Diferent ways of mooring

[hlb]

Here at Glasson Dock, theres a mixture of all sorts of boats. It's a very big basin, the end of the sea and the begining of the Lancaster canal. It's been very windy, for the last few days and believe it or not, it's been quite rough in the basin. Now, all the sea boats have long lines, so the boat can go up and down a bit as needed. However and I've seen it before many times. The narrow boats, or little cruisers from the canal, take the opposite aproch and vertually weld the boat to the bank, I've even seen them useing rachet straps, but more usually umpteen passes from boat to the closest bollard, to make the rope as short and taught as possible.

When I've ever done this, by accident, or lack of alternative, the jarring is horrible. Why do they do it. It's all of them, not one.

 

[OAF]

the reason for them having taught lines is because of the effect of other narrow boats passing them and there weight, as narrow boats are displacment boats and long and narrow when they pass other moored boats in a restricted waterway like a canal it makes the moored boat move quite a lot, the moored narrow boat being very heavy is slow to move but the momentum is enough to make the narrow boat move forward or backward,tip slightlyand jar.it isnt very pleasent if you have ever experienced it. By having very taught lines the boat doesnt move much at all

On cruisers like ours, we is used to them moving around and they dont weigh much so the effect is alot less.

 

[hlb]

That dont explain it, the little Normans and Freemans do it as well. I know all about boats moving in restricted water, with other boats passing. Now, if I'm on a pontoon, I adopt a method most appropriate, the pontoon is going up and down, same as me, just a bit of wave difference to think about. but if to short still causes jarring. Canal levels can alter daily, acording to rain or how many went through the lock.

The argument s between glueing the boat to the bank, or letting it rise and fall acording to sea, river, canal, waves.

 

[OAF]

I havent a clue as to why small cruisers do it!

In theory canal levels shouldnt change much as they are controlled by weirs, there is always an exception to that of course and you will find that if the level does change it is usually very minor only being a few inches which doesnt really matter to taught lines.

the average 57 foot narrow boat weighs in at around 18 tons and as i said before given its length, beam and draught it will jar alot with the passage of other boats in a restricted channel such as a canal.


When i sit on my boat in a marina and something comes past usually at speed above 5kts my boat moves all over the place as do all the others, my fenders give it the cushion required and my slack ropes give it the movement required so as not to jar, but my boat weights in at around 7 tons and is a totally different shape to a narrow boat.


I reckon that when boaters are off the canal and in a different mooring situation then they still adopt there normal mooring practise.

 

[Salty John]

I've noticed the same thing, Haydn, as I stroll up and down the canal. No springs, which makes some sense, I suppose, with the lack of tide, but the bow and stern lines go backwards and forwards from boat to shore about six times and then the end is wrapped around that lot to make sure they're really tight.
I suppose if your boat is sitting in the mud at the edge of the canal and the lines are that tight you get no movement at all when another boat goes past; but at a dock I'd be worried about popping my fenders!

 

[deborahann]

errm been a canal boater for quite a few years, my canal club, its all tought from others before, bit daft, no serious well you need to do this & that. Consequently about 6 narrow boats all tied up to well a peg in the ground, in a basin that gets very rough. Anyway sorted now with hlb's lovely, lovely light blue rope that weights a ton.

 

[hlb]

errm been a canal boater for quite a few years, my canal club, its all tought from others before, bit daft, no serious well you need to do this & that. Consequently about 6 narrow boats all tied up to well a peg in the ground, in a basin that gets very rough. Anyway sorted now with hlb's lovely, lovely light blue rope that weights a ton.

I'll translate that!!

Deb's said. We are at Glasson Dock, joining in with her old canal club, boat rally.

They rafted 6 narrow boats up, all fastened to the bank with a tent peg knocked into the ground. So that was about 100 tons on the tent peg!! Then they all went home till the rally at the weekend.

There sorted now, with one of MF's massive hawsers.