Best way to tie to a pontoon in heavy weather?

Nostrodamus

Nostrodamus

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Mar 2011
Messages
3,659
www.cygnus3.com
I know it seems stupid but what is the best way to makes sure your boat is as secure as possible on a pontoon in heavy weather?

Hurricane Gordon is liable to hit Portugal in three days and although it may dissipate somewhat I would rather be prepared for the worst.

The bad news is that the pontoons are only about half to 2/3rds my boat length so I am hung over the end.

Th good news is that because of our width we have a double pontoon to ourselves so can tie up between two fingers.

What I was wandering is it best to be in Bow or Stern first and also should I hold the boat between the fingers with lines either side or put plenty of fenders out and tie as closely to the finger I will be blown onto.

There is also liable to be a pretty choppy swell in here.

Finally, If the weather is going to be that bad would you stay with the boat to keep an eye on her or having done the best you can with as many lines as possible go to the nearest bar?

Thank you for any replies
 
The safest thing for a boat in a hurricane is to be nowhere near the land.

I would put more ropes on (I've seen inch thick ropes snap in half in a F10!) and don't use your cheap old ropes. Direction won't make much difference as long as you're secure.

Finally, I would leave the boat rather than stay. The main danger is that the pontoon will come away from the pilings in which case being on board could be pretty dangerous since the next thing that happens would be driving up the beach still attached to the pontoon!
Cheers
Dave
 
lustyd said:
The safest thing for a boat in a hurricane is to be nowhere near the land.

I would put more ropes on (I've seen inch thick ropes snap in half in a F10!) and don't use your cheap old ropes. Direction won't make much difference as long as you're secure.

Finally, I would leave the boat rather than stay. The main danger is that the pontoon will come away from the pilings in which case being on board could be pretty dangerous since the next thing that happens would be driving up the beach still attached to the pontoon!
Cheers
Dave
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave, I feel so much better now. At least I will be drunk when my boat gets wrecked! :eek::eek::D
 
Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

We have also got several friends here with boats out on the hard standing. I don't know which is best. In the water or out on legs or if there is anything they can do to make their boats more secure?
 
Best way to tie up etc.

Your boat is too big and heavy for the finger pontoon where you are berthed, and as you may have noticed, and common to most marinas, the finger is attached to the pontoon by two rubber blocks, and nothing else! Furthermore, fingers are usually much too short for the boats which are put there, thus placing excessive forces on the structure.

These blocks will break when overloaded, and are in fact a deliberate weak link in the system.

If you are concerned about the approaching bad weather, which windguru appears to be blissfully unaware of, then press the marina staff to move you to the berth astern of us, (or similar). This would allow you to put out lots of extra ropes and retire to the pub.:D




Cheers,

Michael.
 
Last edited:
emandvee44 said:
Your boat is too big and heavy for the finger pontoon where you are berthed, and as you may have noticed, and common to most marinas, the finger is attached to the pontoon by two rubber blocks, and nothing else! Furthermore, fingers are usually much too short for the boats which are put there, thus placing excessive forces on the structure.

These blocks will break when overloaded, and are in fact a deliberate weak link in the system.

If you are concerned about the approaching bad weather, which windguru appears to be blissfully unaware of, then press the marina staff to move you to the berth astern of us, (or similar). This would allow you to put out lots of extra ropes and retire to the pub.:D

Cheers,

Michael.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that Michael but as usual I get conflicting information from various people in the marina.
I am told that near to you the swell bounces back off the wall so you get it twice as bad so it is best to stay off.
Yes the fingers are too short but if as you say the pontoon fingers are liable to break in really bad conditions I and you would get the rest of the marina on top of us anyway.
Google Hurrican Gordon which has recently been upgraded to Cat 2 (110 mph winds) which is now just south of the Azores. It is liable to dissipate somewhat but we are still going to get something...
Hope to see you tonight?
 
Its often not the wind but the wave surges that put the extra stress on the lines and fittings. Think about how waves and surges will affect the boat.

Laying out anchor(s) from one end might be worthwhile - even if the other end of the boat is secured to a pontoon? Just make sure that people know and you buoy them if they are in an area of moorings etc.

Snubbing protection is certainly worth looking at.

Try and use separate lines for each job so that you can adjust them from either end. (Not the usual cats cradle of each end of a line being used or doubling back to the boat etc which I can be as guilty of as the next sailor when I am being lazy.)

