Balls up.

[Seadog17]

Came into a harbour lock tonight and tried to tie up astern a twin engined fishing boat. A lot of k, rap followed where I was unable to hold position and couldn't understand what the hell was happening. At the end realised that said fishing boat was moored on one line and I assumed he had one or more engines running ahead to hold his position.

OK, total balls up, but what really annoyed me was the banter, on the working channel, between the lock-keeper, (assume ex-fisherman), and his mates on the other fishing boats that had also entered the lock.

Comments like, "sad", "that time of year again", "Christ Almighty, where do they come from?" and on and on.

I can't believe they were talking about anyone else and I feel pretty embarrassed by it all.

Why do they do this on the working channel?

 

[SAWDOC]

I imagine if you joined the conversation they would not have been long in changing their tune...

 

[pgtips]

Something a bit similar in the lock at Sovereign Harbour today. I was already moored in the lock and one of the charter boats was moored opposite and slightly behind. A yacht was making a slow and steady approach into the lock resulting in loud comments from skipper or crew of the charter boat along the lines of 'bloody yachts so slow coming in'!

Said yacht moored along side me and it turns out the charter boat had come steaming up the approach channel to the lock overtaking everyone. Don't know why as when it's busy like it was today they fill the lock before turning it round so the charter boat gained nothing!! Guess the professionals find us mere amateurs a real nuisance getting in their way?!?

 

[pgtips]

The charter boat was a charter fishing boat by the way - not a yacht!

 

[Seadog17]

The charter boat was a charter fishing boat by the way - not a yacht!

The fishing boat that I had problems with waltzed past those approaching the lock in a more sedately way.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Came into a harbour lock tonight and tried to tie up astern a twin engined fishing boat. A lot of k, rap followed where I was unable to hold position and couldn't understand what the hell was happening. At the end realised that said fishing boat was moored on one line and I assumed he had one or more engines running ahead to hold his position.

OK, total balls up, but what really annoyed me was the banter, on the working channel, between the lock-keeper, (assume ex-fisherman), and his mates on the other fishing boats that had also entered the lock.

Comments like, "sad", "that time of year again", "Christ Almighty, where do they come from?" and on and on.

I can't believe they were talking about anyone else and I feel pretty embarrassed by it all.

Why do they do this on the working channel?

Don't feel so bad. We have all experienced similar situations. Probably a lot worse.

Have sympathy for them. They are probably suffering from low self-esteem and are comparing themselves with others to try to feel good about themselves.

Have we not all done the same ourselves ?

I must admit that I got whacked recently in a marina and found myself talking to others in the same way as the fishermen . Not on the radio but not much better. Will try to do better the next time.

 

[trapezeartist]

I'm trying to get my head around this. Disregarding the radio traffic for a moment, am I right in undertanding that the fishing boat was only on a single mooring line and then drifted back towards you?

Which harbour was this? I'm heading to Plymouth soon, so I'd like to know which harbour/marina employs personnel with such enlightened customer service skills.

 

[Seadog17]

I'm trying to get my head around this. Disregarding the radio traffic for a moment, am I right in undertanding that the fishing boat was only on a single mooring line and then drifted back towards you?

Which harbour was this? I'm heading to Plymouth soon, so I'd like to know which harbour/marina employs personnel with such enlightened customer service skills.

No, he didn't drift back towards me. I think he moored on a spring and then kept his engine(s) running ahead to hold himself into to the lock pontoon.

Coming in behind him, I just didn't notice.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I'm trying to get my head around this. Disregarding the radio traffic for a moment, am I right in undertanding that the fishing boat was only on a single mooring line and then drifted back towards you?

Which harbour was this? I'm heading to Plymouth soon, so I'd like to know which harbour/marina employs personnel with such enlightened customer service skills.

Only a guess.

I expect the wash from the fishing boat was affecting the op's position as he was motoring forward on a spring.

This would be difficult to spot when you are close to each other. Probably quite powerful too.

 

[Seadog17]

Only a guess.

I expect the wash from the fishing boat was affecting the op's position as he was motoring forward on a spring.

This would be difficult to spot when you are close to each other. Probably quite powerful too.

