Mooring aid

[mossym]

thanks for both those tales, being very new to boat owning, it's
1 good to see mistakes happen to everyone,
2,see what the mistakes were and the thought process that led to them,
3 see what you tried that didn't work, and
4 see what did work in the end.

always learning...

 

[Poignard]

We had a spookily similar 'adventure' off Yarmouth on the Solent on our first cruise this year on Mirage. Like you, the tide was rushing fast, and the wind with it, we chose the outer moorings as I didn't fancy entering the heaving marina and raft up with my three kids tormenting the neighbours. I thought I would be 'clever', due to the high freeboard, I would bring the buoy to midships, and grab it with the Moorfast (Yup we have one too) and bring the line back to the bow.

The bouy came along the starboard side, and as I approached it, I realised there was no 'hoop' to thread the Moorfast through - however, it had a handy, sturdy bit of rope with a spliced loop at the end of it. "Ah, cracking!" thought I, I'll grab that and take it up to the bow. So grab it with the boat hook I did, only to realise it was quite short and the boat was being blown off the buoy now as the tide bit and the wind howled. I was never going to make it to the bow with the rope.

At this point, it's important to note, my old boat was 30ft with a displacement of 3 tonnes, Mirage 40ft with a displacement of 9 tonnes... what I chose to do next may have worked on Triola - on Mirage... not a hope...

I thought, I'll hoop the nicely spliced loop over the midships cleat, that will give me time to sort out a line to the bow and we'll be all ready to go to the beach... bad move. Like you, all hell broke loose, the tide bit and we were pinned side on to the tide, gently leaned over. Fine, I thought, lets get another line on it and pull the bow around. That didn't work - the line was bar tight to the midships cleat, so I tried chugging forwards to try and pivot the boat around. With no wash passing over the rudder, with my saildrive well forward (not a "thing" on my old fin and skeg boat), this just had the effect of my 8 year old son solemnly commenting we were going to rip the midships cleat off as it groaned under the additional strain of the VP 55hp engine.

At this point, I radioed the very active and pleasant harbormaster. First, the trot boat came out and put his bows on Mirages port forward bow and went full throttle, to try and push the bows into the tidal race... no chance "I'm on full power!!" shrugged the driver. I enquired gently as to whether the trot boat driver would mind if I cut the line, as I could see little else to do (and there was nothing to bash into downstream) - he noted he certainly WOULD mind - so we continued on. Next the harbour master came on to the radio patiently asking which mooring we were on, and the harbour master launch then came and joined the party. With both 'rescue' boats at full throttle, and Mirages engines pushing gently ahead, the bows came around enough for me to take the loop off the midships cleat! The second line we had on the bouy bought the bows back around, and we tied up safe and snug, and went ashore and ate cake on the beach.

Yarmouth were incredible about it. Red faced at my error, I apologised profusely, however they took it all in their stride as they ferried us ashore. Part of me rather enjoyed the experience as we had no damage at the end of it, no lost fingers or crew and I learnt a bleeding good lesson. As the trot boat driver chuckled as he took us to shore "Mwhahah, you won't make a bouy up to midships again will you!!".

.

Well described. A horrible experience!

I must confess that the hand that lifted that first welcome glass of champagne to my lips shook a little!

 

[Daydream believer]

Meanwhile, £4 of raw materials from B and Q and an hour of amusement with the boy in the Bat Cave later...

Old scrubbing brush handle was drilled:

As per Toms design, bolted right through:

And Presto!

I'll let you know once I've tried the little sucker out.

Where did you buy a child for £ 4-00. Did you get him on sale or return. That would be fantastic. Bit like having grand children. Send them back when fed up with them.

 

[Wansworth]

Much of the angst of mooring up is the little voice saying I hope I don’t cock it up we are being watched......

 

[Daydream believer]

I wrote a short article for PBO last year with my design for a device that would fit into the inset bollards in dutch locks. Will also pick up cleats etc