Med mooring..single handed?

[Appleyard]

Thanks for all the various answers to my query. As usual,there are lots of differing opinions ,however the advice from Michael Briant seems to be the most practical for my needs. Regarding bows-to anchoring,as suggested by some,this has the disadvantage that I wil have to manually lift the kedge when leaving ,as the electric windlass is on the bow.Besides which,stern - to makes it much easier to get on and off. Re lazy lines...some places have them..but normally we have to use the anchor. I will fit a remote control eventually so that I can operate the winch from the cockpit,but until then will try Michael's method.

 

[ScottNolan]

Had a couple of weeks of this last summer. The most difficult situation was mooring up, stern to, with a X-wind & no other boats on the pontoon.
After a few attempts I ended up mooring starboard to (bow-line & fenders ready, good strong warp on the stern), then releasing the bow & letting it swing out whilst holding it close to 90 degrees to the pontoon with the engine (1/4 forward straining against the stern warp). Then picking up the lazy-line & tying her off was pretty easy.

 

[Appleyard]

[ QUOTE ]
Then picking up the lazy-line & tying her off was pretty easy.

[/ QUOTE ]..Thats fine if there is a lazy line...most places we go to don't have them,which is why I asked the original question.

 

[LadyJessie]

[ QUOTE ]
I bought the cockpit switch (Lofrans) along with the Airon windlass and the foredeck switch complete, though any simple self-centering up-down switch will do.

[/ QUOTE ]
Lots of good ideas above, I am sure can will do fine once you try these out a couple of times. It is not difficult. Would advice against the bows to though, you cannot handle your mooring lines then.
Can I just add my two cents worth here: the cockpit windlass switch should not be a fixed switch. Instead install one of the the normal remote type switches on a cord. The benefit is that you can move around your wheel and handle lines at the same time as you have control of the windlass. I have mine installed in one of the aft lockers and pull it out when needed. Then it is also out of the way for children and others wanting to play with it.

 

[angelsson]

Be carefull where there are lazylines, some places dont like you dropping the hook as it can foul the chain running the length of the pontoon to which the bow lines are attached.

 

[Appleyard]

[ QUOTE ]
Be carefull where there are lazylines, some places dont like you dropping the hook as it can foul the chain running the length of the pontoon to which the bow lines are attached.

[/ QUOTE ]
The whole point of my original query was to find out the best method of "Med Mooring" single handed,allowing me to drop the anchor ,go stern to,and moor up on my own. If there were lazylines in place,then I would not need to drop the anchor. The lazy line is laid to enable you o pick it up and use it instead of an anchor.

 

[jerryat]

[quoteCan I just add my two cents worth here: the cockpit windlass switch should not be a fixed switch. Instead install one of the the normal remote type switches on a cord. The benefit is that you can move around your wheel and handle lines at the same time as you have control of the windlass. I have mine installed in one of the aft lockers and pull it out when needed. Then it is also out of the way for children and others wanting to play with it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi LJ,
Yes I can sort of see your argument, but we have tiller not wheel steering and the fixed switch works extremely well with this set-up. I manage to handle the lines quite easily, but of course may well be standing much nearer the stern than you are able to whilst steering.

I can see myself getting in a right tangle if I was nipping about hurling and securing lines whilst trying to avoid a remote cable!! We have one for the foredeck though and it's excellent there!

 

[jimbaerselman]

[ QUOTE ]
Regarding bows-to anchoring,as suggested by some,this has the disadvantage that I wil have to manually lift the kedge when leaving ,as the electric windlass is on the bow.

[/ QUOTE ] Appreciate that you prefer stern to -

My stern kedge is an 18kg Britany with 7m of chain, then loads of rope. I'm not particularly strong, and pretty ancient, but I've always found lifting that easy until the chain arrives at deck level. From then on the total heave is much less than the typical luggage weight when I'm on an airplane.

Breaking out? Secure the line, use the boat's inertia with a tweak ahead. Or use the jib winch if it's deeper than 7m.

Someone else's anchor over the top? I've got a 4m floating line attached to the trip eye, so I use that (with an extension if necessary) with the jib winch. Sorting the mess out from the stern bathing platform is much easier than when the mess is at the bow.

 

[FrankieJ]

Michael E's method works very well.The big advantage is the chain holding you straight in a x wind.
Know your distance, know your chain length and dump your anchor whilst slowly moving rather then being stationary and you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[lille_bee]

I second that; we've used the "Michael E" method many a time, especially in Nidri where there always seems to be a x-wind that conspires with our prop-walk to blow our bows towards Vliho... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Appleyard]

[ QUOTE ]
blow our bows towards Vliho...

[/ QUOTE ]

Not a bad idea!! the chips in Vliho are excellent!

 

[franky]

Before you start playing around with anchor switches and trip lines buy some more fenders.If i think stern to will be too difficult i go in bows to and sort things out from there.If you are alongside another boat you can at least secure to them for a while.Can anyone solve the great mystery why when I go in stern to without any problems there is never any one around to watch but when i xxxx mess it up there is always a crowd.

 

[bbilly]

I've been in lots of marinas in the med and apart from Croatia and some French boats almost everybody moors stern to, spose it's coz with sugar scoops its easier to board and disembark. It's also more sociable if you like to partecipate in the med quay life. If you don't need to lay your anchor, sigle handed should pose no problem if you've got a nother boat next to you, to lean on or to cover you, just get the up-wind stern line secured pick up the line to the "corpo morto" and fix the bow.

If you need to lay an anchor and go stern single handed to in a busy marina or a busy anchorage which sooner or later will happen you will need a remote control. I believe there are wireless remotes available