Chione T - Equipment used by a modern gaff rigged yacht when mooring, and as a tender.

Equipment for a Modern Gaffer

On and Off a Mooring

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Introduction

Whilst Chione's home berth is in a marina (Northney in Chichester harbour), when cruising we usually prefer to use mooring buoys or select a quiet anchorage for overnight stays. This page describes the equipment we use in these circumstances, together with other items which are useful when coming alongside a pontoon short-handed.

1. Main Anchor

Plough Anchor (25lbs)		Sowester
	A CQR 'lookalike' in galvanised steel. Ours stows in the starboard bow roller, leaving the port side roller free for picking up moorings. We use 30metres of 8mm chain. There is no windlass - we are still considering possible options. Unfortunately the bowsprit limits the choice here. We are also reluctant to install the heavy cables required for an electric model, which also very much limits the choice these days!
Chione T	London	O/N 901053	R.T. 6 ⁵⁴/₁₀₀

2. Kedge Anchor

Fortress FX-11		Fortress Anchors
	Many will be aware of the reputation of this aluminium anchor for its extremely light weight yet substantial holding power. Whilst we can confirm its lightness, we have little experience of using it to-date, so need to reserve judgement on its effectiveness. We keep ours ready-assembled in a cockpit locker, with a bow shackle ready for connection to... ...a cable consisting of 4metres of 6mm chain and 50m of 10mm multiplait nylon stored in a plastic bucket in the same cockpit locker.
Chione T	London	O/N 901053	R.T. 6 ⁵⁴/₁₀₀

3. Mooring Hook

'Grab-it' Hook
	Makes picking-up a buoy with a top ring a doddle! Basically a very large stainless steel carbine hook with grooves machined into either side such that it fits (with the hook open) in a simple bracket screwed to the stave of the boathook. A length of nylon warp, spliced to the hook, terminates in an eye splice, large enough to drop over a deck cleat. Holding the warp against the boathook keeps the 'Grab-it' hook open. Just grab the buoy's ring with the hook and let go of the warp. The hook springs closed and you are safely attached to the buoy. Replace with a 'permanent' line at your leisure.
Chione T	London	O/N 901053	R.T. 6 ⁵⁴/₁₀₀

4. Short-handed Mooring Aid

'The Black Rope'
	No proprietory product this, nor the invention of some deranged executioner. Just a simple length of 3-strand polyester with a large loop spliced in one end. We chose to use a black rope just so that it could easily be spotted in the locker! We use it when coming alongside a pontoon : Reeve the rope through the base of a centre deck cleat, the plain end being led back to a sheet winch. The 'crew' steps off onto the pontoon and drops the loop over a centre cleat on the dock. Helmsman takes up the slack and cleats off on the winch. Pushing the tiller over towards the pontoon (and possibly leaving the engine in forward tickover) leaves the boat nice and stable whilst bow and stern lines are attached. In the absence of a suitable centre cleat on the pontoon, "blackie" can be dropped over the aft pontoon cleat. In this case, next get a stern line attached - and you achieve another stable configuration.
Chione T	London	O/N 901053	R.T. 6 ⁵⁴/₁₀₀

5. Dinghy

Zodiac Cadet 240		Zodiac
	A 2.4metre, 3 man inflatable dinghy with captive oars, plywood seat, and outboard bracket. Relatively light and "compact" - we store ours in one of the lockers beneath the forepeak berth. [The large hatch above the berth makes handling the dinghy up onto deck pretty easy! See Deck Hardware.] He's called Eumolpus. If you've read the Who is Chione? page you'll know why!
Chione T	London	O/N 901053	R.T. 6 ⁵⁴/₁₀₀

6. Outboard Motor

Honda BF2A		Honda Marine
	The only four-stroke 2 h.p. outboard available (when we bought it, and I believe this is still so). Just need to ensure that it is laid down on the correct side - to keep the oil in the sump! We constructed a special bracket in one of the cockpit lockers to retain it a suitable position, without it getting in the way.
Chione T	London	O/N 901053	R.T. 6 ⁵⁴/₁₀₀