oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
Yes we normally make fast only on-board, only using the shore cleats as loops so we are in control of our own destiny without having to get off the boat, especially when single handed.
Lesson 1. How to Handle Docklines
- Thread starter Fishtigua
- Start date
Yes we normally make fast only on-board, only using the shore cleats as loops so we are in control of our own destiny without having to get off the boat, especially when single handed.
superheat6k
Well-Known Member
All those locking turns - yuk no thanks ! Yachtie in me I suppose, a locking turn on a sheet winch cleat is positively dangerous. The OXO with a decent rope will, without locking turns, hold the rope secure past its breaking strain without slipping.
I was taught to tie the ends to the uprights on the cleat with a round turn and two half hitches. Can be undone under moderate load and with a large pile of other boats' ropes cluttering the same cleat. Also if you leave a coil of rope on the pontoon some Frenchman will pinch it ! Not sure if this is so true, but taught me to keep my spare on my boat, which means less hassle if they need adjusting at 2AM. Don't know if its right, but its what JSASTC teach, and you can't buy any boating qualification there.
The one that really gets my goat is the neat coiled spiral of the spare end, utterly pointless apart from filling the line with unnecessary snaggable loops.
The real skill with a line IMHO, is the ability to throw its bitter end to the full extended length of the line and to at least one full boat length distance.
Just my opinions of course.
I was taught to tie the ends to the uprights on the cleat with a round turn and two half hitches. Can be undone under moderate load and with a large pile of other boats' ropes cluttering the same cleat. Also if you leave a coil of rope on the pontoon some Frenchman will pinch it ! Not sure if this is so true, but taught me to keep my spare on my boat, which means less hassle if they need adjusting at 2AM. Don't know if its right, but its what JSASTC teach, and you can't buy any boating qualification there.
The one that really gets my goat is the neat coiled spiral of the spare end, utterly pointless apart from filling the line with unnecessary snaggable loops.
The real skill with a line IMHO, is the ability to throw its bitter end to the full extended length of the line and to at least one full boat length distance.
Just my opinions of course.
gordmac
Well-Known Member
How do you get your ropes back on board?
MapisM
Well-Known Member
Precisely.
Btw, I'm surprised by the debate about locking turns, as if that would be the bigger problem, rather than using a bowline at the dock end.
Makes me wonder if the "tying the dock to the boat" method is what also RYA suggests, considering that also Solitaire who is an instructor found that normal...
MapisM
Well-Known Member
Well, of course someone must release the line from the dock if you use a bowline at that end, if that's what you mean.
But there's no way to release a tied line from onboard either, anyway.
Otoh, I think that by using the shore cleats as loops oceanfroggie actually meant going round the cleat with the line, returning the loose end onboard.
Afaik, that's the only way to leave the dock and recover your lines when no dock hand is available, though there is some degree of risk in that maneuver, and it must be handled with care.
oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
Usually they are just looped around shore cleat unless it is windy, on rare occaisions we use various quick release knots (eg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nxu-jS9TSc&feature=youtube_gdata_player)
dharl
Well-Known Member
call that rigging a "slip line" so that you can stay on the boat and recover your lines without having to jump on or off. Yes have to be careful, set it up so you only have a short amount line to send ashore and pull back aboard and also make sure that the eye in the rope stays on the boat and is not on the released part. Have seen it happen when someone was pulling the eye through a shore cleat it 'popped up' and caught on the cleat again....If both ends of the line have an eye in it then you have to bind the eye closed to avoid this. OF course on really big boats you could have someone ashore to take you lines off for you and this makes life very easy!
oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
On calm nights we just loop around the cleat so we can release when departing by simple unlasso from on board. There is no need to throw any line ashore which risks knotting or fouling. If its breezy we loop under the cleat (for more security) which will require the loose end (short) to be released ashore and pulled up through the cleat when we are departing, but need to be careful not to knot or foul the loose end. In all cases we lasso cleats from on board when arriving and release from on board unless conditions or poor cleat positions dictate otherwise.
When single handed in a strong off jetty breeze I often just lasso a midship jetty cleat made fast to bow cleat and hold the boat against the jetty using engines while I have time to get stern and bow lines ashore. The line acts like a spring preventing forward movement and asymetric thrust and rudder keeps the stern locked in against the jetty and wind (slightly more forward power on the inboard engine to keep a tension on the spring).
When single handed in a strong off jetty breeze I often just lasso a midship jetty cleat made fast to bow cleat and hold the boat against the jetty using engines while I have time to get stern and bow lines ashore. The line acts like a spring preventing forward movement and asymetric thrust and rudder keeps the stern locked in against the jetty and wind (slightly more forward power on the inboard engine to keep a tension on the spring).
