Med mooring techniques

Deleted User said:
how often does it happen?
Click to expand...
Well, I don't think there's any statistic about that.
Never had any "thrusted" boat myself, but I did experience it first hand on a friend's Targa 47, several years ago.
And I can think of at least three other folks who told me that it happened to them.
Leaving aside odd failure reasons, as those you experienced, the most worrying thought is that the thermal switch is more likely to trip off when the crosswind is stronger, for obvious reasons.... :)
Anyway, the procedure I suggested before (upwind stern line first) still stands no matter how many other tools the boat has.
Once secured that line, if you have a b/t and can hold the boat in position with it, fairenuff - I'd probably do the same.
Failing that, the downwind engine throttle is right at your fingertips! :encouragement:
 
On the subject of bow thrusters being prone to failure. a few years ago i was mooring our old sealine s34 stern to in Santa Ponsa marina, when the joystick came unscrewed (must have been working its way loose for some time), youd think it would fail safe,ie off,but it didnt it failed full left thrust. That was an interesting 30-60 seconds ripping out various cushions etc to get to the cut off for the thruster.
 
petem said:
My worry is backing into one of the boat that I'm supposed to be slotting between!

Once your in, the pressure's off I hope.

Pete
Click to expand...

Without a stern thruster and in a strong cross wind this is a reality.
Happened to me in CF this year - our stern thruster is in bits at the moment waiting for spares - took three attempts - got there in the end - but "bailed out" twice because of just that - didn't want to hit the next door boat.
Deleted User was ok though - he was next but one!!!!
 
Deleted User said:
Yes this is an oft quoted disadvantage of electric thrusters but how often does it happen? I've never experienced a thruster tripping out in many years of boating with boats having thrusters. Yes sometimes they haven't worked but that wasn't because of over use (actually more likely under use!)

What I would say is that your technique is the ultimate get out of trouble method because it's still going to work however strong the wind whereas of course thrusters are sometimes simply not powerful enough
Click to expand...

I've never experienced a thruster trip out myself but we did see a situation last year in Cala D'or where a yachtie got himself caught in some lazy lines.
I said then, "any time now the thruster is going to trip out" - and it did.
Mind you the whole situation was poor seamship.
 
Hurricane said:
Without a stern thruster and in a strong cross wind this is a reality.
Click to expand...
Interesting that you should say that M, because I think it's the availability of the stern thruster itself that, whenever it doesn't work, creates a problem which otherwise wouldn't exist.
I mean, in my experience, with any twin engined mobo (particularly with shafts) you can put your stern anywhere with the engines alone, also in strong cross wind.
All it takes is getting used to the boat behavior - particularly to how she reacts to all possible engine combinations (fwd/rev/neutral either side, possibly also with a bit of throttle if required).
Trouble is, the s/t availability spoils such attitude, because you don't need to practice it - till the s/t fails, that is! :D

I'm not suggesting to get rid of your s/t of course, but while a b/t would have a pretty high position in a theorical "nice to have" list of what I'd rather have in my boat, the s/t would be well below a proper stock of decent wine.... :cool:
All imho, as always. :)
 
MapisM said:
Interesting that you should say that M, because I think it's the availability of the stern thruster itself that, whenever it doesn't work, creates a problem which otherwise wouldn't exist.
I mean, in my experience, with any twin engined mobo (particularly with shafts) you can put your stern anywhere with the engines alone, also in strong cross wind.
All it takes is getting used to the boat behavior - particularly to how she reacts to all possible engine combinations (fwd/rev/neutral either side, possibly also with a bit of throttle if required).
Trouble is, the s/t availability spoils such attitude, because you don't need to practice it - till the s/t fails, that is! :D

I'm not suggesting to get rid of your s/t of course, but while a b/t would have a pretty high position in a theorical "nice to have" list of what I'd rather have in my boat, the s/t would be well below a proper stock of decent wine.... :cool:
All imho, as always. :)
Click to expand...

Yea - you are probably correct
Since the stern thruster has been out of commission, I've got better and better at maneuvering without it.
BUT I DO MISS IT
Believe me it WILL be fixed.
I've got the correct spares now - in my bag - ready to go out to the boat.
It will be one of the first jobs to do.
 
When backing in and coming out you are most of the time turning a corner at the same time.

Do watch the bow lines of other boats. They are deceptive and are sometimes shallower than they look. They also have big chains on them that wrap round the prob. No need to ask how I know this !
 
