Crew that won't listen...arghhhh

I'm struggling to understand why mobo's don't do the simple thing of taking the mooring ropes back to the boat and cast off from the boat - > is there something when driving a mobo that says the crew have to be on / left on the pontoon.

I have a vague idea that the RYA recommended method is that no one casts off from the pontoon ?

Apart from that "nugget" - I've been told very clearly by my wife ( not allowed to call her SWBO ) that shouting is not allowed and that too much of discontent will lead to me sailing solo - and singlehanding wasn't the reason for buying a boat, so I do everything to keep her happy
Kevin ( Raggie )
 
The recent addition of a bow thruster has improved our relations no end, as the risk of losing the front end to current/wind always heightened anxiety levels (smallish boat, but single engine) and often led to plenty of shouting followed by long periods of silence !

She can now concentrate on the stern line then cover the bowthruster whilst I tie/release the bow from shoreside.

She still won't tie the lines like I've asked her to many times though (she just keeps wrapping in a figure of 8 until no more rope) then complains when I redo them.
 
I have recently gone from sail to power as medical problems intervened. However, we still keep ropes looped back on board, cant imagine any other safe approach. My wife can still lasso a cleat as well as she could on the sailing boat. The only real difference is reversing into a finger berth so we can step easily off the stern. Two engines and a bow thruster help, windage without a keel can cause problems.

KevinT1 said:
I'm struggling to understand why mobo's don't do the simple thing of taking the mooring ropes back to the boat and cast off from the boat - > is there something when driving a mobo that says the crew have to be on / left on the pontoon.


Kevin ( Raggie )
Click to expand...
 
KevinT1 said:
I'm struggling to understand why mobo's don't do the simple thing of taking the mooring ropes back to the boat and cast off from the boat - > is there something when driving a mobo that says the crew have to be on / left on the pontoon.

I have a vague idea that the RYA recommended method is that no one casts off from the pontoon ?

Apart from that "nugget" - I've been told very clearly by my wife ( not allowed to call her SWBO ) that shouting is not allowed and that too much of discontent will lead to me sailing solo - and singlehanding wasn't the reason for buying a boat, so I do everything to keep her happy
Kevin ( Raggie )
Click to expand...
I believe it is called singling up and we always do it on out mobo. She does the front, I do the back, flick the lines off the I nip back into the cockpit to engage engines for departure. Simples.
 
KevinT1 said:
I'm struggling to understand why mobo's don't do the simple thing of taking the mooring ropes back to the boat and cast off from the boat - > is there something when driving a mobo that says the crew have to be on / left on the pontoon.
Click to expand...
Some of us do indeed do that. As you say its just commonsense
 
We have a well worked system which is to cast off from the pontoon. Bow line released first. Never poses any problems for us and never yet left anyone stranded.
L
:)
 
Sailorsam101 said:
Oh i'd love to do that..but as I said in my firs post....I have crew that won't listen...she simply will not do as I ask and does everything her own way.

Being a man I know I can't win!
Click to expand...

Think you ( both ) would benefit from a RYA Boat handling course - if it was me then I would "accompany" her to show willing even if you know what you are doing
 
We have a pretty good leaving system going now..

1) In preparing to leave I go and tie the stern line to the cleat with a slip knot ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nxu-jS9TSc )..
2) Crew then release the bow line and if needed I put the engine in idle forward which keeps the boat pinned to the pontoon (or I can use short bursts of the thruster if there isn't much wind or current)..
3) Crew then step aboard at the stern and when I give the signal pull the line to release the slip knot and away we go..

All very simple and stress free..

The slip knot can be used on the bow line too if I have two crew in which case both can be released at the same time from onboard..
 
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Quick question from a newbie here. Why do you use a skip knot instead of running the warp through the mooring cleat and back to the boat and tying off on the boat cleat?
 
Murv said:
Quick question from a newbie here. Why do you use a skip knot instead of running the warp through the mooring cleat and back to the boat and tying off on the boat cleat?
Click to expand...

For us we prefer the slip knot because there is less chance of the long length of rope that would need to be fed through potentially nesting up which would cause it to get stuck on the cleat causing us to become tied to the pontoon with a long length of rope.. Also the slip knot means I have the option to release the line myself remotely, for example I could run the stern line to just behind the helm and release myself from the pontoon while staying close to the helm..

An added bonus is the lines stay completely dry rather than dragging the end through the water which often happens when using the feeding through method..
 
wipe_out said:
For us we prefer the slip knot because there is less chance of the long length of rope that would need to be fed through potentially nesting up which would cause it to get stuck on the cleat causing us to become tied to the pontoon with a long length of rope.. Also the slip knot means I have the option to release the line myself remotely, for example I could run the stern line to just behind the helm and release myself from the pontoon while staying close to the helm..

An added bonus is the lines stay completely dry rather than dragging the end through the water which often happens when using the feeding through method..
Click to expand...

Brilliant, thank you, I will give that a try :)
 
KevinT1 said:
Think you ( both ) would benefit from a RYA Boat handling course - if it was me then I would "accompany" her to show willing even if you know what you are doing
Click to expand...

Having worked as a yachtmaster instructor for 7 years i'm not sure what more I could learn from a RYA course.

The problem here is not lack of ability..it's a pure and simple refusal to listen and do as she is asked...by me or anybody else. A day with an instructor would be wasted as she would revert to what she wants to do.

I've shown her how to tie lines and do several things that are easier, faster and safer than how she does it...but she tells me to leave her alone and she will do it her way.

For what it's worth I can single hand this thing on my own but she wants to get involved.
 
Sailorsam101 said:
Having worked as a yachtmaster instructor for 7 years i'm not sure what more I could learn from a RYA course.

The problem here is not lack of ability..it's a pure and simple refusal to listen and do as she is asked...by me or anybody else. A day with an instructor would be wasted as she would revert to what she wants to do.

I've shown her how to tie lines and do several things that are easier, faster and safer than how she does it...but she tells me to leave her alone and she will do it her way.

For what it's worth I can single hand this thing on my own but she wants to get involved.
Click to expand...

Then perhaps the boat handling course for her (and for you to show solidarity), and then she can take the helm as you do as she instructs with the mooring lines? Both involved and no more arguments. Simple, no?
 
wipe_out said:
We have a pretty good leaving system going now..

1) In preparing to leave I go and tie the stern line to the cleat with a slip knot ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nxu-jS9TSc )..
2) Crew then release the bow line and if needed I put the engine in idle forward which keeps the boat pinned to the pontoon (or I can use short bursts of the thruster if there isn't much wind or current)..
3) Crew then step aboard at the stern and when I give the signal pull the line to release the slip knot and away we go..

All very simple and stress free..

The slip knot can be used on the bow line too if I have two crew in which case both can be released at the same time from onboard..
Click to expand...

I like the slip knot. It can all be done quickly from the deck.
Remembering how to do it may not be quite so quick!
 
We never leave the ropes through the cleat. Maybe when all else is secured but we always remove this, line by line, before departure and secure with one or two wrap arounds just to hold her in. As has been stated before, how many times have you thought you've had a clean getaway when in fact there is a birds nest being unable to pass through the cleat so you end up in a right pickle trying to get back alongside to either recover the rope or cut it away! Also potential for the released end to drop in the oggin and cause some damage with thrusters or props. This was for the 'newbie' btw and is based on experience (ahem....someone maybe not doing as they were 'told'? Surely not lol....)
Also always try to cast off with all on board.
I think there are a few folk on here that we need to contact the appropriate 'SWMBO's' and point out how the other half percieve their kind and willing help and guidance :-)
 
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