Med Mooring

[petem]

We've recently been moved to another berth in the marina (our original one has been sold) and the new one is even narrower than the last. Literally, we have a single fenders width between our neighbouring boats (on each side). I certainly won't need to worry about the boat moving from side to side when we are berthing but we do get a lot of fender noise in the night as the boats rub against the fenders.

Is this normal? Should I complain?

For fun, here's one of my Marina neighbours - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtC2FI81OuE&t=465s

 

[kashurst]

It's not unusual, marinas try to get as many boats in as possible and sometimes slot in boats that are technically too big for the allocated berth, then everyone gets squished. I am in a similar situation at the moment as the marina is having a lot of work done, so to free off pontoons for work, bigger/extra boats have been moved about. If you have a particularly squeaky fender a squirt with olive oil or similar usually does the trick and will wash off. Also don't have your mooring ropes too tight so the boat can sway about readily with the neighbours. Have you got metal springs in your stern lines, that can help too.

 

[petem]

It's not unusual, marinas try to get as many boats in as possible and sometimes slot in boats that are technically too big for the allocated berth, then everyone gets squished. I am in a similar situation at the moment as the marina is having a lot of work done, so to free off pontoons for work, bigger/extra boats have been moved about. If you have a particularly squeaky fender a squirt with olive oil or similar usually does the trick and will wash off. Also don't have your mooring ropes too tight so the boat can sway about readily with the neighbours. Have you got metal springs in your stern lines, that can help too.

Good idea regarding olive oil, I've got a rusty / surplus can of PTFE spray that I've been trying to use up, maybe I'll use that.

I suspect this will cause some alarm but neither I nor many of my neighbours have cross lines at the stern and the boats seem to be happy to drift left and right in a big raft.

Regarding metal springs, yes I have them but they make a noise too when extended.

What I have observed, which seems counterintuitive, is that the boat moves more fore and aft more if I tighten the lines. It's almost like it rebounds from the tightened lines. If I loosen the stern line then it seems to be a lot happier and moved fore and aft less.

 

[mcanderson]

Fender socks help reduce the squeak and rather than spraying oil or anything else I have seen our French neighbours use candle wax on their fenders and toerails where the rubbing occurs to great effect. Probably leaves less mess too.

Just reread your post and that you make fender socks - therefore you may have some.... (edit)

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

If you have a particularly squeaky fender a squirt with olive oil or similar usually does the trick and will wash off. .

I would have thought Pete could sell himself some of his own excellent fender socks to stop that

Being squashed into a Med berth is normal unfortunately. For the first year or so in our new berth in Antibes we were squashed by larger boats either side of us and it was quite a struggle to get out of our berth and particularly getting back in where we literally had to force a big enough gap to open up. It was also a PITA to individually lift each fender over those of the boats either side because there simply wasnt enough space for the fenders to pass each other.

On the other hand, once you have got your stern squeezed into whatever gap there is, you can relax as the helmsman because the boat isnt going anywhere and you can concentrate on inching astern and attaching the lines at your leisure

 

[Bouba]

He needs to sell his neighbors some socks as well, it might be them that squeak

 

[julians]

Yep it's normal to be that tight.

My berth is also tight on the length, with the fairway not being as wide as the length of the boat, due to everyone having longer boats than the moorings were designed for. Makes it fun getting in and out.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Good idea regarding olive oil, I've got a rusty / surplus can of PTFE spray that I've been trying to use up, maybe I'll use that.

I suspect this will cause some alarm but neither I nor many of my neighbours have cross lines at the stern and the boats seem to be happy to drift left and right in a big raft.

Regarding metal springs, yes I have them but they make a noise too when extended.

What I have observed, which seems counterintuitive, is that the boat moves more fore and aft more if I tighten the lines. It's almost like it rebounds from the tightened lines. If I loosen the stern line then it seems to be a lot happier and moved fore and aft less.

I’d recommend washing up liquid, won’t leave any marks on the hull.

 

[AIDY]

our berth in mallorca is so tight their isn't any space for the boat until you start pushing the boats either side apart. it makes mooring slightly easier....