Mooring Equipment

[Michael]

Dangerous Shackles?

Peter's just secured the chain on the railway wagon wheel in front of the OOD Box.

Peter's observation: " ... when we pulled the chain out of the sand it had the remains of a shackle left on it with the pin still hanging out but there were no threads or eye on the pin ... ".

We've lost the Hippo buoy from outside the OOD Box but Peter had previously rescued the Hippo buoy from Lades Creek. Please would all of you keep a look-out for the buoy 'T'. It could be upstream - a good excuse for an outing in the Rescue Boat.

It would appear that we've lost this Hippo buoy because of inferior equipment. More than likely the Hippo buoy and wheel at the entrance to Lades Creek also. Both Hippo buoys had heavy chains and heavy duty swivels so that we wouldn't lose them - ha ha. I've been using shackles bought from general engineering suppliers, the one opposite the new Barton Grange on the A6 and Craigs at Conder Green. These only have a thin zinc plating. It would seem that they are NOT suitable for marine environments.