That is my thought as well. But the thing that got to me was the open air broadcasting of their thoughts on the balls up of, in their eyes, my attempt at mooring.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

That is my thought as well. But the thing that got to me was the open air broadcasting of their thoughts on the balls up of, in their eyes, my attempt at mooring.

As mentioned, totally unnecessary, but probably for unrelated reasons.

As an aside, motoring forward on a spring is not an ideal situation in a lock. Fine for control while short handed until tying up . Probably very convenient for the fishing boat but not so much fun for others.

 

[Daydream believer]

No, he didn't drift back towards me. I think he moored on a spring and then kept his engine(s) running ahead to hold himself into to the lock pontoon.
.

That is what I do with my yacht when SH. Simple system & easy to tie on. Just leave engine in tickover. If the bow wants to drift off it is easy to just stroll forward & add a line
I can understand commercial skippers getting fed up
I came out of Milford Haven once & tied up to a crab boat. We then watched motor boats moving in. They really did not have a clue & in the end we timed the crab boats time from entry to exit & it was 1.25 hours
He did not complain but said it was really bad in the pleasure boat season & meant he lost considerable time
In the Cally canal i have watched some owners taking ages to tie up with warps of inappropriate lengths etc. they have taken ages to get sorted spend wasted time with springs etc & have no regard to others who are waiting
Still not as bad as the Dutch canals where the first couple of boats will just get in the lock & tie up so no one can get in behind causing a log jam
It is a fact of life that some people will never be efficient at various manoeuvres & those that are will just have to bite their lip & accept that everyone has to learn sometime

Still commercial skippers should be banned from radio chat. I have often heard the CG telling people to shut up & most times it is charter skippers

 

[longjohnsilver]

That is my thought as well. But the thing that got to me was the open air broadcasting of their thoughts on the balls up of, in their eyes, my attempt at mooring.

Just a reflection on their own bad manners and fairly typical know it all attitude.

 

[puddock]

I had a similar experience in the Caledonian Canal while taking my boat from Dunstaffnage to the East coast, accompanied by LUDD of this parish. Just as we came in to moor astern of a Navy Patrol vessel, he gave it a blast ahead, swinging my bow quickly to starboard in the process. Luckily there was no vessel astern of me and I managed to turn her 180 degrees and escape back into the basin for another try without hitting the sides - not bad in a 35 ft lock with a 33 ft boat ..... but undoubtedly luck rather than judgement

 

[nortada]

Commercial skippers should be banned from radio chat.

Interesting concept

 

[Grumpybear]

I really sympathise. After many years in the marina to which I think you refer, we have just moved elsewhere, in part because the hassle involved in using the lock has been increasing. I have to say that I have always found the lock keepers sympathetic and helpful; indeed, when we were severely trashed by a fishing boat last year the keeper's incident report was crucial in convincing our insurers that we should not lose our no claims bonus. On the other hand, many of the fishing boat crews are dreadful: queue jumping both entering and leaving the lock, excessive power use, lack of fenders and vile language on VHF channels which they use as a private gossip and character assassination net.

Berth holders pay a lot of money to use that marina. What response have you had from the management to such behaviour by one of its employees?

 

[longjohnsilver]

I really sympathise. After many years in the marina to which I think you refer, we have just moved elsewhere, in part because the hassle involved in using the lock has been increasing. I have to say that I have always found the lock keepers sympathetic and helpful; indeed, when we were severely trashed by a fishing boat last year the keeper's incident report was crucial in convincing our insurers that we should not lose our no claims bonus. On the other hand, many of the fishing boat crews are dreadful: queue jumping both entering and leaving the lock, excessive power use, lack of fenders and vile language on VHF channels which they use as a private gossip and character assassination net.

Berth holders pay a lot of money to use that marina. What response have you had from the management to such behaviour by one of its employees?

Probably why many plan to come and go on free flow! What did SH have to say to you about your experience there?

 

[Gerry]

How very rude.

I expect they have very small willies and feel the need to justify their short-comings(!) any way they can

 

[Grumpybear]

Probably why many plan to come and go on free flow! What did SH have to say to you about your experience there?

As I say, no real issues with the management or the lock keepers. The fishermen just bring forth a shrug - after all, commercial fishing provides an income stream to the harbour owners. It is refreshing, though, to be in a marina where there are neither fishermen nor any constraint on entry or exit.