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Understanding Different Types of Mooring Ropes

"Each rope type has its unique set of advantages and disadvantages, and understanding these can help ensure safe and efficient mooring operations."

Mooring ropes are an essential component of maritime operations, ensuring that ships, boats, and other vessels remain securely anchored to docks or berths. Whether it’s a small fishing boat or a massive ocean liner, the choice of mooring rope can impact safety, durability, and operational efficiency. In this article, we will explore the various types of mooring ropes commonly used in the maritime industry, highlighting their characteristics, advantages, and ideal applications.

Nylon Ropes

Nylon is one of the most popular materials used for mooring ropes due to its exceptional strength and elasticity. Known for its ability to absorb shock loads, nylon ropes are ideal for situations where a vessel is subject …

Cruising the Channel Islands: Exploring Guernsey and Beyond by Boat

"Cruising the Channel Islands can be challenging with strong tides, large tidal ranges and navigational passages but some of the most rewarding cruising grounds around."

Intro

Nestled between the southern coast of England and the northern shores of France, the Channel Islands offer a boating paradise like no other. With their rich history, stunning coastline, and a unique blend of French and British culture, these islands—Guernsey, Jersey, Sark, Herm, and Alderney—are perfect for a cruising adventure. Among them, Guernsey shines as both a destination and an ideal starting point for exploring the region by boat.

An Overview of the Channel Islands

The Channel Islands, while geographically closer to France, are British Crown Dependencies, each with its own character and distinct atmosphere. Guernsey, the second-largest island, offers a delightful mix of histo…

The Weakest Link

We've all heard the saying "A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link"

Intro

As much as we'd like it to, the weather doesn't always give flat calm seas and hot sunny days so taking advantage of carrying out some maintenance checks, is a great use of time, to save carrying out maintenance work or breakdowns when the weathers perfect and you want to be out at sea.

Checking the chain

Pulling out all your ground tackle, whether it be cable, chain or rope, might sound like a chore but it might save you the embarrassment when you're sat on the beach watching your pride and joy drift away because a chain link has snapped or a shackle has parted.

A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link so taking the time to check it will show any potential problems before they happen. There are generally two types of chain commonly used. Galva…

Diesel Bug

"Diesel bug maybe one of those phrases you've either never heard of or shrug it off, but it's a serious problem."

What is it?

If you haven't seen it before diesel bug has the appearance of a thick black sludge or black spots, which will be found near the bottom of diesel tanks and throughout the diesel fuel line system. If you have a water trap with a clear bowl in the fuel system you will see the black sludge or spots in this glass bowl. As the name 'bug' suggests it is a microorganism which lives and grows in diesel, needing just a tiny amount of water to thrive. Although water in fuel tanks presents its own risks and consequences, the diesel bug can survive just from the condensation in the tanks. Once present in the tank it can spread rapidly and up the sides. Requiring the heavier water to survive and feeding off the fuel explains why the d…

Welcome To OC’s Technical Library

"We want to make OC your one stop shop whether you're looking to buy or sell any vessel, book gardiennage, make maintenance management part of your boats life or just visit our site for technical information."

Intro

Here at OC we have built up a huge amount of experience and knowledge over our combined years. We're able to apply that knowledge and experience to everything we do on a daily basis to help our customers whether that be through our brokerage, gardiennage or maintenance management services.

From boat building and refits to maintenance, fault finding and repairs OC have a wide range of knowledge outside of our brokerage and gardiennage services. We don't just work with boats, outside of the office we can be found angling, diving, cruising or generally enjoying being at sea.

We have created this technical library to put all the information…