Minimum pontoon length

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bazza

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My 10.6metre boat is currently moored on an 8metre pontoon. Due to the relative cleat positions from the pontoon to the boat, tieing up securely can be a headache. Especially with the winds we suffered recently.

Is there a recognised minimum pontoon to boat ratio?

A few more inches would make all the diference......
 
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Minimum pontoon length

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Seems to be what you get regardless of the lenght of boat. I have the same problem. They have the cheek to say they will charge for rails and davits, yet you get a finger shorter than the boat. In my case its a real pain if I am in bow first as my gas shutoff is on the bathing platform, which I cant get to because the finger is not long enough.

I think they should charge for the length of the pontoon they allocate not the length of boat. At least that way you could choose to pay more for a longer one or save money and have a shorter one (within reason of course)

D
 
well said - I agree /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
If you can get a berth, in my experience, you just have to make the best of it, my boat is in France at the mo in a finger half her length, springs etc have to compensate!
 
Our 10.3m boat is moored to a pontoon finger slightly shorter than yours and I agree it is a pain. However our aft spring cleat is directly in line with the cleat at the end of the pontoon. This means that our boat is moored using a very short breast rope between the two cleats and cannot move very far. We then have spring lines from the pontoon cleat to the aft cleat and the forward spring cleat which works quite well.

The system above will not work on a boat with a single, midship spring cleat or no spring cleat at all. If you are in either of these positions then you might consider some alternatives. One would be to fit a bolt-on spring cleat which is possible on boats with metal toe rails. The other is to use one of the main winches as a mooring point if it aligns with the pontoon cleat.
 
Nigel,

I'd advise caution about using the winch as a cleat, particularly if your berth is at all exposed.

Did not notice until after purchasing the last boat that the gelcoat on the moulding under one winch was badly crazed, I put that down to snatching at C&N marina. Thankfully, the guy who subsequently bought it from me did not notice either!

I spent 3 years at C&N (sorry, now Gosport marina) in the late 90's and suffered more damage to hull, fenders, guardwires and stanchions than anywhere else before or since. Is there anywhere else as bad as there?
 
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Nigel,

I'd advise caution about using the winch as a cleat, particularly if your berth is at all exposed.

Did not notice until after purchasing the last boat that the gelcoat on the moulding under one winch was badly crazed, I put that down to snatching at C&N marina. Thankfully, the guy who subsequently bought it from me did not notice either!

I spent 3 years at C&N (sorry, now Gosport marina) in the late 90's and suffered more damage to hull, fenders, guardwires and stanchions than anywhere else before or since. Is there anywhere else as bad as there?

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Use my winch as a cleat, if it can,t take that it,s not up to it,s job.
 
I've heard both 2 metres longer max and a ratio of boat length to pontoon length of 1.2 times max mentioned.
What I can't find out if these are officially stated anywhere (BMF perhaps?).
 
>> I spent 3 years at C&N (sorry, now Gosport marina) in the late 90's and suffered more damage to hull, fenders, guardwires and stanchions than anywhere else before or since. Is there anywhere else as bad as there? <<

It is a bit exposed to the wash from passing traffic - and it's the only marina I've stopped at where they give you half a gallon of RN issue Gunk so you can try to get the oil off!! (1983 so might have been a one-off but it's a good story!!)
 
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Surely snatching is a result of not ballancing the boat on her mooring lines in most weather conditions?

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In Gosport you will find its from Brittany, Condor & P&O ferries, the Grey Funnel line plus all the usual trafic up and down to Port Solent etc.
 
Everyone is assuming this is a marina berth.

We have a mid-stream pile berth with a 7m pontoon and 8m boat, and we also take a line direct from the piles for additional security, which also overcomes this problem.
 
HA, easy, we have a pontoon thats about 2 meters shorter than us, but on top of that there's a great big steel pile at the top of our berth, so we loose another meter, and because the berth next to us has a pontoon 2 meters longer than ours, so they put a big boat on that berth, meaning that we have about 1 fenders width between us, so I come in around his stern, slot it straight in, and then ave to stop before I nail the pile.......

You have to experience the crash stops to really appreciate it....

They are apparently going to try to find us a more appropriate spot for the next season!

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Yes there are standards, but adherence is voluntary I guess - FWIW we use the following:

7.5m finger - boat length up to approx 9m
9m finger - boat length up to approx 11m
10.5m finger - boat length up to approx 13m

I have a 10.6m boat on a 9m finger, and I wouldn't want it any shorter than that. Ask Walcon what they consider is OK, then go back to your Berthing Manager?
 
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