Moorings for boat divers

[MadisonK]

In the September 2004 Scuba Diving magazine there is an article entitled "Do One Thing For the Environment". One of the things is "Work to bring mooring buoys to any dive sites you patronize".

My least favorite thing about boat diving is setting the anchor and then worrying about it when I'm down. I recently had my anchor drag. It was a long fast swim.....

Does anyone have opinions about attaching mooring lines to some of your favorite sites. I live and dive from Beverly, MA. I notice alot of the chatter here under NELD is about the North Shore so I'm hoping there are some local opinions. I recently read a post about a mooring ball at Halfway Rock so I know I'm not the only one interested in this topic.

I would be willing to put in some early spring work and supplies for some moorings at some of the good sites on the North Shore.

 

[matt_unique]

In the September 2004 Scuba Diving magazine there is an article entitled "Do One Thing For the Environment". One of the things is "Work to bring mooring buoys to any dive sites you patronize".

My least favorite thing about boat diving is setting the anchor and then worrying about it when I'm down. I recently had my anchor drag. It was a long fast swim.....

Does anyone have opinions about attaching mooring lines to some of your favorite sites. I live and dive from Beverly, MA. I notice alot of the chatter here under NELD is about the North Shore so I'm hoping there are some local opinions. I recently read a post about a mooring ball at Halfway Rock so I know I'm not the only one interested in this topic.

I would be willing to put in some early spring work and supplies for some moorings at some of the good sites on the North Shore.

The local charter dive shops/captains install and service these moorings. You bring up a good question though. I am not certain what is required for them in terms of permits, costs, annual service requirements, etc., if any. You can't drop a mooring in a harbor without all the above for example. If you don't pay your annual tax the mooring is yanked by the harbor master. I wonder what the jurisdiction is for say a place like Halfway Rock? At Halfway they installed a mooring chain around existing rocks. My last trip out there I replaced the line and buoy that had been cut.

There are moorings at the most popular sites already. Poling, Halfway, Paddock Ledge, Saturday Night Ledge, etc., etc. What sites did you have in mind that do not have moorings?

--Matt

 

[MadisonK]

I am thinking of all the small islands that hold lobsters. Like Tinkers, Childrens, Bakers, House, Kettle, Normans ......keep going right up and around Cape Ann. I've often thought there should be more mooring sites that are maintained and open to anyone on a first come first serve basis, like Misery. I am aware that the magazine was recommending this mostly for areas with coral reefs but I still think it's a good idea for around here.

 

[matt_unique]

I am thinking of all the small islands that hold lobsters. Like Tinkers, Childrens, Bakers, House, Kettle, Normans ......keep going right up and around Cape Ann. I've often thought there should be more mooring sites that are maintained and open to anyone on a first come first serve basis, like Misery. I am aware that the magazine was recommending this mostly for areas with coral reefs but I still think it's a good idea for around here.

Do you have a mooring. slip, or trailer your boat?

Yeah it would be nice if there were moorings in more spots along the shore. These places you listed are not as popular (i.e. lucrative) in comparison to some that I listed above for the charter captains. I would be willing to assist with the creation of moorings as well depending upon the legal requirements. Let's research this. There is nothing like the convenience of a mooring for diving, cookout, over nighting, etc. It would really be easy if you found a spot with good rocks like Halfway. Secure a chain around some rocks, float a line, tie off a buoy or fender with a bowline at the top, boom we have a mooring.

--Matt

 

[MadisonK]

Matt

I keep my boat at Port Marine in Beverly at a slip. It's a 24' Silverhawk (CC w/ an I/O).

Tying chains to rocks is one idea but what about making concrete block moorings and dropping them at these spots. It may be a ridiculous idea but I doubt they would have to be so big that two guys couldn't build and move them by boat and drop them. As for the legality I'm sure if you asked anyone in authority they would simply say no without citing any laws etc... so I think we should research it a little more before we ask anyone.

I dive with 3 other guys who would all be willing to help. Let me know your thoughts.

Ken

 

[ScubaNorth]

Each town has juristiction of it's own water ways and most of the small islands are town land. This is the biggest problem you'll run into on Cape Ann. Each Harbour Master will have his or her own idea of what the regulation is for a mooring since this topic has not been addressed in current regulations. Then you'll have the Coast Guard who'll also want to step in and flex a little muscle. This is a huge but worthwhile project. Not to be negative because change can only come when people are willing to do the hard work but I can't imagine anyone on Cape Ann will want to make life easier for Lobster Divers as we are considered all but the anti-christ by most of the folk there.