Hurricane said:
Without a stern thruster and in a strong cross wind this is a reality.
Click to expand...

I typed a answer to your post this afternoon Mike but i errased it,
wanted to say that we never had a Stern thruster and never ever desired to have one (except perhaps last season last few day's when I only had one engine)
from day one I learned to manouvre BA without stern thruster, and while I understand "your habit of using them" I can only confirm with posters above that with twin engine, you can manouvre completely without a stern thruster, and I can say that I like that very much, its one of the satisfiing moments with our hobby
going in a berth with cross wind happened to us regularly in SOF Hyeres and Toulon, due to the orientation to prevealing wind direction, so we had lots of practice.
and would like to encourage you to practice that manouvre, I'm sure you'll love it :)
 
MapisM said:
+1, particularly if your boat has fin stabs sticking out of the hull.
No need to ask how I know this either! :D
Click to expand...

touch wood, so far I didn't touch bow ropes nor chains, but know the sound from props touching a bow chain :)
this is my main concern and point of attention when doing the manouver in cross wind
not touching a neighbour is peanuts then :)
 
BartW said:
I typed a answer to your post this afternoon Mike but i errased it,
wanted to say that we never had a Stern thruster and never ever desired to have one (except perhaps last season last few day's when I only had one engine)
from day one I learned to manouvre BA without stern thruster, and while I understand "your habit of using them" I can only confirm with posters above that with twin engine, you can manouvre completely without a stern thruster, and I can say that I like that very much, its one of the satisfiing moments with our hobby
going in a berth with cross wind happened to us regularly in SOF Hyeres and Toulon, due to the orientation to prevealing wind direction, so we had lots of practice.
and would like to encourage you to practice that manouvre, I'm sure you'll love it :)
Click to expand...

Bart I sort of agree. I had never had a sternthruster until I bought my current boat and then for most of last season, it wasn't working so I didn't really miss it. It's something that is nice to have rather than essential unlike a bowthruster which I consider to be pretty much essential
 
petem said:
My worry is backing into one of the boat that I'm supposed to be slotting between!

Once your in, the pressure's off I hope.
Click to expand...
Agreed Pete. Once you're in, you need a good thruster
 
Deleted User said:
unlike a bowthruster which I consider to be pretty much essential
Click to expand...

I don't dare to think what to do if that breacks during a season,
except someone ready with the tender for assistance during each berthing manouvre


I try to use the bow thruster as less as possible, but can't do completely without
one of neighbours told me, I alway's "hear" when BA is coming in, because of the sound of the engines, and almost no use of the bow thruster :)
 
Last edited:
MapisM said:
Interesting that you should say that M, because I think it's the availability of the stern thruster itself that, whenever it doesn't work, creates a problem which otherwise wouldn't exist.
I mean, in my experience, with any twin engined mobo (particularly with shafts) you can put your stern anywhere with the engines alone, also in strong cross wind.
All it takes is getting used to the boat behavior - particularly to how she reacts to all possible engine combinations (fwd/rev/neutral either side, possibly also with a bit of throttle if required).
Trouble is, the s/t availability spoils such attitude, because you don't need to practice it - till the s/t fails, that is! :D

I'm not suggesting to get rid of your s/t of course, but while a b/t would have a pretty high position in a theorical "nice to have" list of what I'd rather have in my boat, the s/t would be well below a proper stock of decent wine.... :cool:
All imho, as always. :)
Click to expand...
++1 to all that. I only use my s/t (which is standard spec; i didn't spec it) to exercise it. To move the aft of the boat sideways there is nothing better than the props.
 
Thanks for all your helpful replies. I guess the only way to get it right is practice practice and practice - and slowly.

The biggest challenge we have is with quite a high freeboard, once a strong crosswind catches us we skate across the water sideways fairly rapidly. Thankfully though, since our move to the Med, my windage has decreased significantly as I dont need to have a full set of camper covers erected :cool::cool::cool:

Perhaps a "Hurricane Masterclass" in SCM in the Spring ?
 
Andy Bav said:
Thanks for all your helpful replies. I guess the only way to get it right is practice practice and practice - and slowly.
Click to expand...
May I recommend a season in Carloforte or indeed pretty much anywhere in Sardinia. It always seems to be blowing half a gale there and 2 seasons there has certainly sharpened up my boat handling skills in windy situations;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top