SLSC: Ensign Mooring Gear

Ensign Mooring Gear

Here is what one of our moorings looks like out of the water. It consists of a 150 pound mushroom anchor, heavy chain (about twice as long as the water depth), a swivel, a mooring float, and heavy rope pennant (some use the term "pendant"). You can see Ed is using very large pliers to tighten the shackles.

Here is a better view of how to get the shackles tight. Use the biggest pliers and wrenches you have.

After the shackles are tight, they should be safety wired with stainless steel wire.

This is a view of the mooring float and pennant. The pennant is 1/2 - 5/8 inch nylon three-strand line with a galvanized thimble spliced in. The other end has a large (10 inch) spliced eye to go over the mooring cleat on the boat's foredeck. The pennant can be 8 - 9 feet long for an Ensign.

if you'd like to learn more about Ensign sailing.