Hi Nonsuch owners! I am new to this group and a potential Nonsuch26C owner as well. That said, I live in a location where moorage on a dock is impossible to find and so my decision to become a Nonsuch owner relies on my ability to keep the boat on my mooring buoy. I own my mooring buoy and have divers check it a couple of times a year. She used to hold my 42’ KadeyKrogen, so was rated to hold a 49000 lb vessel that has a very high profile. Wind definitely took her and she was out there in some big blows and the mooring was solid. All that to say, the ground tackle is sufficient for the boat.
From some of my reading in this forum some have mentioned that these boats skate about and move a lot on moorings, more than might be expected from what" looks" to be a small sailboat. I wonder if anyone in this group has kept their boat on mooring buoy for long periods of time. Also, it seems from what I read that it would make most sense to have 2 active lines from the boat to my mooring (I did with the KK42 for sure) instead of a line to hold her and a backup that is slack.
I would love any suggestions from folks who have had their boats on a mooring for longer periods of time, or even who have hung on one for a bit in some location that experienced a bit of weather. I appreciate any information and advice as this is a big issue in my decision making on the purchase.
Hi Kim,
Welcome to the forum and the Nonsuch fraternity.
Are you on Long Island,NY or in Canada somewhere?
I think when at anchor, or on a ball some of our boats put up a small sail on the topping lift to the wishbone to keep the wind at the bow.
If Long Island then consider the Rondezvous at Mitchel’s in Greenport in August. A wealth of owners will be raising a glass to such a boat .
Brian
Thanks for the tip on the Bryan … I am in BC Canada … so the other coast! It would truly be a long way around to come join you in August, but it sounds like it would be a great group to gather with!
I’d guess offhand that a mooring which can handle a 49,000 lb KadeyKrogen would have no problems with a Nonsuch 26, which might get up to 10-12 thousand pounds if very heavily loaded.
Because of the mast and sail so far forward, Nonsuch sailboats tend to fall off the wind rather than point into it. When the mooring line brings them to a halt, they can straighten out and then swing the opposite direction. I’ve been told can certainly lead to sailing back and forth on a mooring or at anchor.
Brian’s suggestion of a small sail on the topping lift is a version of a riding sail.
I did a quick search on “riding sail” on the Forum, which has discussion records back to 2009. (As you may already know, a riding sail is designed to keep a boat pointed into the wind when raised in exactly those conditions.) I got more than 50 results, which people can look at here: Search results for 'riding sail' - The Nonsuch Community Forum
They seem to contain a lot of positive support for hoisting a FinDelta riding sail, although those are by no means the only makers. There’s a lot of detail in those discussions about the details of buying and using a riding sail for a Nonsuch.
If you’re a Practical Sailor subscriber, there are also a couple of useful articles there, the most recent being:
As an alternative to buying a riding sail, SailRite offers kits for making your own:
I don’t know why the SailRite clip above lists a “USD 9999.99” price. That does not appear on the website, and I don’t think it’s correct.
Since most off-the-shelf riding sails are designed for sloops with booms, some adaptation may be needed for a Nonsuch.
My trimaran was a cat rig with a wishbone boom. The transom was quite skinny so when we anchored it was set off the stern. Even in a bit of a chop the boat was quite comfortable. The Nonsuch has a lot more real estate back there but if the anchorage is quite sheltered it may be an option.
Hi There Kim,
I kept my Nonsuch 26C on a mooring both in a river & harbour for years and I never ran into problems despite periods of steady & high winds.
They do tend to sail on the mooring if the wind is strong, especially if you have a lot of canvas - i.e. Stack Pack, Dodger, Bimini, so I would usually reduce that if high winds were expected.
I just kept made sure my mooring line was properly connected at the ball with a good shackle that was seized on, and my mooring line was in good shape. I just attached it over my anchor roller onto the capstan, without any anti-chafe sleeves or anything, & it was fine.
All the best!
Ken Julian
Kim, I have kept my 324 Essence on a mooring for some years. Yes she sails a lot but it is her nature and really not problem. I have a FinDelta but with the wishbone rig I found it very difficult to rig properly, it didn’t reduce the swing much and it caused undue strain on the unstayed mast. so I sold it. I have a “sentinel” that I can send down when anchored if I feel the anchorage is questionable. I have spent enough time on the boat to relax about the swing. It is the nature of a catboat rig.
Our NS26C is in a mooring field with various size power boats. We swing with the wind and tide similar to the field. The boats are around 80 feet apart, so a small open field. Often we point a little off the direction of the nearby Back Cove 37, but never a concern.
Curt Danforth
Nonsuch 26C, #181
Masons Island, CT
Rendezvous
(Lloyd Herman; Rendezvous, 30U/424; Port Washington, NY)
11
Welcome, Kim. We have moored our 30U since 2002, with it weathering several hurricanes, including Sandy where a bunch of others’ boats were damaged and destroyed and Irwin where the wave action was bad enough that it broke one of our club’s 16’ wide docks in two, from side to side. We have a 300# mushroom mooring, inspected every three years as per local code. Our two mooring lines are either 1/2" or 3/4" (cannot recall, but the splice for the eye loop just fits through the chock). We lead them through the chocks to the bow cleat which we then dog down with a light line. We always use a line from the stern corner chock to the back of the boom to stabilize the rig. We have never used a riding sail on our mooring, but have used it elsewhere and while anchored. Yes, the boat moves a bit different then the sloops that surround us, but it has not mattered. If you are expecting nasty wind (above 50-60 or so), strip the canvas. If you leave the sail on, wrap it real well.
From the sounds of it, you have the right stuff and with a pair of leads to the boat, it should be fine. Buy the Nonsuch and join us all! We are good people.
Thanks to everyone for your quick and helpful suggestions on how to deal with a Nonsuch on a mooring ball! Lots of potential ways and I have also really appreciated the suggestions on best ways to secure the mooring lines on the boat! I have been told that Nonsuch folks are a really good group of sailors to be a part of and this is the proof of that concept! I feel confident that it isn’t something that can’t be figured out with watching it a bit during various kinds of winds and to be able to handle! Thanks again for this tips!!
