Mooring refers to attaching your watercraft to a float or buoy on the surface, which is in turn is attached to a permanent anchor at the bottom of the lake by a rode.  Rode is the term used to refer to the line, cable, or chain that connects the anchor to the buoy.

A mooring buoy marks the transition point (from the surface to below surface) of your boat’s connection to the mooring anchor, and keeps that line (called a pennant) from sinking to the bottom of the lake.

A mooring buoy serves two purposes. It floats the heavy chain toward the surface, and it also increases the holding power of your mooring system by absorbing some of the shock from waves and wind.

A simple, temporary mooring buoy can be made from any type of jug that can be sealed so that it will float. Milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles will work, but have serious drawbacks. Neither of these is durable enough to stand up the constant pressure exerted by the wind and the waves upon your moored boat. It’s just a matter of time before they self-destruct and you lose your ‘mooring buoy’… and possibly your boat.

There are a number of durable and resilient mooring buoys available commercially that will give years of reliable service. They are available in different sizes and offer different features that you may find useful. Here are ten of the most popular and best mooring buoys:

 

10 Most Popular and Best Mooring Buoys

 

 

Taylor Made: Sur-Moor Spar Shaped Buoys

Dimensions:  Diameter: 6”, Height: 31”, Buoyancy: 15#, Orange/White

Ready to complete your mooring system? Taylor Made Sur-Moor buoys are built to withstand the constant abuse of most mooring environments. Regardless of the shape you select, you can count on reliable flotation that will last for several seasons, depending upon the salinity of the water.

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Jim Buoy Deluxe Series Mooring Buoy With 1/2″ Swivel And Eye

Dimensions: Diameter: 12″,  Buoyancy: 30#, White

The high density foam of this deluxe buoy ensures lasting durability. All hardware is hot-dipped galvanized medium carbon steel. Eye bolts are molded into the buoy so there’s no loss of flotation. Rubber bumpers give added protection in contact. Coated with CJ-19, an exterior finish that resists extreme weathering, most chemicals, and fuels.

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Taylor Made: Sur-Moor Traditional 12″ Boat Mooring Buoy

Dimensions:  Diameter: 12”, Weight: 5.8#, Buoyancy: 30#, White

The Hardskin Sur-Moor mooring buoy has long been one of the most popular and best mooring buoys. It has a thick one piece outer shell molded of high density polyethylene filled with solid closed-cell foam – making it puncture-proof and almost indestructible. This mooring buoy has a reflective tape for nighttime visibility, and its sandblasted finish allows it to be easily painted for identification. Fittings, rings and swivels are hot dipped galvanized for years of service. Mooring buoy comes with a 3 year flotation warranty.

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Polyform 17″ Mooring Buoy 

Dimensions:  Diameter: 17″, Height: 22″, Buoyancy: 121#, Red

This buoy has been designed to provide the ultimate in strength, durability and versatility, providing increased security to any mooring.

The mooring iron is made from stainless steel. A larger eye (4-3/8” diameter) and swivel (1-1/2” diameter along) provides maximum strength. Best of all – the soft vinyl surface won’t harm boat finishes. Available in fluorescent red and white with a blue stripe.

Polyform’s unique vinyl valve seals securely. Even wall thickness for strength and durability,

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Taylor Made: Sur-Moor 18″ Taper Buoy

Dimensions:  Diameter: 18”, Height 16-3/4″, Buoyancy: 70#, White

The Sur-Moor taper design places more flotation area at the waterline, creating a higher-visibility mooring.

Hard-skin polyethylene shell is UV-protected to resist the weathering effects of sunlight, and is filled with closed-cell foam to displace more water. Sandblasted finish of the shell allows buoy to be easily painted for identification. Hardware not included. 2-1/2″ tube diameter,

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Polyform: 13.5″ Mooring Buoy

Dimensions:  Diameter: 15″, Buoyancy: 55#, White

Designed to provide the ultimate in strength, durability and versatility while providing increased security to any mooring. The mooring iron is made from stainless steel. A large eye (4-3/8” diameter) and swivel (1-1/2” diameter along) provides maximum strength.

The soft vinyl surface won’t harm boat finishes. Available in fluorescent red and white with a blue stripe.  Limited three year warranty.

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Taylor Made: Sur-Moor Traditional 15″ Boat Mooring Buoy

Dimensions:  Diameter: 15”, Weight: 8.6#, Buoyancy: 60#, White

Hard skin Sur-Moor mooring buoys have a thick one piece outer shell molded of high density polyethylene and filled with solid closed-cell foam – making them puncture-proof and almost indestructible. This mooring buoy has a reflective tape for nighttime visibility, and its sandblasted finish allows it to be easily painted for identification. Fittings, rings and swivels are hot dipped galvanized for years of service. Mooring buoy comes with a 3 year flotation warranty.  

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Taylor Made: Sur-Moor T3C 18″ Boat Mooring Buoy (18″)

Dimensions:  Diameter: 18”, Weight: 7.2#, Buoyancy: 75#, White

This buoy’s rope nest design features a built-in cup shape at the top of the buoy. This allows the anchor shackle to nest below the buoy surface – helping to shield the shackle from contact with the boat hull, and making a convenient nesting place for the pennant line when the boat leaves the mooring buoy. The hard-skin polyethylene shell is UV protected to resist the weathering effects of sunlight and is foam filled to positively displace water; sandblasted finish allows the buoy to be easily painted for identification. Also features Tube-Through-The-Center design and blue reflective striping. Hardware not included.

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Taylor Made: Sur-Moor 24″ T3C Taper Boat Mooring Buoy