Rockport, Pigeon Cove,
White Wharf, Granite Pier, harbors and other anchorages within Town jurisdiction.
All anchors, chains, pennants and their placement
must be approved by the Harbormaster Department before gear is set.
Anchors and ground tackle specified herein are the minimum required for
the boat type and size indicated. Boat owners must check mooring gear annually.
Buoys will be "Massachusetts Regulation Buoy" styrofoam or
other approved materials; white with two inch horizontal blue band; owner's name and boat
length inscribed or painted on buoy.
1. SMALL BOATS (gear specifications are based on single
swing mooring)
Boats up to 14' - 1 - 751b. anchor
Boats 15' - 19' - 2 - 751b. anchors
For other small craft or special situations, contact the Harbormaster.
Single anchor moorings will have 3/8" chain from anchor to mooring
buoy (length to be determined by high water depth), one Massachusetts Regulation Buoy and
1/2" nylon pennant equipped with chafing gear.
Double anchor mooring will have 30' of 1/2" bridle chain, 3/8 up
chain to mooring buoy (length to be determined by high water depth), one Massachusetts
Regulation Buoy and minimum 1/2" nylon pennant equipped with chafing gear.
2. LARGE POWER AND SAIL BOATS (gear specifications based on
single swing mooring).
19' - 25' 2 - 150 lb. anchors
26' - 30' 2 - 200 lb. anchors
31' - 35' 2 - 250 lb. anchors
36' - 40' 2 - 300 lb. anchors
41 ' and over and for special situations, see Harbormaster.
All moorings will have 40' of 3/4" bridle chain between the two
spread anchors, 1/2" down chain from mooring buoy to bridle chain (length to be
determined by the high water depth), one Massachusetts Regulation Buoy and 2 - 3/4"
nylon pennants equipped with chafing gear.
3. FORE AND AFT MOORINGS
Boat size in category #2 above will have the same weight and number
anchors fore and one anchor aft equal in weight to one of the forward anchors.
example: 36' boat 200 - 300 lb. anchors forward and 1 - 300
lb. anchor aft
Forward mooring chain sizes and lengths will be the same as for swing
moorings in category #2 above.
Aft moorings will have 30' of 3/4" chain
from anchor to down chain. Down chain will be at least 3/8" (length to be
determined by high water depth). Two (2) nylon pennants, with chafing gear.
An "in between" line should connect fore and aft
moorings but the line should not be a buoyant material such as poly.
4. ANCHORS - The following types of anchors are the only ones authorized for
permanent, single swing and fore and aft moorings in Rockport waters:
Mushroom
Track
Yachtsman (one fluke removed or bent down)
Trawl or Net (one fluke removed or bent down)
Danforth
Block - Granite, cement - provide Harbormaster with detailed description before obtaining.
The following may not be used for moorings: engine blocks, grapple
anchor (or any anchor with more than one fluke), Northill anchor, cement building blocks
or scrap/pig iron.
5. WINTER BUOYS - May be made from Styrofoam,
plastic bottles or plastic material. The buoys must be white and have a 2" blue band.
The owner's name and boat length are to be either painted or inscribed on the buoy.
Logs and other materials or metal containers (such as steel kegs or
drums) may not be used for summer or winter buoys.
Deadweight Anchors:
Deadweight anchors are commonly used in New England. They are usually
blocks of granite which hold vessels in place because they are too heavy to be dragged or
lifted by the vessel. The holding power of the deadweight anchor is derived soley from
it's weight and not by its design. When a deadweight is pulled out of its current resting
place, it may settle somewhere else, because its weight provides constant resistance.
Blocks become imbedded in the harbor bottoms over the years, providing a degree of suction
resistance in bottom material which has strong cohesive properties. Thus, a deadweight
anchor is not likely to break free from its set like a mushroom anchor. (An anchor is
"set" when it becomes buried in the harbor bottom over time.)
It is recommended that the weights indicated be submerged weight of the
deadweight anchor. Use the following table to calculate required weight of material
submerged. Consult with the Harbormaster before purchasing gear.
Minimum deadweight mooring weight:
Vessel length:
10 - 17 1000 lbs.
18 - 26 1500 lbs.
27 - 35 3000 lbs.
36 - 45 4000 lbs.
45 - 55 5000 lbs.
Submerged Weight Calculations
Concrete = required weight /.55 (example 1000 lbs./.55 = 1818 lbs.)
Granite = required weight /.64
If there are any questions please contact the Harbor Department. The
Harbormasters Office has data and further information that is recommended by the
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management and CIGNA LCSD Marine.
The Rockport Harbor Department is giving the boat owners guidelines to
set their mooring gear. Caution must be taken to secure vessel for all weather conditions
with special consideration to severe weather and hurricanes.
