Moorings
In the old days, if you were lucky enough to own a small boat as a kid, handling the mooring part of the operation was simple and cheap. First, you gathered up some sections of an old, heavy, steam radiator. Second, you tied a nylon rope around the pieces. Third, you tossed the radiator collection overboard where there appeared to be space between the incumbent boat moorings. The steam radiator pieces were substantial, the mud was gripping, and the “pull” generated by the small outboard boats was minimal.
Nowadays, it’s a different story. Boats are typically larger and heavier requiring different arrangements. Instead of radiators, concrete blocks weighing 2,000 pounds and up are used. And chain, not line, extends most of the way from the blocks to the surface. Now, of course, the holding power of the new configurations is much greater than used in the old days, but it’s important to remember that very little lasts forever, especially where salt water is involved. It’s important to have the mooring block shackle and chain inspected on a regular basis to ensure they’re up to the task of keeping your boat in the same place during severe weather. The old expression “out of site out of mind” naturally applies here, but I recommend you keep an eye on this area. It’s far cheaper to replace a chain than a boat, any day of the week.
