oggin
New member
Great advice, much appreciated. Thanks everyone.
First trip to Bembridge - advice please
- Thread starter oggin
- Start date
prv
Well-known member
+1
Ideally you should be passing a looped end (either splice or bowline) to the person on the other boat for them to drop over their cleat; their part in the job is now done and you adjust lengths and do any necessary hauling from on board your own boat. Though if you're shorthanded, most people will be happy to give you a hand.
Pete
Seajet
...
oggin,
what Pete says is correct, but on leaving you may find it handy to have doubled lines ' there and back ' to the other boat so you and your crew can let go one end - always the short end - and haul in the line, slipping when it suits you.
Most people will be happy and competent to do this for you if you and crew offer the rope end and say ' just back to me please '.
If they mistakenly belay it on their cleat ( depressingly common ) or just want an end to belay, no problem you just double the lines to slip when you're preparing to leave.
what Pete says is correct, but on leaving you may find it handy to have doubled lines ' there and back ' to the other boat so you and your crew can let go one end - always the short end - and haul in the line, slipping when it suits you.
Most people will be happy and competent to do this for you if you and crew offer the rope end and say ' just back to me please '.
If they mistakenly belay it on their cleat ( depressingly common ) or just want an end to belay, no problem you just double the lines to slip when you're preparing to leave.
BlueSkyNick
Active member
Don't forget your passports, BTW.
l'escargot
New member
... and be ready to pay your "Highlands and Islands" surcharge for leaving the UK mainland...
Seajet
...
Before setting off for Cowes I organised a novice chum with a 10 x 8" passport picture which had him worried; sure enough when at the fuel barge in Cowes the chap said to chum " Over there in England "...
onesea
Well-known member
When it comes to passing short ends and loops to other boats and expecting things back. My tip for you is urm good luck, allot of people do these things differently.
I have had to tie myself up alongside some miserable gits because they where to busy reading in the cockpit, people stand there with one fender ready in case you bump them and offer no help (miserable gits unusual but happens). I have had people grab my ropes from the bow as I swung along side and try passing it back to me whilst I am still positioning the boat with the engine. I have had people tie my boat up perfectly for me before I was even out of the cockpit. There are lots of combinations
If single/ short handed often the last thing I want is the rope passed back to me. Them belaying it on the cleat is just perfect, better than them trying to pass the headline back to you when you dearly want to get the stern ropes on as the wind is from behind.
One thing you might be requested to rig are shore lines, if you are requested the people asking for them normally give you free advise on what they want (some times good some times not, but as they request it and are the inside boat just see what you think)!
These are long line to the shore that can help stop compression loads on the inside boats and keep the raft straight if rigged correctly. Although I would suspect unless along side a boat less than 30' it will not be requested.
I have had to tie myself up alongside some miserable gits because they where to busy reading in the cockpit, people stand there with one fender ready in case you bump them and offer no help (miserable gits unusual but happens). I have had people grab my ropes from the bow as I swung along side and try passing it back to me whilst I am still positioning the boat with the engine. I have had people tie my boat up perfectly for me before I was even out of the cockpit. There are lots of combinations
If single/ short handed often the last thing I want is the rope passed back to me. Them belaying it on the cleat is just perfect, better than them trying to pass the headline back to you when you dearly want to get the stern ropes on as the wind is from behind.
One thing you might be requested to rig are shore lines, if you are requested the people asking for them normally give you free advise on what they want (some times good some times not, but as they request it and are the inside boat just see what you think)!
These are long line to the shore that can help stop compression loads on the inside boats and keep the raft straight if rigged correctly. Although I would suspect unless along side a boat less than 30' it will not be requested.
han34
New member
If you raft on to another boat, rig shore lines without being asked, if you are the only outside boat then not using shore lines may be OK, if the inside boat agrees. It is their decision. The issue is not just about compression loads, unless there is no tide and you are being blown on. Without shorelines, the inside cleats of the boat you are rafting on is taking the weight of the boats on the raft, if you are getting blown off, or a tide is running and there are six boats in a raft, the stress on the inside boat's cleats will be more than they are designed to take.
colhel
Well-known member
Bloody complicated innit?
Seajet
...
We are trying to be positive here on what should be a short, fun trip.
Yes we've all met miserable gits, and shore lines are crucial at places like Poole town quay, but hopefully neither apply at Bembridge Duver and I'm sure the OP has the brains and courtesy to rig shore lines as and when; this is a fun trip, not D-Day !
oggin
New member
All great advice, much appreciated.
I'm only coming over from chichester harbour, probably going to anchour in whitecliff bay for lunch and then head on in.
My takeaway is :
- Call up the HM when entering (which i'd have to do anyway) and explain the usual plus draft and when i'm planning to leave as that might help me get a good spot.
- Rig for normal coming alongside, springs/head & stern rope
- Identify the spot and make a slow pass to see if i can make contact with the boat i'm going to try and raft with - shout the plan over and make sure they are happy (potentially tie bowlines)
- Keep things very slow and come alongside making sure the mast is not inline with the boat i'm rafting on.
