Mooring Shopping List
Each year I am asked detailed questions on what to buy to build a mooring. Prior to this we have not provided a list on the site as there are multiple choices to make. One choice is whether to float your top chain or have a system where the ball pulls out of the water. What follows is based on the typical nyack rig - keeping a soft ball out of the water while your boat is moored. You can see discussion of the pros and cons of each system elsewhere. In an attempt to make this simple for new members, especially those who have never built a mooring before, we recommend the following. I will attempt to provide more than one list, based on boat size. If you have better suggestions please let me know. Let's try to create an ideal list.
One wild card is what you do for pendants. There are many choices. Polyester double braid is best, think Yale. If you purchased something like R&W Rope pendants they will come with a pear ring and you will need two less smaller shackles. Most pendants will come with the thimble but you will need to attach each to a pear ring with a shackle. Though pendant thickness is recommended here, you need to consider the size of your chocks. Don't buy pendandts that can't easily fit in your chocks. Pendant length is discussed here.
28' to 30' boat - maximum displacement 9,000 lbs
| quantity | description | notes |
| 1 | 400lb Dor-Mor anchor | http://www.dor-mor.com/ |
| 1 | 7/8" shackle (for Dor-Mor) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 30' | 5/8" chain (bottom) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 20' | 1/2" chain (top) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 2 | 3/4" shackles | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. One of these might not be needed if you can get the pin of the 7/8" shackle onto your 5/8" bottom chain. |
| 6 | 5/8" shackles | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. This assumes that the 2 pendant shackles will be appropriate for the thimble on the pendants you choose. |
| 1 | 3/4" swivel (middle) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 1 | 5/8" swivel (top) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 1 | 5/8" pear ring | https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2259973|2260016|2260031&id=3291376 |
| 2 | 12' - 16' 5/8" - 3/4" polyester double braid pendants with thimble and chafing gear. | https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2078767|2226886&id=4412005 or https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2078767|2226886&id=3183273 https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/products/mooring-pendant-novablue-with-o... |
| 1 | 20" soft buoy - get bigger if you want. | https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2276155|2276169|2276173&id=595700 |
| 1 | 72" pickup stick | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 1 | clasp for pickup stick line | |
| 12' | 1/2" line for buoy | nylon is fine. End up with enough after knots to be able to fold ball line over bow pulpit when pendant it's tied to is on the cleat |
| 12' | 5/16" line for pickup stick | After knots, loops and clasped, this should end up being longer than the line to the buoy. |
| 1 | seizing wire | https://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|2259973|2260016|2260029&id=685665 |
31' to 33' boat - maximum displacement 12,000 lbs
| quantity | description | notes |
| 1 | 500lb Dor-Mor anchor | http://www.dor-mor.com/ |
| 1 | 1 1/4"" shackle (for Dor-Mor) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 30' | 3/4" chain (bottom) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 20' | 5/8" chain (top) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 2 | 7/8" shackles | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 5 | 3/4" shackles | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 1 | 7/8" swivel (middle) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. This is OPTIONAL. |
| 1 | 3/4" swivel (top) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 1 | 3/4" pear ring | https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2259973|2260016|2260031&id=3291376 |
| 2 | 16' - 20' 3/4" polyester double braid pendants with thimbles and chafing gear. | https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2078767|2226886&id=4412005 or https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2078767|2226886&id=3183273 https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/products/mooring-pendant-novablue-with-o... |
| 1 | 20" soft buoy - get bigger if you want. | https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2276155|2276169|2276173&id=595700 |
| 1 | 72" pickup stick | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 1 | clasp for pickup stick line | |
| 12' | 1/2" line for buoy | nylon is fine. End up with enough after knots to be able to fold ball line over bow pulpit when pendant it's tied to is on the cleat |
| 12' | 5/16" line for pickup stick | After knots, loops and clasped, this should end up being longer than the line to the buoy. |
| 1 | 5/8" shackle (drop shackle) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| seizing wire | https://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|2259973|2260016|2260029&id=685665 |
34' to 36' boat - maximum displacement 15,000 lbs
| quantity | description | notes |
| 1 | 500lb Dor-Mor anchor | http://www.dor-mor.com/ |
| 1 | 1 1/4"" shackle (for Dor-Mor) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 30' | 1" chain (bottom) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 20' | 5/8" chain (top) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 2 | 1 1/8" shackles (or 1") | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 5 | 3/4" shackles | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 1 | 1 1/8" or 1" swivel (middle) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. This is OPTIONAL. |
| 1 | 3/4" swivel (top) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 1 | 3/4" pear ring | https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2259973|2260016|2260031&id=3291376 |
| 2 | 16' - 20' 3/4" - 1" polyester double braid pendants with thimbles and chafing gear. | https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2078767|2226886&id=4412005 or https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2078767|2226886&id=3183273 https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/products/mooring-pendant-novablue-with-o... |
| 1 | 20" soft buoy - get bigger if you want. | https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2276155|2276169|2276173&id=595700 |
| 1 | 72" pickup stick | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| 1 | clasp for pickup stick line | |
| 12' | 1/2" line for buoy | Nylon is fine. End up with enough after knots to be able to fold ball line over bow pulpit when pendant it's tied to is on the cleat |
| 12' | 5/16" line for pickup stick | After knots, loops and clasped, this should end up being longer than the line to the buoy. |
| 1 | 5/8" shackle (drop shackle) | Can purchase from club's Pioneer order. |
| seizing wire | https://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|2259973|2260016|2260029&id=685665 |
Last updated 4:29pm on 11 January 2025