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 Falmouth
 Code of Ordinances
 1, Town Meeting Enactments
 2, Board of Selectmen Regulations
 Chapter 269. Mooring Regulations

  § 269-5. Mooring specifications.  

Latest version.
  • A. 
    Mooring anchors, other than the Mushroom and Dor-Mor pyramid anchor, shall be permitted at the discretion of the Harbor Master.
    B. 
    Anchor chain shall be galvanized Grade 30 proof coil chain. Minimum total length shall be two times the water depth at mean high tide. Maximum total length shall be 2.5 times water depth at MHT.
    C. 
    Swivels, if used, shall be one size larger than the chain to which they are connected. Shackles shall be the same size and strength as the chain.
    D. 
    Mooring pennant length shall be two times the height from the water line to the bow chock, plus the distance from the chock to the deck cleat.
    E. 
    The mooring pennant shall have adequate chaffing gear at the bow chock and shall be shackled directly to the chain.
    F. 
    Mooring buoys shall be molded, formed or fabricated from rubber, plastic or fiberglass.
    G. 
    The buoy shall be of sufficient buoyancy to float at 50% of its mass at mean high tide. Each buoy shall be a minimum diameter of 12 inches, shall be white with at least a one-inch horizontal blue stripe, black three-inch numbers and, on commercial buoys only, include the weight of the mooring anchor.
    H. 
    The specifications outlined in this chapter are minimum standards and are not intended to withstand the weather extremes.
    Anchor Weight
    Chain Size
    Boat length (feet)
    Mushroom (pounds)
    Dor-mor (pounds)
    Bottom
    (inches)
    Top
    (inches)
    Pennant
    (inches)
    Up to 13
    100
    703/8
    3/8
    1/2
    14 to 19
    150
    1351/2
    3/8
    1/2
    20 to 25
    200 plus
    2001/2
    1/2
    5/8
    26 to 29
    300 plus 75 shaft weight*
    375 plus
    5/8
    1/2
    5/8
    30 to 39
    500 plus 75 shaft weight*
    5003/4
    5/8
    2 at 5/8 or 3/4
    Over 40 feet
    700 to 1,000 plus 135 shaft weight*
    1,0003/4
    5/8
    1
    I. 
    The Harbor Master may require the use of environmentally friendly moorings designed to keep all tackle components other than the anchor off the ocean floor, in any location or subtidal area presently supporting, or previously containing, rooted aquatic vegetation such as eelgrass or widgeon grass, for the purpose of promoting vegetation survival and/or revegetation of previously disturbed areas. The Harbor Master may require such moorings in such areas upon a) the creation of any new mooring or b) the next ordinary periodic inspection date for existing moorings.
    [Added 4-6-2020]