Do you offer to take lines?

[Quandary]

We have visited a fair number of different pontoons this year and in the majority of case yachties already berthed have offered to take our lines. They are thanked sincerely and once we are in we make sure to make the same offer to every other boat which does not have a big crew of fit looking younger people. If it is windy we offer anyone no matter how competent they look. In places like Kyle or Gairloch where the pontoons are short and often full we go on deck and invite an approaching yacht to come alongside, we help them tie up, let them know how long we intend staying and at the same time make sure they use springs and shorelines if necessary. If they do not want our help, no worries, we were once like that.
This came to mind after reading a thread on PBO about sailing after hip replacement. My wife has a metal hip joint and is forbidden to jump, unfortunately for some reason, while she is a competent helmsman, she refuses to steer the boat in to small gaps between boats, into canal locks and on to finger pontoons. I have just had a new knee joint which was attributed to destroying the cartilage pushing lock gates and jumping about the boat and on to pontoons far too much, so both of us are lacking a bit of agility.
So we extend our thanks to all who generously set down their gin and offer to assist us berthing, if you are one of those never does it, why not start, a bit of chat about 'where have you come from, what was it like?' and before you know it you could have made a friend.

 

[JohnGC]

Yes usually. It's also a nice way to meet people.

 

[Sybarite]

Yes usually. It's also a nice way to meet people.

Normally yes - except for one British boat who told me to get out of the way....

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

We always offer our help and take lines and I have found people in the East Coast and the West Coast (Wales) to be equally helpful. However, around the Solent is a different story; sometimes people will offer help, but it is rare.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Always. Including for Mobos who often have more of a problem duie to deck height and windage

 

[pvb]

I help if it looks like the crew might have some difficulty. If they look suitably competent, I stay away.

Regarding jumping on to pontoons, this is something I'd never ever do - always step off a boat. Jumping is asking for trouble.

 

[uxb]

Always offer.

I've been helped many a time and appreciate the offer of someone taking my lines even if I don't 'need' it.

 

[prv]

I help if it looks like the crew might have some difficulty. If they look suitably competent, I stay away.

+1

Most of the time I don't need or want help when I come in - you never know what a random person on the pontoon will decide to do, so if I have my own crew ready to step off then I'd rather they did. I assume others are similar, so if they're obviously adequately-crewed and look like they know what they're doing, I'll leave them to it. If they are shorthanded, or the crew looks nervous and unsure, I'll amble over and casually ask the skipper "take a line?". If he says yes, then I'll take it, tie a bowline, and drop it over a cleat, allowing those on board to control what goes on (unless things are already going to rat**** such that a quick haul or snub really is necessary!). Of course if conditions are difficult I'll offer to help anybody, even the well-crewed and competent.

Pete

 

[Tony Cross]

We always offer and are not offended if our help is refused. Each to his own.

I did ask a rather competent looking lady standing on the front of a smallish cat coming in to Chania town quay some years back whether I could take her lines. "And do you know what you're going to do with them?" she asked? Fair question I suppose.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Yes. Two days ago my offer was rejected out of hand. Imagine my glee when the bow scooted off downwind with only a stern line attached, and that about ten feet to long to allow him to spring the boat back alongside. Meanwhile I was walking away, hands in pockets...

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I'll always offer to take lines, it's part of what boating is about.

I must admt that there are times when, for whatever reason, I don't want others taking my lines and I do find it difficult to decline the offer without feeling that I'm being rude or churlish. I certainly don't mean it that way; an offer is always appreciated.

 

[A1Sailor]

Generally yes - but I much prefer to attach the end ashore, in the hope that those on board will take up the slack and make their end fast. Its what I did when employed as a lock-keeper on the Crinan Canal; somebody must have taught me, but it wasn't yesterday!

 

[Dux Duckett]

I always offer and always appreciate an offer when I'm coming alongside - no matter how competent my crew

 

[SimonFa]

I haven't been at this game long but always offer and generally accept.

If I don't accept I thank them warmly and explain that as the conditions are benign we are practising but ask if they wouldnt mind hanging on in case something goes wrong.

 

[Giblets]

Generally yes - but I much prefer to attach the end ashore, in the hope that those on board will take up the slack and make their end fast.

Yep, exactly what I was taught as well.

 

[Tomahawk]

I like to take lines and help..
However I am very nervous if someone offers to take lines for us... As PRV says... you never know what a random person will do..
We have gotten it down to a fine art with just us and it goes very well almost all the time.. The big exception being when someone offers to help and does not do it exactly right... We are a cat and need to tie the bow line off at about 1.6m.. any less and we can't get in... any more and we saw around the place..

 

[TQA]

Always including mobos.

I have even taken lines from 2 jetskis, both were bikini clad. Funny how some things stick in your mind.

 

[scottie]

Sonata coming into pontoon with dead end two people on board with following wind when I went to take lines
crew in middle of boat standing like a spare part pass me your stern line bow line thrown as boat blows across gap
Quick give me the stern line He did
What do you do with a bundle of rope including both ends neither attached to boat?

 

[LittleShip]

I have almost always offed to take a line.......

Several years ago I was involved in some wiring and didn't get off the boat to help, it was a very calm day so decided that they wouldn't need any help. Glancing across seconds later I watched in horror as the lady jumped off the boat onto a floating concrete pontoon and then collapsed in a heap. She had broken her hip. Paramedics were there in about 15 mins but listening to her in pain and trying to comfort her was an awful experience that I'll never forget.

Do I offer help now... You bet and, if its refused that's fine.

Do I allow people to take lines for me, yes but I never put a bow line on so as to prevent somebody springing the bow as happened when I first started using Little Ship.

Tom

 

[Elessar]

Yes always.
I rarely, however, allow people to take mine. Please don't be offended. Too many people make the line fast when i least need/expect it.
I may have to if I'm single handed and being blown off.