Paul,

It would be nice to have a great big Samson post on the foredeck but this is not compatible with a jib boom. How about a bridle - a line partly covered in hose (protection against chafing) and each end secured over a forward cleat?  Your mooring line, anchor chain or whatever could then be secured to this bridle (each side of which passes through the forward fairleads) somewhere forward of the bow - perhaps with a spliced hard eye?  The idea would be to spread the mooring load to both sides of the foredeck. See this illustration http://marinaproducts.com/boatslings/AISCO%20Mooring%20Bridle.jpg

Alternatively, how about a shackle through the winch hook eye on the lower part of the bow?

Graham

I have a BR expedition on order, and raised this with Matt - I plan to keep her on a mooring in Chichester harbour. He is fitting larger stainless steel cleats, although I think this is a placebo for me as the nylon (?) ones are very strong.

He recommends an extra line attached to the eye at the bow, slightly tighter so that it takes the strain.

I like the mooring bridle idea, although it looks like hard work to order from that firm.

I also plan to use a mooring spring to reduce shock. I bought one last time from Clas Ohlson, the Swedish hardware shop that took over our local Woolworths site. They have a chandlery section with some surprising stock (for example, a special roller system for launching your boat over a rocky shore, a daily routine for Reading folk).

I couldn\\\'t find it on their website, but here is something similar:

http://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/item/1133/forsheda-mooring-compensator

I\\\'m not sure I can add much help to this as I am fortunate in having a huge great samson post on my BayCruiser, but I would raise a couple of points.
Clipping on to the eye bolt on the bow is strong, and I have seen it done on other baots, but I really would not like to have to try to clip it on. or get it off, in any sort of rough conditions. Dangling over the bows tryng to engage anything in a little bow eye in bouncy conditions is not something I would try.
I have not sure the rubber shock absorbers are really needed on boats as light as Bayraiders/cruisers. They are usually needed on heavy yachts which have sevral tonnes of momentum banging onto the ropes, especially when tied to a pontoon or large mooring buoy. On my mooring, I have a shortish nylon loop fixed to a heavy chain which goes down to some sort of anchor (I have never seen it!) The hanging chain acts as a very effective shock absorber, as it is always tense, but is lifted up and down by the movement of the boat.
I would recommend fitting a proper bow roller, rather than using fairleads, if you are going to be on a mooring. There is much less chance of chafe on the mooring rope, and the boat points into the wind much more steadily.
I am not convinced by double bridles. The load swaps from one side to the other and back. so it increases risk of chafe. If you are concerned about a rope breaking, have a second, loose rope, which would take over if the first one breaks.

Thanks again for all your contributions. I\\\'m not sure how a bow roller would fit onto a BR but the combination of double bridle line and towing eye does seem sensible. I think I would bring the bridle together just below the bow so they act as one. A Y shape rather than a Vee. Perhaps a short chain on the towing eye which can be lifted to the bow would make attachment easier from the boat. The mooring has a chain weight to improve stability and reduce snatch.
Hopefully with double bridle and towing eye the number of failures before the boat goes down the River Dee are sufficient. The mooring never dries so I don\\\'t need to worry about mud.