Mooring buoy and rafting up etiquette

Returned to this site to see if there had been any further replies over and above the three sent directly to my E Mail Address, just to find this !

Blimey, I only asked for info so as not to offend anyone and have appeared to started world war three !

Thanks for all the constructive help regarding mooring etiquette (remember ? the original query ?)

P.S. I do not have any children.
 
webcraft said:
Not everyone takes kindly to their mooring buoy being used in their absence, even if it isn't doing them any harm.

Also - if it's for a wee boat and you break it, then you won't be very popular with the owner (or your insurance company).

I have occasionally picked up strange mooring buoys, but only when there was no real alternative or when I have received assurances from a local that it will be OK. It's generally best to anchor if possible IMHO, rather than risk a) upsetting someone b) tying your six ton yacht onto a buoy set up for a one ton boat or c) being asked to clear out at four in the morning by an irate owner.

As for rafting up - I'd certainly prefer that people didn't raft up to me on a buoy because of possible problems, but would let them if there was no alternative and the combined weights were within the buoy's capacity. Generally in Scotland once the visitors moorings are full late arrivals anchor - it is rare to see boats rafted up on a buoy.

Alongside, rafting up is the norm and while it is not a 'right' it is a churlish skipper who tries to prevent or discourage it. If the crew is on board it is polite to ask before rafting up. If not, don't raft up alongside a much smaller boat - and always take your own lines ashore, otherwise everyone ends up hanging on the inside boat's shore lines! (And be prepared to get up if a boat inside you is departing earlier than you).

One other point of rafting etiquette - always go forward of the mast on other boats when going ashore or returning (for privacy).

- Nick

BlueMoment.Com
BlueMoment - UK Sail Cruising
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Someone just liked this post. Good grief.

- W
 
since someone reawakened this thread..
I've seen tourists trying to tie to buoys on the Norfolk Broads...



Several tons of Motor boat tends to drag a racing mark with just a 10lb weight on it..
 
tony_brighton said:
If there is a harbour master they should be able to advise you.
I checked a few weeks ago with Newtown Creek - their response was that red buoys (in their case) were ok to pick up on but are private and you should vacate if the owner turns up. Visitor buoys were marked as such and you could raft upto 2 deep (all the caveats apply on the rest of the thread).
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The NT harbour masters in Newtown Creek have always told me that whilst a buoy can take two boats the first to arrive is fully entitled to decline to allow rafting. I do sympathise with this view, in the last few years I have increasingly noticed the tendency to ground on the low tide turn and some boats turn whilst others are stuck stern to. And the really special thing about Newtown is peace. There’s lots of space for anchoring.
 
chrisD said:
The NT harbour masters in Newtown Creek have always told me that whilst a buoy can take two boats the first to arrive is fully entitled to decline to allow rafting. I do sympathise with this view, in the last few years I have increasingly noticed the tendency to ground on the low tide turn and some boats turn whilst others are stuck stern to. And the really special thing about Newtown is peace. There’s lots of space for anchoring.
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I hope that applies tomorrow, as we will be there. We take up a reasonable amount of real estate.
 
I wouldn't advise picking up random buoy, as you don't know what state it's in and what it's rated for. In warm places it's possible to jump in and check, but otherwise, I prefer to anchor.

When anchored I would not accept someone rafting to me without my permission. I would be unlikely to give my permission unless there were special circumstances.

Alongside, I would ask for permission to raft, if it is refused I would check with the marina manager.
 
ghostlymoron said:
This thread gives the impression that sailors are all grumpy old gits. I've not found this in real life most sailors are friendly and will go out of their way to lend a helping hand.
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All very true but people with young and noisy children should be aware that others may not or won't appreciate their little darlings.
 
roaringgirl said:
I wouldn't advise picking up random buoy, as you don't know what state it's in and what it's rated for. In warm places it's possible to jump in and check, but otherwise, I prefer to anchor.

When anchored I would not accept someone rafting to me without my permission. I would be unlikely to give my permission unless there were special circumstances.

Alongside, I would ask for permission to raft, if it is refused I would check with the marina manager.
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I can’t imagine anyone rafting onto a random anchored boat. Does it actually happen, or have I lived a sheltered life? We often used to raft to friends or vice versa, even for the night but now that we have larger boats my friends seem to have become a bit precious about it and seem to expect trouble if one stays for the night.

Rafting on buoys is purely a local issue, depending on the security of the buoys. Places such as Salcombe encourage rafting and one can’t decline the presence of a newcomer, but it should be made clear in the instructions. For myself, I am not overly concerned on a buoy, providing the boat is crying dogs and yapping children free, unlike on shore where people invariably seem to think that returning from a bar in a drunken state and stumbling around my boat at 2am is acceptable.
 
ghostlymoron said:
This thread gives the impression that sailors are all grumpy old gits. I've not found this in real life most sailors are friendly and will go out of their way to lend a helping hand.
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Not our experience around Brittainy. Whereas UK boats often had dinghies alongside and would duck below when they saw a boat likely to raft, the French would be welcoming and often invite us for a drink.
 
Graham376 said:
Not our experience around Brittainy. Whereas UK boats often had dinghies alongside and would duck below when they saw a boat likely to raft, the French would be welcoming and often invite us for a drink.
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There is a misplaced feeling that the French dislike the English. My experience is that we generally get on very well - especially if we take the trouble to learn a bit of French. Brexit has caused problems of course but on the whole the still welcome us to their lovely country .
 
ghostlymoron said:
There is a misplaced feeling that the French dislike the English. My experience is that we generally get on very well - especially if we take the trouble to learn a bit of French. Brexit has caused problems of course but on the whole the still welcome us to their lovely country .
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I could not endorse this more strongly. Living in France our reception by the locals is as welcoming as anyone would want.
 
While in a very busy Arklow last month - we took the last vacant hammerhead spot in the old fishing harbour - at about 2200 hours a French yacht with five crew were unable to find a berth. We invited them alongside and were soon sharing a drink with them.

Eight days ago we went into Bangor Marina. The same French boat and crew came into an adjacent berth. Within minutes we were given a good bottle of Bordeaux and invited aboard.

Thats Cruising..........................
 
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