A mooring ball’s function is to provide a permanent anchoring location for your boat.
A mooring system contains three parts:
- A heavy anchor (A)
- An anchor chain or rode (B)
- A float or buoy called a mooring ball (C)
Terminology
- Heavy Chain: Attached to the anchor for added friction on the ocean bottom.
- Light Chain: Connected to the heavy chain via two shackles and a swivel.
- Galvanized Steel: The type of steel that mooring systems are made of. It rusts over time in a salt-water environment.
- Mooring Buoy (or Mooring Ball): The float attached to the top part of the chain. Increases the holding power of the mooring by controlling harsh weather shocks. The pennant connects to the buoy.
- Shackle: A piece of galvanized steel with two parts that screw in together to create a secure loop.
- Pennant: A length of rope that extends from the mooring ball to the boat.
- Bow Cleat: Where the pennant rope attaches to the boat.
Important Mooring Related Terms
Guest Mooring: A mooring ball that is installed by a marina as a temporary and safe anchoring spot for travellers.
Swing Area: The diameter of a circle created by the swinging of the vessel on the mooring system.
Multiple Anchor System: Uses three or more lightweight anchors that are set 120 degrees apart. This eliminates the majority of the boat’s swing and maximizes holding power.
Power-to-Weight Ratio: Measures the holding power of the anchor in relation to its weight.
Wind Load: The load per square foot (N/sqft) that a boat will undergo given a specific wind velocity and boat length.
