If an inflatable is usually stowed on board, during a weekend trip, it may need inflating and deflating once at the destination and also twice when boarding and disembarking from the cruiser.
Your dinghy or dory should be reliable but unattractive to thieves. Photo: Noble Images / Alamy
Options for dinghies
Many owners simplify their lives by obtaining a rigid secondary tender and leaving it at the mooring. The only caution is that leaving a dinghy for extended periods can lead to heavy rain flooding an open boat. Besides inflatables, a dory hull with a flat bottom is generally more stable than a round-bottomed design. Moorings sometimes sit far from a slipway or pontoon, so the dinghy should be sizeable enough to safely travel that distance in strong wind-tide conditions. The tender should be durable yet unappealing to thieves.
Others might favor kayaks or paddle boards, which are easier to stow away but tend to be slower, potentially less seaworthy, and have lower load capacities.
Stand-up paddleboards are another tender alternative while on a swinging mooring.
Accessing the shore
When transporting heavy supplies or water on board, having quick access to a nearby quay or pontoon is beneficial, ideally with a tap for drinking water. You’ll also need to check if there’s a fuel pontoon nearby or if you’ll need to carry diesel in jerry cans.
Handling considerations
If a tender is involved, careful thought must be put into the equipment and handling, especially in rough water, as this scenario often leads to man-overboard incidents. The yacht should have secure footing areas or a boarding ladder, along with handholds above it.
Though the stern ladder may seem like the easiest option, holding the dinghy steady against a current, particularly in waves, may prove tricky. A fender step at the shrouds, where the dinghy can sit alongside comfortably, could actually be a simpler place for climbing out.
Boarding from the stern isn’t necessarily as straightforward as it seems. Photo: Graham Snook / Yachting Monthly
Stability is crucial
The chosen tender should exhibit good initial stability, allowing it to remain steady while passengers move on and off. Additionally, it may be necessary to hoist heavy bags aboard, which could be aided with a light hoist or mainsheet tackle.
Safety is essential
The danger of falling overboard must be taken seriously during tender use. Transitioning between boats and embarking in a small vessel ranks among the riskier activities we undertake as cruising sailors.
While it might seem excessive, always wear a life jacket, and carry a flashlight and a VHF radio or phone in a waterproof case. If the tide creates larger chop than anticipated, the engine fails, or an oar is lost, you’ll have a means to call for help. Don’t forget waterproof clothing and a dry bag for protecting your valuables.
Climbing back onto your yacht from the water in wet clothes is something you should always plan for, in case you lose balance during dinghy boarding. This concern becomes even more critical at the start and end of the sailing season when the days shorten, and water temperatures drop drastically.
Returning to the buoy
After a sail, bringing the boat back to its mooring should be straightforward. Good throttle control is essential if the tidal flow is strong because the yacht must remain steady for the crew to make the connection. Those sailing solo might choose to lasso the primary buoy temporarily while retrieving the pick-up buoy and securing the chain or strop. If leaving a dinghy at the mooring, sometimes it’s easier to bring the yacht alongside it. Pick-up lines can be kept in the dinghy, dry and ready for attaching.
Yachts tied fore-and-aft between pilings on the River Hamble at Bursledon, Hampshire. Photo: Richard Donovan / Alamy
Swinging versus Fore-and-aft Moorings
The majority of moorings have single buoys, allowing each boat to swing from its bow. The vessel will align according to the wind, tide, or a mix of both, necessitating adequate swinging space. Being too close to neighboring boats may lead to collisions if they move around their buoy in windy, turbulent conditions.
In busy mooring areas or where only a narrow section of water is available, boats may be required to secure between two buoys. Typically, a long line exists between them, marked with a pick-up buoy.
Mooring involves connecting that line and using it to lift strops at both ends of the boat. Some fore-and-aft moorings use pairs of strops forming bridles at the bow and stern, minimizing the chance of a boat veering off course amidst strong currents or winds. Adequate protection against chafing where strops lead through fairleads on each side is advisable.
Single-buoy moorings are generally easier to pick up than fore-and-aft moorings. Photo: Richard Langdon
Approaching and departing from the mooring can be trickier for two boats compared to a single buoy, particularly if they must raft up alongside one another. Diligence in fendering is essential from both owners, and floating debris can get caught between the hulls.
