Do you help others with mooring?

[onesea]

Just out of interest, following from another thread...

I would say I normally go with number 3....

 

[Aardee]

Option 4 for me...

 

[dslittle]

I always offer and accept their answer.

 

[prv]

I go and offer if it looks like they might need it - either obviously inexperienced crew, singlehanders, or if conditions are tricky. Otherwise I hold back, not because I can't be bothered to help, but because I know a stranger appearing in the middle of proceedings is often an unwelcome distraction.

If I happen to be standing on a pontoon and someone arrives alongside right in front of me, I'll generally ask rather than silently ignore them - but tone and body language make clear I'm quite happy to be told no.

Pete

 

[136069]

I normally keep an eye out for incoming boats, almost always in tricky conditions - You never know when you might need help so I believe its always best to support everyone!

 

[longjohnsilver]

I always offer and accept their answer.

Ditto.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

I always offer help and usually say to the person at the wheel "what would you like me to do" (or similar).

There is nothing worse than someone taking your lines and doing things they have either not been asked to or worse still telling you or you crew what to do!

Pete

 

[vyv_cox]

It may be that there is some location dependency. Very few will refuse assistance in the Med when berthing stern-to, me included, but I would normally not wish for assistance against a finger pontoon in UK.

Also depends a bit on the boat. In the Sadler we mostly berth just about anywhere we like with our own resources but the Colvic goes where it wants in astern and the occasional thrown line caught by a willing helper is most welcome.

 

[RupertW]

It may be that there is some location dependency. Very few will refuse assistance in the Med when berthing stern-to, me included, but I would normally not wish for assistance against a finger pontoon in UK.

Also depends a bit on the boat. In the Sadler we mostly berth just about anywhere we like with our own resources but the Colvic goes where it wants in astern and the occasional thrown line caught by a willing helper is most welcome.

+1

I prefer not to get help unless its a professional marinaro type or a stern-to where its a simple task for the person on the quayside and fine whether they tie or hold.

Otherwise I keep an eye out and only if they really look like they would like a hand do I offer, as that is how I would prefer other people were with me. The only precarious or damaging situations I've been in in recent years is when I have foolishly accepted help to be sociable and they have done the opposite of what I expected, or asked them to do.

 

[maby]

I'll always offer, never pressure

 

[xyachtdave]

Personally I avoid helping unless it has all gone completely tits up for the other boat.

Help offered falls into 3 categories in my experience -

1) The stanchion bender. "Please don't do that!"

2) Give a man a rope and he'll either a) pull it as hard as he can, or b) play tug of war with boat while ignoring your request to cleat it off.

3) Occasionally you get lucky when you need a bit of help and someone with some sense appears. They pass your rope back having looped it round the cleat then leave you to it.

 

[single]

It may be that there is some location dependency. Very few will refuse assistance in the Med when berthing stern-to, me included, but I would normally not wish for assistance against a finger pontoon in UK.

Also depends a bit on the boat. In the Sadler we mostly berth just about anywhere we like with our own resources but the Colvic goes where it wants in astern and the occasional thrown line caught by a willing helper is most welcome.

I'm the opposite in the Colvic. People 'trying' to help make matters worse as they don't seem to understand steering by the prop walk.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I don't always help, but I almost always offer.

 

[prv]

3) Occasionally you get lucky when you need a bit of help and someone with some sense appears. They pass your rope back having looped it round the cleat then leave you to it.

My standard action is to instantly make a bowline in the end and drop it over a suitable cleat, thus leaving the crew in control. The exception is where the crew is clearly a complete newbie who would have no clue what to do next; then I might take control from the shore (and hope their end of the line is made fast on board!)

Whatever happens, helping someone else or stepping ashore myself, I always get the line onto a cleat ASAP. A half-turn round the body of the cleat then up round one of the horns is applied instantly, gives freedom to haul or ease or move to a different cleat, and by putting a toe on the line where it crosses the top of the cleat it will hold pretty firmly.

Pete

 

[RupertW]

Whatever happens, helping someone else or stepping ashore myself, I always get the line onto a cleat ASAP. A half-turn round the body of the cleat then up round one of the horns is applied instantly, gives freedom to haul or ease or move to a different cleat, and by putting a toe on the line where it crosses the top of the cleat it will hold pretty firmly.

Pete

And if I knew that every stranger would do that I'd accept help anytime

 

[maxcampbell]

I always offer and accept their answer.

+1 - always like it when they accept my offer.

 

[Seajet]

I always offer, it's usually accepted gratefully; anyway it does no harm and may form an intro for a chat later on.

 

[mjcoon]

My standard action is to instantly make a bowline in the end and drop it over a suitable cleat, thus leaving the crew in control.

But giving them a problem if they soon find they have to slip off again (for any of several reasons!). Giving back the free end, if long enough, allows more choices. But it must be better to ask what is preferred...

Mike.

 

[Boathook]

My standard action is to instantly make a bowline in the end and drop it over a suitable cleat, thus leaving the crew in control. The exception is where the crew is clearly a complete newbie who would have no clue what to do next; then I might take control from the shore (and hope their end of the line is made fast on board!)

Whatever happens, helping someone else or stepping ashore myself, I always get the line onto a cleat ASAP. A half-turn round the body of the cleat then up round one of the horns is applied instantly, gives freedom to haul or ease or move to a different cleat, and by putting a toe on the line where it crosses the top of the cleat it will hold pretty firmly.

Pete

I offer and make fast unless requested to hand back. My comment to skipper / crew is that you are tied up so 'safe' and you can adjust and alter the lines to how you want them.

 

[doug748]

I am never sure what I am to do with ropes. Offering help also implies, to some, that they are not capable of sorting it out themselves and they get miffed.

So in order to show willing, what I do in a pontoon slot, is take the bow. I have perfected a gormless but amiable look that firmly shows that I have no intention of taking any proactive action.



Fending off like this, and holding, the bow has three distinct advantages:

*) You can stop the boat, or slow it down, or minimise collateral damage, if they have overdone it on the throttle.

*) You can generally hold the pointed end of the boat steady whilst the crew regroup.

and thirdly, and best of all -

*) There is no way they can blame you for any of their cockups.