So I am going to make a mooring block, here's some of my brain farts
Old tinny filled with few old engine blocks chained together cement added, tow it out drill a big hole down she goes.
I have a big concrete mould from when the mall car park was built bit of steel scrap and fill with cement, make a raft from two drums again tow out n sink it.
Someone suggested a steel ballast block from a locomotive which weighs one ton.
A 44 full of scrap n cement.
My mother in law.
2 ford Cleveland V8 blocks chained together,
A Tophat is about 2.5 ton is there a ratio to work out how much weight you need?
Howbout a bathtub full off cement, u could weave reo bar through it.

Down here in Tassie train wheels a popular

I have one wheel for my 28 footer

Regards Don

Select to expand quote

TopHat 25 Mk2 said..
So I am going to make a mooring block, here's some of my brain farts
Old tinny filled with few old engine blocks chained together cement added, tow it out drill a big hole down she goes.
I have a big concrete mould from when the mall car park was built bit of steel scrap and fill with cement, make a raft from two drums again tow out n sink it.
Someone suggested a steel ballast block from a locomotive which weighs one ton.
A 44 full of scrap n cement.
My mother in law.
2 ford Cleveland V8 blocks chained together,
A Tophat is about 2.5 ton is there a ratio to work out how much weight you need?
Howbout a bathtub full off cement, u could weave reo bar through it.

44 full of cement will roll along the bottom. Stick with a train wheel which will partially bury and not foul your chain. Concrete is not good for moorings as it loses it's effective weight in water.

Select to expand quote

TopHat 25 Mk2 said..
So I am going to make a mooring block, here's some of my brain farts
Old tinny filled with few old engine blocks chained together cement added, tow it out drill a big hole down she goes.
I have a big concrete mould from when the mall car park was built bit of steel scrap and fill with cement, make a raft from two drums again tow out n sink it.
Someone suggested a steel ballast block from a locomotive which weighs one ton.
A 44 full of scrap n cement.
My mother in law.
2 ford Cleveland V8 blocks chained together,
A Tophat is about 2.5 ton is there a ratio to work out how much weight you need?
Howbout a bathtub full off cement, u could weave reo bar through it.

I think a quick chat to who ever registers moorings in which ever state you are in may be in order,

They usually have good info on what constitues a good legal mooring block AND where they may be placed and how often they are required to be serviced and by whom.

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Donk107 said..
Down here in Tassie train wheels a popular

I have one wheel for my 28 footer

Regards Don

Agree, I have two for my Fisher 32, set in mud it self burries, to the extent that when last serviced it took the barge mounted crane half an hour to break it free from the bottom.
Of the list offered the ballast weight would be my choice, however the mother in law mabee.

The MIL is a highly desirable solution as she is totally biodegradable and environmentally friendly. On the other hand, your mooring will need to be replaced within a fairly short time.

Yeah plus one on the cement comment. I'm pretty sure they lose 50% of their weight in water. Find some old piece of cast iron. Maybe an old engine block, or something of the like.

If you can I would suggest a piece of chain 14-18mm that is the same length as the depth of the water. Then have a shackle then some smaller chain 8-12mm that connects to your bouy or float or Whatever you want to call it. After a piece of rope you have floating. When you come up to it have a 10-12 foot bit of rope to put through the loop. That way you don't have sh!t from floating rope in the deck.

She won't go anywhere then mate
Regards,
Mick

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Donk107 said..
Down here in Tassie train wheels a popular

I have one wheel for my 28 footer

Regards Don

Just gotta ask. Where do you get train wheels from and how do you get them to the bottom of the ocean? Is there a train track to the end of a boat ramp that you connect your boat to. After you put your boat on the train wheels, connect them to the train track and essentially build yourself a "Railer Sailer". You just sail to your spot and drop the train wheels off. Sounds interesting.
Regards,
Mick

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Shanty said..

