Marina Berthing Line Handling

[lpdsn]

... as when I saw a chap leave his cockpit, look at me, and then amble off in the other direction.

Are you well known locally?

 

[duncan99210]

In The eastern Mediterranean, the norm in a commercial marina is to be guided to your berth and the guide will take your lines and pass the, back to you, usually in a slick and professional manner. Happy with that. Non commercial, it's usually your neighbours to be who'll take lines and pass them back, often under instruction.....

The places I dislike as the semi commercial places, often local authority run, where the folks ashore assume every boat is operated by brain dead morons and proceed to deliver instructions to you at high volume which increases as you ignore them and continue with your long established regime. We've given up visiting places because of the antics of these clowns....

As to UK, I can't recall ever having anyone appear to help. Not that it's anywhere near as helpful as just about all berths seem to be alongside, either to a quayside or a finger pontoon. Then it's simply a case of a careful approach with the crew stepping ashore with the midship line. Marina costs are quite high enough without paying for staff to loll about most of the time just to take the occasional art of lines.

 

[theoldsalt]

There have been a lot of discussions as to how spring lines can be attached when short handed.

I come from a large vessel background so am used to entering a port and having line gangs to take the mooring lines and place the eye on the shore bollard. The cost of the line gangs is met in the port fees.

When I come into a marina in my small boat, I prefer not to put me or any other person on the pontoon by jumping since, to my mind, it is dangerous. If I have a crew I might send the dinghy ahead to provide me with one or more line handlers to put the eyes on the bollards and the lines are secured inboard.

If I am paying for this marina berth (particularly as a visitor where I am not able to rig the fancy lines of known length) am I not entitled to expect the marina to provide a line handler to assist me when I berth, the cost being within the fee?

Just asking.

As a matter of routine in good weather it is unreasonable to expect the marina staff to help with berthing. You should be competant to handle your own boat - even single handed. If you are unable to then you should have crew or go on a boat handling course to improve your skills.

In bad weather then yes, especially singlehanded as help from marina staff will help to prevent damage to pontoons and other craft.

 

[Leighb]

The one place you can expect shore based help is at Brightlingsea. There the HM's launch leads you to your berth having dropped off his mate ready to take your lines as you come alongside.

Rolls-Royce service, but I know nowhere else on the East Coast where you will find this.

 

[theoldsalt]

The one place you can expect shore based help is at Brightlingsea. There the HM's launch leads you to your berth having dropped off his mate ready to take your lines as you come alongside.

Rolls-Royce service, but I know nowhere else on the East Coast where you will find this.

Are you referring to a resident ot a visitor. I am very surprised if the HM launch leads ALL vessels, resident and visitor to a berth.

I think the OP is expecting a this service as a resident (berth holder) not just as a visitor.

 

[johnalison]

Are you well known locally?

Good point. I tend to take sunglasses off when berthing as I find they make distances hard to judge but I may have to change my plans.

 

[Resolution]

From unlikely beginnings, this has become a most entertaining thread.

 

[Leighb]

Are you referring to a resident ot a visitor. I am very surprised if the HM launch leads ALL vessels, resident and visitor to a berth.

I think the OP is expecting a this service as a resident (berth holder) not just as a visitor.

I realise this is for visitors only, however it is still AFAIK a unique service on the East Coast

 

[theoldsalt]

I realise this is for visitors only, however it is still AFAIK a unique service on the East Coast

Others experience may differ but I find that help for visitors with berthing is readily available if requested for the resons previously stated especially if the visitor is unfamiliar with that marina.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Brightlingsea is fairly unique (on the UK East Coast at any rate) in that there are two linear pontoons which you either lay alongside the pontoon or are directed to raft alongside either another visitor or a permanent berth holder. As the pontoons are not connected to the shore you are met in the offing by the harbour master and they guide you in to your allocated spot.

Another place to mention is Lymington Town Quay, when we first visited with a rather strong breeze blowing off the pontoon, the harbourmaster helpfully held our bow in position with his RIB while we took the lines ashore.