9069-R4_ML&P_LSLA_2024_SummerNewsletter_Web

Safety is No Accident! Steve Sayian & Sharon Lamontagne

Moorings should be inspected periodically to ensure they are in good order and not disintegrating. Replace, as necessary. The Maine DEP requires all mooring balls to be white with a blue stripe along the horizontal diameter. Ø Chains should be inspected periodically and replaced due to corrosion. Using a high-quality galvanized chain will prolong its life. Plan to use more than the maximum high-water depth. Typically, the amount of chain used can be 1 to 1½ times the maximum depth of water where the item is moored. In the Fall, chains that are dropped in the water lie in the mud and corrode less than chains that are left attached to a mooring ball/winter log. Ø Swivels should always be used when connecting a chain to a mooring line. Use a swivel commensurate with the size chain it’s being attached to. Swivels allow the item on top to rotate around the mooring chain preventing twisting and pulling out of the mooring. Always use high quality galvanized or stainless-steel swivels. Ø Shackles should always be used to connect chains to mooring lines, swivels, hooks, etc. Use high quality galvanized or stainless-steel shackles. ALWAYS use a nylon wire tie to fasten the pin to the shackle to prevent it from coming loose and pulling out. Use shackles the same size as the chain to which they are attached. Ø Mooring lines should have a thimble at the end that connects to the chain to prevent chafing and cutting. Thimbles come in galvanized steel, stainless steel, and high strength nylon with stainless being the most

expensive. Three-strand nylon is the best as it has a slight stretch factor that allows the craft to move slightly under strain. Always use a size-matched thimble for the line being used. All lines using a thimble should be spliced to ensure the line doesn’t come undone during strain. All mooring lines that pass through a chock or are exposed to a rough or sharp surface should have chafing gear installed. Chafing gear is a sacrificial material that guards against the line being cut. Chafing gear should be inspected frequently and replaced as needed. Ø Hooks to Bow Eyes (used on pontoon boats, jet skis, etc.) be sure the spring-loaded clasp on the inside of the hook is functional and in good working order and be replaced if it is not. Ø Dock Lines should be appropriate for the size of the craft. Three-strand nylon is the best as it has a slight stretch factor that allows the craft to move slightly under strain. Spring lines can be used for additional boat stability. Spring lines run toward the middle of the craft from the bow and stern dock cleats and enable the craft to stay in one place on the dock by not rocking back and forth along the dock. For more information refer to Chapman The Boater’s Handbook: The Indispensable Look-It Up Book.

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