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Mooring Equipment
If you own anything larger than a rowing boat then mooring equipment is something you will certainly have to consider purchasing at some point. Once you have found the perfect bay, lake, berth or beach and have negotiated the owner to rent a mooring spot in the area then you will need to purchase adequate equipment to arrange your mooring installation. Never rely on what you are told with regards to the weighting at the bottom of any mooring, if you are not sinking your own mooring then it is imperative you employ a diver to check precisely what you will be affixing your boat to. An insecure or rusting weight sat at the bottom of a lake or ocean can rapidly decay and you could find your moorings breaking free no matter what kind of equipment you have invested in.
Equipment for placing your own moorings varies greatly depending on the size and type of vessel you own, and also on precisely where you will be locating it. Obviously saltwater affects things very differently to fresh water, so you will have to consider this when purchasing mooring equipment. Many boat manufacturers sell a large variety of mooring equipment including dedicated weights with floatation aids that can be towed into place and then sunk, however many people choose to craft their own from old cement filled barrels. Always utilise local knowledge when planning your moorings and purchasing the correct equipment, currents and tides vary from place to place and these can shift the location of your mooring if it is not situated correctly.
When you do have your mooring in place then you will need to ensure that you have all of the correct equipment to secure your boat safely in place at the end of a day on the water. You will have to consider whether to use chain or rope fixings, and ensure that they are strong enough to withstand the effects of corrosion and local conditions, if you are moored in salt water then barnacles and other environmental factors may be a concern. Fixings and clips should be strong and resist against rust, and many boat owners choose to invest in heavy duty padlocks and other equipment in order to secure their vessel properly to the mooring lines.
You will also have to select floats and connecting equipment to sit on the surface above your mooring, float equipment varies greatly in shape, size, colours and quality, but whatever you purchase you should ensure that it is easily visible and is unique to your mooring site or you will have difficulty discerning it from your neighbour’s moorings. You should also ensure that any floatation equipment you use is easy to grab either with your hand or with a boathook, plan ahead and assume that you will be reaching for your mooring in rough seas and a heavy swell. Whatever equipment you need to buy you can ensure that our comprehensive list of mooring equipment specialists can supply everything you could possibly require no matter what size of vessel you own.
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