- rig shorelines
- Hand over the head and stern lines first before securing springs.
- bring spare fenders
- passport
I guess one further question would be how long do i need my shorelines need to be? I've got 2x 10 metres i could use, is that long enough?
thanks for all the help!
I'm only coming over from chichester harbour, probably going to anchour in whitecliff bay for lunch and then head on in.
My takeaway is :
- Call up the HM when entering (which i'd have to do anyway) and explain the usual plus draft and when i'm planning to leave as that might help me get a good spot.
- Rig for normal coming alongside, springs/head & stern rope
- Identify the spot and make a slow pass to see if i can make contact with the boat i'm going to try and raft with - shout the plan over and make sure they are happy (potentially tie bowlines)
- Keep things very slow and come alongside making sure the mast is not inline with the boat i'm rafting on.
- rig shorelines
- Hand over the head and stern lines first before securing springs.
- bring spare fenders
- passport
I guess one further question would be how long do i need my shorelines need to be? I've got 2x 10 metres i could use, is that long enough?
thanks for all the help!
l'escargot
New member
Just a slight variation in order, get fore & aft lines on to the boat you are rafting against before shorelines - shorelines are last when you are happy with your position against the other boat. If it is busy, you may be 4 boats out, maybe even 5, in which case 10m isn't really enough but you will most probably be alright.All great advice, much appreciated.
I'm only coming over from chichester harbour, probably going to anchour in whitecliff bay for lunch and then head on in.
My takeaway is :
- Call up the HM when entering (which i'd have to do anyway) and explain the usual plus draft and when i'm planning to leave as that might help me get a good spot.
- Rig for normal coming alongside, springs/head & stern rope
- Identify the spot and make a slow pass to see if i can make contact with the boat i'm going to try and raft with - shout the plan over and make sure they are happy (potentially tie bowlines)
- Keep things very slow and come alongside making sure the mast is not inline with the boat i'm rafting on.
- rig shorelines
- Hand over the head and stern lines first before securing springs.
- bring spare fenders
- passport
I guess one further question would be how long do i need my shorelines need to be? I've got 2x 10 metres i could use, is that long enough?
thanks for all the help!
Daedelus
Well-known member
If the boat you are coming alongside is not assisting you or ignoring you playing a recording of a bow thruster on full chat with wild cries of "Look Out" usually concentrates the mind. If that is a bit much come in slowly make sure the engine is in neutral and then rev it to screaming pitch - do make sure it is in neutral.
I usually find that most people are only too keen to help you tie up alongside without banging them, I envy you this weekend. Cockpit, canapés and a glass or two - sounds fantastic - enjoy.
I usually find that most people are only too keen to help you tie up alongside without banging them, I envy you this weekend. Cockpit, canapés and a glass or two - sounds fantastic - enjoy.
lpdsn
New member
You could extend your 10 metre lines with old sheets if necessary. The reason you shouldn't use sheets as warps is because there is no stretch, but if you've tied them to 10m warps you'll have enough stretch.
onesea
Well-known member
I am surprised at 22' with your boat are not in the same boat RE shore lines. Last boat was 24' if the boat I was mooring against was 30' plus when I rafted I asked about shore lines I invariably got told not to worry (shows how friendly most boats are). If its a tidal wall or the weather was likely to be snotty I would put them out...
Now I have a 35' foot boat I still ask, and am often told how they would like them as well. The majority of the time the way the boats inside want them is nothing like I would do it, unless I see a major problem I tend just to do as I am told.... Having lived in a world of rafting and large tidal ranges and walls I would like to think I am not incompetent in these matters.
Either way the point I was trying to make was that just because something is underlined in bold does not mean that's how its going to happen or must happen. Lots of opinions and different ways out there.
I am sure that the OP will have a fun day...
Any old rope will do for shore lines as others have said add sheets old or new, there is a good chance at 23' if your the last boat out a significantly bigger boat they will be happy if you go without... In fact at 23' they may well be happy to have you outside as it increases the chances you are last boat out...
Seajet
...
Rafting is a lottery; if given the chance I stand off and go on the outside but one can't be there all the time, again referring to Poole town quay I had my boat crashed alongside by a local fishing boat eager for their lunchtime pint, damaging my rubbing strake then clearing off; I was at the bank getting funds so was only told of it later.
On another occasion years ago a Pioneer yacht from the raft ahead reversed into my shore line - obviously didn't look - cut it and took the main part away with him !
I tracked the boat down via Parkstone YC - who were as upset as I was - got my line back but that was about the most disgusting behaviour I've come across.
Yes at 22, 30 or 100' LOA, one still rigs shore lines, often a courtesy, sometimes an engineering neccesity !
On another occasion years ago a Pioneer yacht from the raft ahead reversed into my shore line - obviously didn't look - cut it and took the main part away with him !
I tracked the boat down via Parkstone YC - who were as upset as I was - got my line back but that was about the most disgusting behaviour I've come across.
Yes at 22, 30 or 100' LOA, one still rigs shore lines, often a courtesy, sometimes an engineering neccesity !