SLSC: Mooring Policy

Mooring Policy

General

The Saratoga Lake Sailing Club has designated the northern portion of the Special Anchorage Area established with New York State as the location in which Club members may moor their boats. The mooring area extends along the shore line 500 feet north from the race committee building and old property line, and extends into the lake 400 feet east from the shore line. SLSC has created a mooring map of this area by which it can assign a designated mooring spot to a club member who desires to moor a boat in the area. The mooring map is based on a separation of 70 feet between mooring locations. The Club does not provide nor maintain moorings in the area. It is the responsibility of each individual member to obtain, place, and maintain adequate ground tackle for the safety of all boats in the mooring field. Each member is responsible for any damage to other boats which may be caused by his boat. The mooring area is under the responsibility of the Rear Commodore who will establish appropriate rules and guidelines to assure the sailing enjoyment of all members. The Saratoga Lake Sailing Club assumes no liability for damage or personal injury to members or guests using the mooring area.

Eligible Boats

The purpose of the mooring area is to provide an anchorage location for boats which are too large or impractical to be stored on trailers and launched from the crane or the ramp. Because of the space limitation, it is not the intention to provide mooring positions for centerboard dinghies. For practical and safety reasons, boats in excess of 23 feet are not permitted in the mooring area. Questions on the eligibility of specific boats should be brought to the Rear Commodore.

Mooring Assignments

The Rear Commodore or his or her designate maintains the Mooring Field Assignment map. In general, members keep their assigned positions from year to year. The Rear Commodore may rearrange spaces to improve the safety or the efficiency of the mooring field. Mooring assignments are for the use of the designated member only. Any transfer or other use of the mooring must be approved in advance by the Rear Commodore or designate. As openings occur, the Rear Commodore will make new assignments based upon the following priorities:

First Priority - Existing members who have a sanctioned fleet boat.
Second Priority - New member applicants who have a sanctioned fleet boat.
Third Priority - Existing members who have a boat qualifying for a mooring but no present mooring assignment.
Fourth Priority - Existing members who intend to purchase a boat. When a mooring is available, it will be held for 45 days after the member is advised a space is available for them. At the conclusion of the time period, if the member has not purchased a boat, the space will be assigned to others on the waiting list.
Fifth Priority - New member applicants who have a non-fleet boat and have been recommended for membership by the membership committee.

Members without a mooring assignment may request a mooring at any time during the year by completing a Mooring Request Form and sending it to the Rear Commodore. The information on the Mooring Request Form will be used to establish a waiting list if there are more mooring requests than available spaces. Following the April 15 membership renewal deadline, the Rear Commodore will identify any resulting openings in the mooring field and make new mooring assignments based on the priorities above.

Members who have a mooring assignment but have not placed their boat on their mooring by June 30 will be contacted by the Rear Commodore to indicate their intention for the season. Members that do not place a boat on a mooring by July 15 will lose their assignment and the location will be made available in accordance with the above priorities.

Ground Tackle

Anchor - The water depth in the mooring area ranges from one or two feet along the shore (Row One) to eight or nine feet at the outer edge (Row Six). For the heavier, deeper draft boats such the Ensign and O'Day 22 and 23 in the outer rows, a 125/150 pound mushroom anchor is required. For lighter boats with a retractable keel such as the Mariner, a 75 pound mushroom anchor should be adequate. For shallow water boats in Rows One and Two, a mushroom anchor might not be practical and a heavy flat weight may be substituted for a mushroom anchor provided it has adequate holding power for the boat.

Chain - Galvanized chain about twice or two and a half times the water depth should be used. A 5/16 inch link is a commonly used size. An ideal arrangement is to use a heavy chain attached to the mushroom with a galvanized shackle for half the length, and a lighter chain joined to the heavy chain with a shackle and swivel for the other half. This is done so that the mooring float does not have to support an excessive amount of weight.

Buoys - There are in general, two types of mooring buoys. The Taylor T3C Buoy allows the chain to pass through the buoy so that the mooring pennant from the boat can be attached directly to the chain. The other style mooring buoy has a steel loop at the top and the bottom for attaching the chain and pennant. With this type of buoy, it is important to attach the chain to the bottom loop, and attach the pennant directly to the chain, not to the top loop of the buoy. (The buoy can pull apart). The top loop can be used to attach a dinghy when out for a sail.

Pennant (or Pendant) - The pennant attaches the boat to the chain. Three strand nylon should be used because its elasticity allows it to act as a shock absorber. The length should be about two and a half times the freeboard and the diameter as large as practical so it can fit through bow chocks and around a bow cleat. Commonly used sizes are 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch.

Maintenance

It is highly recommended that mushroom anchors and related gear be removed each fall. This gives the member an opportunity to inspect the ground tackle for wear and deterioration. It also eliminates the possibility of movement from the ice and the sometimes unsuccessful search for the mooring in the Spring. Several mooring field members have constructed a device to pull the moorings utilizing the small 13 foot Whaler.

Note: Additional information and illustrations of mooring gear can be viewed on the Ensign Fleet article on the subject.