Donk107 said..
Down here in Tassie train wheels a popular

I have one wheel for my 28 footer

Regards Don

Just gotta ask. Where do you get train wheels from and how do you get them to the bottom of the ocean? Is there a train track to the end of a boat ramp that you connect your boat to. After you put your boat on the train wheels, connect them to the train track and essentially build yourself a "Railer Sailer". You just sail to your spot and drop the train wheels off. Sounds interesting.
Regards,
Mick

Hi Mick

I am not sure where the mooring contractors down here get them from but they seem to be able to source them from somewhere

Regards Don

Select to expand quote

Donk107 said..

Shanty said..

Donk107 said..
Down here in Tassie train wheels a popular

I have one wheel for my 28 footer

Regards Don

Just gotta ask. Where do you get train wheels from and how do you get them to the bottom of the ocean? Is there a train track to the end of a boat ramp that you connect your boat to. After you put your boat on the train wheels, connect them to the train track and essentially build yourself a "Railer Sailer". You just sail to your spot and drop the train wheels off. Sounds interesting.
Regards,
Mick

Hi Mick

I am not sure where the mooring contractors down here get them from but they seem to be able to source them from somewhere

Regards Don

Fair enough. I was presuming you guys were responsible for putting them in. Do they hold well in a typical tassie blow? You would need some good chain on there wouldn't you?
regards,
mick

Select to expand quote

Shanty said..

Donk107 said..

Shanty said..

Donk107 said..
Down here in Tassie train wheels a popular

I have one wheel for my 28 footer

Regards Don

Just gotta ask. Where do you get train wheels from and how do you get them to the bottom of the ocean? Is there a train track to the end of a boat ramp that you connect your boat to. After you put your boat on the train wheels, connect them to the train track and essentially build yourself a "Railer Sailer". You just sail to your spot and drop the train wheels off. Sounds interesting.
Regards,
Mick

Hi Mick

I am not sure where the mooring contractors down here get them from but they seem to be able to source them from somewhere

Regards Don

Fair enough. I was presuming you guys were responsible for putting them in. Do they hold well in a typical tassie blow? You would need some good chain on there wouldn't you?
regards,
mick

Hi Mick

I have two moorings down here and both have train wheels on the bottom

The one at Port Huon is in about six meters of water with a mud bottom ans a few years ago we had 75 knots here in the bay for about 20 minutes and she didn't move at all

The second one down at Eggs and Bacon Bay is on sand and a bit shallower and we haven't been down there in a blow but I have total confidence in Russell and Lynn from Southern Mooring Service who relocated it to a new position in deeper water and serviced it for the first time last year

They were a bit concerned about the size of the lower chain (I think it was 16 mm) so they replaced it with some 28mm they had on board and pretty much replaced most of the stuff from the wheel up apart from the top chain (I think they might have replaced the top chain with the original bottom one)

Both of my moorings are a wheel with heavy chain, lighter chain, swivel and 24 mm aquatech rope riser with everything spliced running through a large styrene ball so there is always tension on the riser with lay flat fire hose where it goes over the bow roller and about a meter of lighter rope with a pickup ball on it

They are a lovely couple and I would recommend them to anyone in southern Tasmania

Regards Don

Hi Tophat

Here is a train wheel mooring apparatus for sale in NSW that might be worth looking at

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/corlette/boat-accessories-parts/boat-mooring-apparatus/1221855003

Regards Don

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Donk107 said..

Shanty said..

Donk107 said..

Shanty said..

Donk107 said..
Down here in Tassie train wheels a popular

I have one wheel for my 28 footer

Regards Don

Just gotta ask. Where do you get train wheels from and how do you get them to the bottom of the ocean? Is there a train track to the end of a boat ramp that you connect your boat to. After you put your boat on the train wheels, connect them to the train track and essentially build yourself a "Railer Sailer". You just sail to your spot and drop the train wheels off. Sounds interesting.
Regards,
Mick

Hi Mick

I am not sure where the mooring contractors down here get them from but they seem to be able to source them from somewhere

Regards Don

Fair enough. I was presuming you guys were responsible for putting them in. Do they hold well in a typical tassie blow? You would need some good chain on there wouldn't you?
regards,
mick

