Snip:"...'down-side' would be in leaving the mooring,
which would require a hand on the carabiner to release the locking
mechanism..."

John, I can't imagine trying to leave by putting a hand on the carabineer
except in static perfect conditions.  Depending on your individual boat
design just reaching it is an issue in unsettled conditions...otherwise
unmake the line from a cleat retrieve it and you are free...no drama. I
tried the tool to attached to a boat pole to put the line thru the eye...
tougher to use then just hooking the eye with the pole(if no mooring
pendant).

Joe

M/V "Carolyn Ann" GH N-37
MTOA# 3813
AGLCA# 5485 (Gold Looper)
CarolynAnn-N37.blogspot.com

Snip:"...The drill is to pick up the pennant with a line in hand, loop the
bitter end through the pennant, while walking the line forward, run both
ends of the line in through the hawse pipe and cleat off with the pennant
within reach. At that point, we're secured and the pressure is off. Then
pass a second line through the pennant. One line is already through one
hawse pipe, the second line goes to the opposite side, then make both fast,
about equidistant. This eliminates the chafe/sawing problem and makes a
bridle to the pennant to keep it off the hull (to some degree). When we're
ready to leave, release the bitter ends and pull the lines through the
pennant as the boat drifts downwind...."

Excellent Steve, now I'll have to make up another to double up with a
bridle! Ready made backup.

Rudy, if chafe is a concern I'd use the small line as a messenger and pull
my ready made 2" poly braided hawser though and then double it :).  Stay oil
free and did you swim with Obama?

Joe

M/V "Carolyn Ann" GH N-37
MTOA# 3813
AGLCA# 5485 (Gold Looper)
CarolynAnn-N37.blogspot.com=

There are two places for chafe: the hawse hole and the mooring ring. The
Wichard Snap Hook Kevin suggests, shackled to an eye splice would seem to be
the safest way to promptly attach to a mooring quickly in all conditions. If
you are expecting a storm, the idea of shackled chain to your mooring
pendant is most appealing to me. This can be done after you have secured
with a hook.

Both Yale and New England make specialty mooring pendants with chafe
resistant outsides and strong, elastic insides. They are not cheap, but are
the best solution for those who depend upon moorings. Lastly, Sampson and
probably others make porous chafe guard tubing to protect lines. I do not
know if they are made in small sizes.

As we have discussed before, the MIT study on Nylon and Dacron line failures
proved that chafe guards must permit the entry of water to keep the line wet
and cool in extreme conditions. In storms, lines often fail owing to
internal heat caused by friction. This is why various manufacturers brag
about the fiber lubricants they use.

Ron Rogers