How are moorings sized?
A mooring’s size rating is determined by the weight of ballast and size of chain and by placement of ballast. Shore moorings use 25 feet of 3/8 inch chain with two to three hundred pounds of ballast as described in the specification according to size of boat. Offshore moorings within Newport Harbor typically use 20 feet of heavy bottom chain and 15 feet of lighter top chain. Size of mooring pendants, size of chain, and weight of ballast are described in the offshore mooring specifications. The harbor’s heaviest mooring, rated for a 95 foot boat, uses 6,700 pounds of ballast forward and the same amount aft. A 50 foot boat requires 2,000 pounds of ballast.
