Hobbies And Interests
Mooring to Shore
The most common place to moor a boat is at a pier or quay. Traditional mooring lines are passed from ship to shore and attached to a bollard, or in less developed countries a rock or tree. This requires the cooperation of someone on the shore, who would catch the mooring line. In the case of larger ships, like those used in heavy transport or by the Armed Forces, heavy machinery is used to secure the mooring lines in place. This way, ships can travel the world and moor at any port that is prepared to cater for them.
Permanent Anchor Mooring
More permanent mooring tends to be favored by those who own a houseboat or canal boat. If it is your permanent home, then you are likely to shun a regular pier, as the frequent changeover of boats is a constant disturbance. Instead, a quieter location further up a river or canal can be used. Moorings in these locations tend to be stronger and more durable, offering increased protection from waves and storms. They also prevent boats knocking against one another.
Marina Mooring
Marinas tend to be operated by private companies and also offer increased protection from the sea. These tend to be hired in the long term, for people who wish to have a permanent home for their boat, but who also wish to be able to take it out to sea if they so desire. Because a number of boats are grouped together over a long period of time, owners will often develop a sense of community among, and thus, there may be the opportunity to join a boat club. This can prove cheaper in the long run, because club members can share the cost of marine upkeep.
Single Buoy Mooring
Mooring does not have to take place on land. Single point mooring takes place offshore, from loading buoys anchored to the bottom of the sea or ocean. These floating platforms offer a place for large tankers to moor alongside each other to offload gas or fluids products such as oil. Thanks to their isolation, there is no need to be concerned with collisions, so any size ship can use them as a temporary mooring spot. Alternatively, anchors can be used anywhere in the ocean where the depth is not too great to moor a ship to a single spot.