Hi Mick

I have two moorings down here and both have train wheels on the bottom

The one at Port Huon is in about six meters of water with a mud bottom ans a few years ago we had 75 knots here in the bay for about 20 minutes and she didn't move at all

The second one down at Eggs and Bacon Bay is on sand and a bit shallower and we haven't been down there in a blow but I have total confidence in Russell and Lynn from Southern Mooring Service who relocated it to a new position in deeper water and serviced it for the first time last year

They were a bit concerned about the size of the lower chain (I think it was 16 mm) so they replaced it with some 28mm they had on board and pretty much replaced most of the stuff from the wheel up apart from the top chain (I think they might have replaced the top chain with the original bottom one)

Both of my moorings are a wheel with heavy chain, lighter chain, swivel and 24 mm aquatech rope riser with everything spliced running through a large styrene ball so there is always tension on the riser with lay flat fire hose where it goes over the bow roller and about a meter of lighter rope with a pickup ball on it

They are a lovely couple and I would recommend them to anyone in southern Tasmania

Regards Don

Thanks for thesepics Don it explains a lot, I talked to a fella just now he said where she's going the water depth is 3 meters and I'd need a 4.5 meter mooring line, how much chain would I need? Local shop said 10 mm closed link be strong enough that's too cheesy for me, I'll only use rated chain, trip to Blackwoods is in order to get the chain 14-16 mm should do,
live settled on a 44 with old crankshafts , I'll run reo bar through it leaving spikes outside, look like a WW2 sea mine lol, 3 loops of reoout the top, chain, big shackles, attach the line which will be 9 meters doubled, a pendent to hold the second bouy in case the wife drops the line that's my biggest fear.
Guy who is running her to the Bay is 75 yo charging me 200 bux take him three days, what a champion,
Terns had a bum cleaned, old fella will patch the job, now I need a lil outboard and things are in order,
Whats best thing to use on rope for anti chafe, I heard pool noodle cut n cable tied

Select to expand quote

TopHat 25 Mk2 said..

Donk107 said..

Shanty said..

Donk107 said..

Shanty said..

Donk107 said..
Down here in Tassie train wheels a popular

I have one wheel for my 28 footer

Regards Don

Just gotta ask. Where do you get train wheels from and how do you get them to the bottom of the ocean? Is there a train track to the end of a boat ramp that you connect your boat to. After you put your boat on the train wheels, connect them to the train track and essentially build yourself a "Railer Sailer". You just sail to your spot and drop the train wheels off. Sounds interesting.
Regards,
Mick

Hi Mick

I am not sure where the mooring contractors down here get them from but they seem to be able to source them from somewhere

Regards Don

Fair enough. I was presuming you guys were responsible for putting them in. Do they hold well in a typical tassie blow? You would need some good chain on there wouldn't you?
regards,
mick

Hi Mick

I have two moorings down here and both have train wheels on the bottom

The one at Port Huon is in about six meters of water with a mud bottom ans a few years ago we had 75 knots here in the bay for about 20 minutes and she didn't move at all

The second one down at Eggs and Bacon Bay is on sand and a bit shallower and we haven't been down there in a blow but I have total confidence in Russell and Lynn from Southern Mooring Service who relocated it to a new position in deeper water and serviced it for the first time last year

They were a bit concerned about the size of the lower chain (I think it was 16 mm) so they replaced it with some 28mm they had on board and pretty much replaced most of the stuff from the wheel up apart from the top chain (I think they might have replaced the top chain with the original bottom one)

Both of my moorings are a wheel with heavy chain, lighter chain, swivel and 24 mm aquatech rope riser with everything spliced running through a large styrene ball so there is always tension on the riser with lay flat fire hose where it goes over the bow roller and about a meter of lighter rope with a pickup ball on it

They are a lovely couple and I would recommend them to anyone in southern Tasmania