Location matters
If a marina is far away or lacks available berths, a buoy mooring might be the only option, but it’s crucial to assess the different mooring types and conditions before deciding. Some buoy moorings are situated in stunning locations, surrounded by breathtaking scenery; however, I’m focusing on practicality rather than aesthetics, with key variables including water depth and level of shelter. Both factors are crucial if the crew plans to sleep on board.
Certain moorings are located in exposed areas, like this visitor mooring on Skomer Island. Photo: Lou Luddington
Shelter and insurance
The level of shelter influences insurance since some companies may set time limits on coverage in exposed areas, restricting it to the period between April and October. It’s advisable to verify this with insurers before committing to a mooring.
Deep water and adequate shelter usually ensure comfort on board, although wind and tide can create challenges, such as swell rolling against the ebb and causing a corkscrew motion in the boat. Some mooring spots also experience heavy wash from commercial vessels, including fast ferries. Inspecting the site in adverse conditions is wise to assess whether the sea state is acceptable.
Orford Quay provides a stunning mooring site featuring amenities like a water taxi, boatyard, water access, and lifejacket storage. Photo: Richard Langdon
Mooring providers
Moorings vary widely in types and the organizations that offer them. Essentially, any owner or licensee of a seabed section can lay a mooring and rent or lease it to boat owners, subject to local byelaws and environmental regulations.
Commercial mooring providers include harbor authorities, boatyards, and clubs. In many harbors and estuaries, it’s also possible to get a mooring license allowing the holder to place their own mooring, which may involve dealing with the harbor authority or the entity owning the seabed – potentially a local council, the Crown Estate, or a private estate.
Yacht clubs at Slaughden and Aldeburgh along the River Ore are excellent bases for yachts on moorings. Photo: Richard Langdon
Yacht club moorings
The quality of moorings and available amenities can greatly vary. Many yacht-club-operated moorings expect you to be a member but provide clubhouse facilities, which can include showers, bars or restaurants, dinghy pontoons, or options to berth your vessel alongside, as well as water taxi services to reach your boat.
Harbor authorities may offer a slipway or pontoon, and possibly space to store your dinghy ashore, along with a standpipe for filling jerry cans with water. For private moorings, you may be laying your own mooring and figuring out how to slide a dinghy into the water from the seawall.
Sailing clubs throughout the country, like the one at Brancaster, offer many facilities more affordably than commercial marinas. Photo: Holmes Garden Photos / Alamy
The level of convenience you desire will significantly affect the mooring’s price, though you might be surprised by how affordable a yacht club can be, thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of members who volunteer their time and energy to maintain the club.
It’s advisable to inquire locally, as it may not be straightforward to identify who owns the moorings and how to secure one. In popular areas, you might encounter long waiting lists for moorings, making it worthwhile to check on availability and size limits before purchasing a boat, rather than the other way around.
Some clubs may rely on hiring a crane for lifting club boats occasionally. Photo: Phil Brown / Alamy
Mooring upkeep
Commercial mooring providers may hire contractors for constructing, laying, and maintaining the equipment. The variations are numerous; for instance, my own club designs its mooring gear, purchases materials, and assembles the chain setups, while a professional seafarer uses the club’s workboat for the on-water tasks as a contractor. Boat owners should ensure that any mooring provider is competent and insured, ideally with a history of trouble-free moorings, to satisfy both themselves and their insurance company.
The mooring gear’s design, ranging from sinker to pick-up buoy, is typically determined by the provider, although permit holders might be able to lay their own moorings. Certain harbor authorities require that the work is conducted by authorized contractors, while in other locations, there may be no restrictions. For remote areas, there may not even be a mooring contractor available, though a fishing vessel might manage moving and placing the mooring gear.
No matter the method used, thoughtful design and servicing are crucial. Even if a contractor is doing the work, boat owners must discuss the details and seek approval from their insurance companies. In my experience, insurers are often willing to endorse well-thought-out proposals. Remember: they want your business.
Sailing clubs may own or charter a workboat for lifting and laying moorings annually. Photo: Sam Llewellyn
Lastly, be cautious of private moorings if the specifications or condition of the mooring gear are unclear. If the mooring has not been properly maintained or was designed for a smaller boat than yours, it might not safely hold your vessel in one spot.
When a boatyard or club offers storage space and equipment for hoisting boats, owners can typically choose when to store and launch their boats, which is beneficial for extensive winter maintenance. However, at smaller facilities, launching and recovering boats might involve hiring a crane. Crane rentals can be pricey, leading to batches of boats being launched on set days – not ideal if your yacht is slated for launch while her engine is disassembled and new seacocks are still on the saloon floor.
