Mushroom mooring weight

[Grady White Guy]

I have a 225 Tournament and I'm having a new mooring set up for my boat. How much mushroom mooring weight do I need if it is moored in an unprotected harbor on the East coast of the USA? Is 300 lbs enough or should I get something heavier?
Also, what material/width of mooring pennant should I get and should it be attached to the bow eye or bow cleats? or both? Thanks!

 

[DennisG01]

Are you doing this yourself or hiring someone?

300lb would be fine, and about the minimum I would use. Good for the size boat you have, but I always build moorings with the anticipation of having a bigger boat on it. BUT, what are you using for the rest of the ground tackle? That will have a big impact.

I have usually shied away from using an actual "pendant", but 1/2" or 5/8" will be good. Absolutely nothing wrong with a true pendant line, but I use regular 1/2" stranded (I make up the line myself, putting an eye splice at both ends), doubled up and attach directly to both bow cleats when I don't have a bitt. With the bitt, come through the chocks and have both ropes go to the bitt.

 

[JeffN]

What is the nature of the bottom where the anchor is? When my 25' was on a mooring in an area with a sand bottom I used a combination of two mushrooms. IIRC I had a 150 lb. mushroom and I purchased another, hooked them together with a chain, put a swivel in the center and then chain up to my buoy. The prevailing winds are SW in normal weather and northerly in storms. I did have some protection to the south and the SW. The north to NE was pretty open. I rigged the anchors in a NE to SW line. The setup worked very well and never dragged during many fall storms over several seasons. 250 or 300 lbs. should be plenty I would think, The 150 lb. mushroom I had previously held a 22' CC in the same spot with no issues. Usually when a boat ends up on the beach around here there is a frayed piece of line hanging off the bow and that's it. I have seen boats still attached to an intact mooring on the beach but only once in a great while.