Regards Don

Thanks for thesepics Don it explains a lot, I talked to a fella just now he said where she's going the water depth is 3 meters and I'd need a 4.5 meter mooring line, how much chain would I need? Local shop said 10 mm closed link be strong enough that's too cheesy for me, I'll only use rated chain, trip to Blackwoods is in order to get the chain 14-16 mm should do,
live settled on a 44 with old crankshafts , I'll run reo bar through it leaving spikes outside, look like a WW2 sea mine lol, 3 loops of reoout the top, chain, big shackles, attach the line which will be 9 meters doubled, a pendent to hold the second bouy in case the wife drops the line that's my biggest fear.
Guy who is running her to the Bay is 75 yo charging me 200 bux take him three days, what a champion,
Terns had a bum cleaned, old fella will patch the job, now I need a lil outboard and things are in order,
Whats best thing to use on rope for anti chafe, I heard pool noodle cut n cable tied

Mate, seriously, take a long hard look at the apparatus linked above for sale in Sydney, very reasonably priced and a damn good system.
44 gal drums roll around on the bottom, something that works it's way into the bottom connected with some serious chain, lighter chain, good swivel then a 28 mm rope riser is so superior.

Select to expand quote

Shanty said..
Yeah plus one on the cement comment. I'm pretty sure they lose 50% of their weight in water. Find some old piece of cast iron. Maybe an old engine block, or something of the like.

If you can I would suggest a piece of chain 14-18mm that is the same length as the depth of the water. Then have a shackle then some smaller chain 8-12mm that connects to your bouy or float or Whatever you want to call it. After a piece of rope you have floating. When you come up to it have a 10-12 foot bit of rope to put through the loop. That way you don't have sh!t from floating rope in the deck.

She won't go anywhere then mate
Regards,
Mick

Just my experiences but chain to the surface is asking for chain wear!
When the boat is not on the mooring, every wave moves the bouy up and down and wears the chain at the bottom very quickly.

I always recommend rope more than long enough to reach the bottom at high tide without the boat there!!

Here's my ideal mooring after dads boat being moored for 30 years and refining the design.

Large mooring block as discussed attached to 5-8m of heavy chain, somewhere between 16 and 24mm depending on the boat. The about the same of smaller chain, 10-16mm, again depending on the boat.
This is attached to the rope (8 plait poly is the best) with a homemade thimble made from 2 pieces of solid nylon, a 1/4 round routered in each, bolted together and the a hole drilled for the shackle.
We have found that galv thimbles are the fastest to wear and we get 10+ years out of a solid nylon one!

The length of the rope should be long enough so that all the chain is on the bottom at high tide without the boat on it.

We then use the buoy with a hole through the middle and have found 2 of the biggest polystyrene with a length of poly pipe through both (one on top of the otger) best for longevity.

The rope has a loop spliced that sits on top of the buoys and the the rope slides through as you lift the loop to the buoy.
This keeps the loop fairly clean so your not lifting weed etc onto your boat.

Select to expand quote

rumblefish said..

Shanty said..
Yeah plus one on the cement comment. I'm pretty sure they lose 50% of their weight in water. Find some old piece of cast iron. Maybe an old engine block, or something of the like.

If you can I would suggest a piece of chain 14-18mm that is the same length as the depth of the water. Then have a shackle then some smaller chain 8-12mm that connects to your bouy or float or Whatever you want to call it. After a piece of rope you have floating. When you come up to it have a 10-12 foot bit of rope to put through the loop. That way you don't have sh!t from floating rope in the deck.

She won't go anywhere then mate
Regards,
Mick

Just my experiences but chain to the surface is asking for chain wear!
When the boat is not on the mooring, every wave moves the bouy up and down and wears the chain at the bottom very quickly.

I always recommend rope more than long enough to reach the bottom at high tide without the boat there!!

The setup I am trying to explain is a bit hard to understand. I will draw a picture later explaining it. The only piece of chain that wears is the piece going to the surface which will need to be replaced every 12-18-24 months depending on conditions.

PS know that I look it is the same as rumblefish's setup. Apart from when the shackle connects to the rope that goes up and down with the tide. Is smaller chain.