Large concrete sinkers are utilized for deep water moorings. Photo: Theo Stocker
Mooring design
The accompanying diagram illustrates a mooring in a group set up in somewhat exposed conditions. Note that this is not design advice but serves to demonstrate what is involved in such installations.
This setup is designed for water depths of up to 7.5m at high tide. It was developed after the October 1987 storm caused previously installed moorings to drag, and has proven reliable. The length of each chain section varies based on depth, with a total length of 22.5m for the deepest moorings. Sufficient spacing must also exist between adjacent boats in rows to prevent contact when they settle in different directions.
A rope spiral will help keep the upper chain off the yacht’s topsides. Photo: Ken Endean
A similar concern arises with drying moorings, where each boat typically grounds on the downstream side of its mooring, but the boats with the shallowest draft will lift off first and swing upstream.
Concrete sinkers vary in size based on the boats in each row; the heaviest ones weigh 2.3 tonnes when in air and require considerable force to extract from mud. Some units have downward-pointing spikes to enhance their resistance to dragging. Chain link sizes range from 38mm for the ground chain to 10mm for the upper chain, with replacement schedules depending on wear. The heavy ground chain is designed to shift very little, enabling the sinker to require a thorough inspection every 10 years. All other components should undergo yearly inspections.
Chain inspection
The intermediate chain should be replaced when it shows significant wear. Careful inspection of the swivel is necessary due to its concealed male and female wear surfaces. Most other parts are replaced routinely: the top chain annually and everything down to the swivel biannually.
Some owners, concerned about abrasion to their topsides, may prefer a rope strop instead of a 10mm upper chain, but painting or gel coating can be preserved by wrapping a spiral of old rope around the upper chain – see photo 7. Regardless of the option selected, the boat must have a suitable bow fairlead and a strong cleat or samson post on the foredeck, ideally two. The chain or strop must be secured in the fairlead or bow roller using a pin or lash. A strop might also be safeguarded with a sleeve or rubber hose.
A mooring with its riding chain connected beneath the soft inflatable buoy. Photo: Ken Endean
This mooring design connects the riding chain to the riser underneath the buoy, allowing the mooring chain sections to lift and align sequentially as wind pressure increases, hence offering a damping effect against gusts.
Some moorings attach their top chain to the buoy’s top, limiting the swinging radius while still employing heavier chain sections, albeit with reduced damping effects. Numerous alternatives exist to avoid seabed scouring. Drying moorings add complexity since boats might rest atop the sinkers.
A keel-friendly alternative is deploying burying anchors, but this setup stemmed from issues with fishing boats repeatedly hooking mooring anchors. Many smaller boat moorings utilize iron railway wheels with welded steel spikes.
Some sailors on the East Coast, familiar with thick mud, even dig their own moorings, burying little more than scaffold boards and chain within the mud during low tide, relying on the weight and suction of the mud for stability.
Picking up this mooring in a strong current necessitates precise throttle control and may be precarious for a solo sailor. Photo: Ken Endean
In tide pull regions, wind-against-tide conditions can drive a boat forward, causing the buoy to press against the hull, sometimes over a meter behind the bow. Hippo buoys feature robust plastic exteriors and foam filling, favored by mooring providers for their durability, though they can be quite heavy.
If a buoy presses against a hull in rough waters, the impacts may cause issues such as local debonding of internal moldings in the boat.
Ken’s DIY boathook is easier for snagging pick-up buoys than a spike-tipped one. Photo: Ken Endean
Boathook considerations
Lastly, a boathook is crucial for mooring tasks, and its design can facilitate or complicate those efforts. Traditional boathooks, equipped with a small hook and a spike, often prove ineffective because the spike may push away the pick-up buoy just as you attempt to engage the buoy with the hook. Alternatives exist that can thread a line through a ring but may struggle to catch a bobbing pick-up buoy.
Ultimately, the goal is to quickly lift the pick-up buoy and use it to pull the upper chain or strop aboard, meaning threading a line through the handle might not be beneficial.
A custom boathook proves more effective with pick-up buoys, especially those lacking handles, requiring entrapment of the pick-up rope. While it’s not useful against intruders, it earns safety points due to its lack of sharp elements that could harm eyes.