I hope it all passes over smoothly and without damage to you and the boat.
 
Bows out and anchor out for no other reason than you want to be able to drive off easily in a chop / blow if it comes to that. The anchor is not to haul you off, its to stop you falling back when that piece of flotsam rope goes around the prop, as you motor clear to safety! Have the kedge ready as well to deploy.

Protect your lines against chafe as has been mentioned by other posters. Don't tie bow lines around enclosed securing points: rings, the centre part of a cleat, use a round turn and two half hitches with a decent tail, tie up the tail with electrical tape. If the line is under tension you can still undo the two hitches and hold the tension on the round turn. The long tail gives you an option for setting it as a slip or attaching another line. I would hold her clear of the pontoons as you have that option. Once again, protect against chafe.

Looking at the good Doctor's weather forecast you have a 5% chance of winds over 45 mph.
 
Mornin, couple of suggestions, having lived aboard nearly 15 years and actually survived a lot of bumpy weather :)

First and without going all Michael Fish, have you looked at the weather forecasts. All models showing Gordon collapsing at the Azores. Fingers crossed, little effect where you are except maybe a bit of swell.

Second, when you do actually get some poor weather, just dont understand those that would leave their boat untended. That, for me, is a bit bonkers. There is a lot you can do. A suitably marked kedge is brill, but will need tidal tending. Doubled up shore lines, especially to adjacent pontoons, with spare line ready use to replace any breakages. Seen that. Big gale in La Coruna, marina was a total cats cradle.

2 big big fenders to put where needed. Tend all your fenders because at least one of your normal ones will burst or at lest fly up from the gap between the yacht and the pontoon. Seen matresses in use, desperate measure but prevented hull damage.

As for being better off at sea, anyone who has been in a TRS (we did Delta off the Canaries some years ago) well they are having a larf!! I think that 'dont get caught on the littoral' is a bit better.

Here endeth the Sunday Sermon!

Hope it goes ok for you.

CS
 
Thank you so much for all the replies and excellent advice.
It may be that I am looking for the worst case but if so I have learnt valuable information from people who have been in the same position. Hopefully that advice is something others may learn from as well and might have a second look at the lines and stretchy things they are carrying.
It is all about being prepared and although it is more or less impossible to get out of here in bad weather considering your option and having the right equipment in the first place may prevent a lot of trouble.
 
This morning's fax charts show it fizzling out well before it gets to Portugal.
Stand easy!
Wouldn't fancy being in any of the Azores marinas, though. There's swell in Ponta Delgado when there's no wind at all, so I can't imagine what it's like after a blow.
 
capnsensible said:
As for being better off at sea, anyone who has been in a TRS (we did Delta off the Canaries some years ago) well they are having a larf!! I think that 'dont get caught on the littoral' is a bit better.

CS
Click to expand...

I've never been at sea in a proper storm (f9 is my worst so far, so no real experience at all) but most literature seems to agree that the boat is safer at sea. The crew may end up bruised, and may never go boating again, but without doubt fewer yachts end up on top of buildings when they are at sea. Things will break either way but there are fewer things which can sink the boat in the middle of a big bit of water.
Not saying I'd set sail myself, and you're certainly more experienced but there are a lot of pictures of smashed up marinas on the web!
 
lustyd said:
I've never been at sea in a proper storm (f9 is my worst so far, so no real experience at all) but most literature seems to agree that the boat is safer at sea. The crew may end up bruised, and may never go boating again, but without doubt fewer yachts end up on top of buildings when they are at sea. Things will break either way but there are fewer things which can sink the boat in the middle of a big bit of water.
Not saying I'd set sail myself, and you're certainly more experienced but there are a lot of pictures of smashed up marinas on the web!
Click to expand...

I know where I would rather be!! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

W
Maintainence
2
Replies
30
Views
685
DownWest
D
geem
Cat A ocean standard need full revision
2
Replies
38
Views
518
Tranona
T
R
My boat trip hopefully in May Around Scotland
2 3 4
Replies
65
Views
2K
RobBradley
R
C
Sealine SC42/450
Replies
9
Views
307
Momac
Momac
C
Being offered a free Mystere 26
Replies
17
Views
744
Concerto
Concerto

Share this page

Top