Mooring problems?

[Nostrodamus]

I was sat out in the wind yesterday doing my meekrat impressions and various boats came in and out of the marina in the wind.

I spent 15 minutes watching a long keeled boat trying to get out. It was a nightmare. Because of the wind the best way would have been in reverse but each time he tried it just headed off on its own towards other boats with no steerage. If he tried to go out forward his bows would not go through the wind. It took a lot of sweat and black engine smoke to get out. Anyone who has a long keeled boat you have my deepest sympathies.

Later I was watching a Beneteau trying to get in. Brilliant acceleration and stopping power but every time he got side on to the wind that was it.. he was blowing down to the other end of the marina. Eventually he did get into the berth (med mooring lazy line) but at 45 degrees using other boat to help him.

I know with our boat which is heavy I cannot do anything fast. I have the acceleration and stopping power of a three toed sloth on ice.

No wonder watching other boats moor is a national spectator sport and we feel so good when we manage it first time.

 

[Vega1447]

I was sat out in the wind yesterday doing my meekrat impressions and various boats came in and out of the marina in the wind.

I spent 15 minutes watching a long keeled boat trying to get out. It was a nightmare. Because of the wind the best way would have been in reverse but each time he tried it just headed off on its own towards other boats with no steerage. If he tried to go out forward his bows would not go through the wind. It took a lot of sweat and black engine smoke to get out. Anyone who has a long keeled boat you have my deepest sympathies.

Later I was watching a Beneteau trying to get in. Brilliant acceleration and stopping power but every time he got side on to the wind that was it.. he was blowing down to the other end of the marina. Eventually he did get into the berth (med mooring lazy line) but at 45 degrees using other boat to help him.

I know with our boat which is heavy I cannot do anything fast. I have the acceleration and stopping power of a three toed sloth on ice.

No wonder watching other boats moor is a national spectator sport and we feel so good when we manage it first time.

I own an Albin Vega 27 so I know exactly what the guy you say was going through. She will reverse upwind but only when speed is built up.

But (as all Vega owners say) we don't spend much time in reverse...

Long warps might have been a better option than black smoke in the case that you witnessed?

 

[SamanthaTabs]

Definitely a spectator sport. That said everyone cocks up on occasion, I can't be the only person sending silent wishes that there are no sudden gusts when heading into a busy marina berth and likewise (plus slip lines behaving) on the way out? May as well be one of those who claim never to drag at anchor

 

[jac]

We must have been a spectacle this weekend. Coming back to pontoon at low tide, beautifully lined up to go up narrow lane, depth alarm goes off followed shortly afterwards with a lack of forward motion. Full astern saved us and was an empty pontoon nearby but saw a few meerkats at the sudden increase in engine revs!!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Took me three goes on Monday, two of my neighbours needed two, and a guy at the end did it one despite going completely sideways - sorted out with helpers on the pontoon and lots of throwing of string.

Wind was over the bow most of the time, but when gusts came (and they did) they were from the beam and would blow the bow off before you could say, "Blooming heck, where did that come from?"

 

[Wansworth]

I have found on several occassions the use of the anchour solves problems.

 

[jac]

I have found on several occassions the use of the anchour solves problems.

But does tend to frowned on when used in marinas, especially when used as a fender!!!!

 

[Poignard]

I have found on several occassions the use of the anchour solves problems.

Yes. Or even a 25lb weight will keep her bow pointing into the wind.

 

[Twister_Ken]

a 25lb weight will keep her bow pointing into the wind.

Especially if it's crashed through the pontoon decking.

 

[Poignard]

Especially if it's crashed through the pontoon decking.

It wasn't me guv, honest.

 

[chinita]

The trick is to find two unattended boats either side of your mooring and then practise the snooker technique of 'in/off'.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

You think that a long keeler is hard to reverse; try reversing my Macwester Wight; it is sheer hell and no fun trying to go into a marina.

 

[Nostrodamus]

so why do they still build long keel boats and why should someone buy one?

 

[Tony Cross]

The trick is to find two unattended boats either side of your mooring and then practise the snooker technique of 'in/off'.

[pedantic mode on]

I think you'll find that in-off is a billiards term.

[pedantic mode off]

 

[chinita]

[pedantic mode on]

I think you'll find that in-off is a billiards term.

[pedantic mode off]

A billiards technique. Also a snooker term. My error was describing the action as a technique.

http://www.sportsdefinitions.com/snooker/In-off.html

 

[Twister_Ken]

The trick is to find two unattended boats either side of your mooring and then practise the snooker technique of 'in/off'.

Aka 'Ricochet Parking'

 

[John.edwards]

Aka 'Ricochet Parking'

so used a lot in Ireland then?

 

[nimbusgb]

The trick is to find two unattended boats either side of your mooring and then practise the snooker technique of 'in/off'.

Shouldn't that be off/in

 

[doug748]

so why do they still build long keel boats and why should someone buy one?

Neat try,

I think you are being ignored.

 

[SeamanStaines]

Because when the chips are down the keel will not fall off... and generally, if monohulls are your thing (this single hull nonsense will never catch on!) then they are probably the safest in heavy weather. It depends what you want, I suspect the serious sailors with long keel ocean going yachts rarely but them in marinas

so why do they still build long keel boats and why should someone buy one?