I have never seen any mooring systems around here since there seems to
be plenty of dockage, but I can imagine a time when that will not be
the case and moorings will be more common. However, the current trend
seems to be those helical screw in type mooring anchors rather than
the old dead weight mushroom style ones or the old 357 chevy block
with chain welded to it. However, I have read that installation is
fairly expensive requiring a rig to screw them into the bottom.
Being the inventive type (its a personality flaw), I been
thinking...
Have a helical screw in type anchor but on top of it have an arm maybe
3' long that will turn the screw in one direction but ratchet in the
other (like a ratchet wrench). This ratchet attaches temporarily to
the top of the screw. Tie your boat to the end of the arm and over a
few days, waves, shifts of wind and tides will cause the anchor to be
screwed into the bottom as it jerks on the arm. You could make it
work faster and initially set it by motoring up to it, going in
reverse and repeating the process. After a week, you use a mask and
snorkel to check how far it has screwed in and you remove the
ratcheting arm and tie your buoy to the end of the anchor. The
ratchet is sent back to the manufacturer for re-use.
Whaddya think?

I had a 10 foot helix driven into the floor of Blackwater Sound in Key
Largo. They used a hydraulic motor to drive it and it cost me $1200. I
think you would have difficulty driving it down with your method.

Parallax wrote:

I have never seen any mooring systems around here since there seems to
be plenty of dockage, but I can imagine a time when that will not be
the case and moorings will be more common. However, the current trend
seems to be those helical screw in type mooring anchors rather than
the old dead weight mushroom style ones or the old 357 chevy block
with chain welded to it. However, I have read that installation is
fairly expensive requiring a rig to screw them into the bottom.
Being the inventive type (its a personality flaw), I been
thinking...
Have a helical screw in type anchor but on top of it have an arm maybe
3' long that will turn the screw in one direction but ratchet in the
other (like a ratchet wrench). This ratchet attaches temporarily to
the top of the screw. Tie your boat to the end of the arm and over a
few days, waves, shifts of wind and tides will cause the anchor to be
screwed into the bottom as it jerks on the arm. You could make it
work faster and initially set it by motoring up to it, going in
reverse and repeating the process. After a week, you use a mask and
snorkel to check how far it has screwed in and you remove the
ratcheting arm and tie your buoy to the end of the anchor. The
ratchet is sent back to the manufacturer for re-use.
Whaddya think?

I think the real trick would be getting the screw started. Once it got a bite I
imagine running it down wouldn't be that hard. Maybe a big rental air impact
ratchet, gasoline compressor and an "extension" of galvanized pipe? A lot will
depend on what the bottom is made of.

This ratchet attaches temporarily to
the top of the screw.

I had a 10 foot helix driven into the floor of Blackwater Sound in Key
Largo. They used a hydraulic motor to drive it and it cost me $1200.

I think the real trick would be getting the screw started. Once it got a
bite I
imagine running it down wouldn't be that hard. Maybe a big rental air
impact
ratchet, gasoline compressor and an "extension" of galvanized pipe? A lot
will
depend on what the bottom is made of.

Of course, you just might end up twirling yourself around instead of
screwing in the mooring.

If you worked off the bow of the boat and anchored the stern you could control
the angular motion. If you have a real big boat with a thruster you might be
able to pinwheel the anchor down

There are guys who make a living installing these things. They have the
equipment and knowledge to get it down right.

And they will know if your installing in a designated or proper mooring
location.

You'll want to verify wheather you need a permit to put a mooring down,
before you spend more than a few hundred buck on this mooring.

A fellow just dropped an old 30# anchor and mooring bouy (beer keg) just off
my marina slip. It fouls the approach to a ~ dozen slips. I'd call it a
hazard to navigation, but we have no USCG or other agency to contact in this
area. (I'm just hoping a good winter gale will take care of it this winter.)

--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

A fellow just dropped an old 30# anchor and mooring bouy (beer keg) just off
my marina slip. It fouls the approach to a ~ dozen slips. I'd call it a
hazard to navigation, but we have no USCG or other agency to contact in this
area.

If nobody cares, shoot a few holes in the beer keg. Let Posiedon handle it.