 

[matt_unique]

Matt

I keep my boat at Port Marine in Beverly at a slip. It's a 24' Silverhawk (CC w/ an I/O).

Tying chains to rocks is one idea but what about making concrete block moorings and dropping them at these spots. It may be a ridiculous idea but I doubt they would have to be so big that two guys couldn't build and move them by boat and drop them. As for the legality I'm sure if you asked anyone in authority they would simply say no without citing any laws etc... so I think we should research it a little more before we ask anyone.

I dive with 3 other guys who would all be willing to help. Let me know your thoughts.

Ken

You can't drop moorings without permits. It's also expensive to build proper (real) concrete moorings with rebar twisted into them for the mooring chain. Rocks or chained masonry blocks would be much less expensive assuming it could legally be done. The moorings at Great/Little Misery for example are under the jurisdiction of Beverly Harbor. I assume Beverly has the same laws as Salem in terms of annual service and such.

I agree we should look into the laws but it will require the CG and/or local harbor masters. If they do not approve it, then can pull it and that's it.

--Matt

 

[Tall Tails]

In the September 2004 Scuba Diving magazine there is an article entitled "Do One Thing For the Environment". One of the things is "Work to bring mooring buoys to any dive sites you patronize".

My least favorite thing about boat diving is setting the anchor and then worrying about it when I'm down. I recently had my anchor drag. It was a long fast swim.....

Does anyone have opinions about attaching mooring lines to some of your favorite sites. I live and dive from Beverly, MA. I notice alot of the chatter here under NELD is about the North Shore so I'm hoping there are some local opinions. I recently read a post about a mooring ball at Halfway Rock so I know I'm not the only one interested in this topic.

I would be willing to put in some early spring work and supplies for some moorings at some of the good sites on the North Shore.

There is no harm in asking. I would start in Beverly since you pay slip feees and taxxes there. Dan McPherson is the HM, the office # is (978) 921-6059. It is worth asking. I will say, it would be hard to lift a concrete block of good size off the boat to put in the water. I think you would want a minumum of 1500lb block and I know that would not even meeet the requirements for the HM. They detail the size of block, top chain, bottom chain, etc - based on location (in river, miseries, etc.). There are mooring service companies that wwill do it. Of course, you could just drop a mushroom anchor and put a lobster buoy on it and nobody is the wiser. Not that I would suggest doing anything illegal ;-)

Good luck.

Jon

 

[matt_unique]

There is no harm in asking. I would start in Beverly since you pay slip feees and taxxes there. Dan McPherson is the HM, the office # is (978) 921-6059. It is worth asking. I will say, it would be hard to lift a concrete block of good size off the boat to put in the water. I think you would want a minumum of 1500lb block and I know that would not even meeet the requirements for the HM. They detail the size of block, top chain, bottom chain, etc - based on location (in river, miseries, etc.). There are mooring service companies that wwill do it. Of course, you could just drop a mushroom anchor and put a lobster buoy on it and nobody is the wiser. Not that I would suggest doing anything illegal ;-)

Good luck.

Jon

The mooring block size required would be dependant upon the size of the intended boat. As you pointed out it would be impossible to move a 1500lb block without a barge and crane. It would really only be doable to rig a mooring with regular concrete blocks or to utilize existing rocks and chain. You can buy closed square blocks that weigh 100lbs a piece (aka chimney lifts). A few of these would not be cheap but certainly in comparison to real moorings. You are looking at a cost of $600+ to buy a "real" 1500 lb mooring block to include delivery.

Not trying to poo poo the idea, I'm all for it, just trying to be realistic about what we can realistically do as private boat owners.

--Matt

 

[MadisonK]

Those moorings are sized for major storms etc. If your anchor can hold you there must be a clever way of placing moorings at some of these sites. I don't expect the Yankee Fleet to be tying up to these moorings. Most of us have 20 something foot boats that only need to be tied safely for a breif period of time.

Think about those springs that climbers use to secure themselves in a crack on a rock wall. Seems to me we could improvise a little. Anyone got an underwater rock hammer drill?