"No mooring alongside"

[Iain C]

I've recently seen some popular harbours with moorings get close to capacity, and some yacht owners put up the "no mooring alongside" boards as boats start to double up on moorings. So two questions...

1. What gives you the right to do that (not meant in a confrontational way). Whilst most people will try and raft on a similar sized, or even similar class boat, why are you exempt from rafting, if a well fendered, competently handled boat hails you?

2. If you have just completed a nightmare channel crossing, the crew are all knackered and the options are either a) ignore the sign and raft in a seaman like manner ignoring the sign, or b) drop the hook on a possibly exposed anchorage, what do you do?

I think I'd politely explain that my crew are tired and not capable of standing an anchor watch, and I am not prepared to risk my entire boat just because you feel that 5 fender-socked fenders is somehow likely to take a few microns off your gelcoat/paint if it blows up and do it anyway. I'd hope common sense would prevail, and if not, I'd do it anyway and tell them to call the harbourmaster in the morning if they have a problem with it.

You guys?

 

[Woodlouse]

I've recently seen some popular harbours with moorings get close to capacity, and some yacht owners put up the "no mooring alongside" boards as boats start to double up on moorings. So two questions...

1. What gives you the right to do that (not meant in a confrontational way). Whilst most people will try and raft on a similar sized, or even similar class boat, why are you exempt from rafting, if a well fendered, competently handled boat hails you?

2. If you have just completed a nightmare channel crossing, the crew are all knackered and the options are either a) ignore the sign and raft in a seaman like manner ignoring the sign, or b) drop the hook on a possibly exposed anchorage, what do you do?

I think I'd politely explain that my crew are tired and not capable of standing an anchor watch, and I am not prepared to risk my entire boat just because you feel that 5 fender-socked fenders is somehow likely to take a few microns off your gelcoat/paint if it blows up and do it anyway. I'd hope common sense would prevail, and if not, I'd do it anyway and tell them to call the harbourmaster in the morning if they have a problem with it.

You guys?

I don't recall ever having seen a boat with their own 'no mooring alongside' signs. In some ports the harbour master starts handing them out, I presume so he can maintain some kind of order has to how the harbour fills. I remember once arriving in Lymington, being directed along side another boat by the harbour master and then he asked me to fetch the 'no mooring' sign off the boat that was three in from us and rig it on my guard rails since the channel was started to get a bit narrow.

If I did see one though, under the circumstances you describe I would just ignore the sign and go alongside anyway.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I've seen the signs a few times.

If the boat is on a private mooring then they are entitled to put up such a sign if they wish.

If the boat is on a public mooring, and the sign isn't the harbourmasters, it's just rude and really deserves a similarly rude response. TBH though I usually go elsewhere as I don't want to be alongside a snotty yotty. If it's late at night etc; just tie up.

 

[MASH]

If it's late at night etc; just tie up.

...and don't bitch one word when he leaves scant hours later at oh four fuggsake...

 

[Rigger Mortice]

...and don't bitch one word when he leaves scant hours later at oh four fuggsake...

Correct. If somebody wants to leave that's fine by me, whatever the hour.

If they've put out a sign saying that they want to leave at 6.00am, I'll even get up and wake them up if it is getting a bit late for their early departure.

 

[l'escargot]

I don't recall ever having seen a boat with their own 'no mooring alongside' signs. In some ports the harbour master starts handing them out, I presume so he can maintain some kind of order has to how the harbour fills. I remember once arriving in Lymington, being directed along side another boat by the harbour master and then he asked me to fetch the 'no mooring' sign off the boat that was three in from us and rig it on my guard rails since the channel was started to get a bit narrow.

If I did see one though, under the circumstances you describe I would just ignore the sign and go alongside anyway.

In Lymington there is a maximum of 5 in a raft on the town quay and 3 at the slipway end. Anymore and you block the channel. The fisherman won't be shy of bouncing off you or moving you when they come in and out. To block the channel off by increasing the raft size would not be acceptable and that is why they put out the no mooring alongside signs.

Some pontoons in Cowes are annual berth holders, not visitors berths, and you rent a berth with no rafting outside of you. A visitor choosing to raft alongside is not unlike them choosing to park their car next to you on your drive because the public car park is full. Again not acceptable.

 

[clyst]

I've recently seen some popular harbours with moorings get close to capacity, and some yacht owners put up the "no mooring alongside" boards as boats start to double up on moorings. So two questions...

1. What gives you the right to do that (not meant in a confrontational way). Whilst most people will try and raft on a similar sized, or even similar class boat, why are you exempt from rafting, if a well fendered, competently handled boat hails you?

2. If you have just completed a nightmare channel crossing, the crew are all knackered and the options are either a) ignore the sign and raft in a seaman like manner ignoring the sign, or b) drop the hook on a possibly exposed anchorage, what do you do?

I think I'd politely explain that my crew are tired and not capable of standing an anchor watch, and I am not prepared to risk my entire boat just because you feel that 5 fender-socked fenders is somehow likely to take a few microns off your gelcoat/paint if it blows up and do it anyway. I'd hope common sense would prevail, and if not, I'd do it anyway and tell them to call the harbourmaster in the morning if they have a problem with it.

You guys?[/QUOTE

Anchor watch ?? Not done one of those since buying a GPS yonks ago . Set the alarm and night night . Oh and got a Rocna for added peace of mind !!

 

[Elessar]

OK then, you are in your cockpit having a well earned, cool sundowner after a long sail, and I turn up in my fugly block of flats with 2 burbling diesels.
I ask to come alongside.
Before I state some of the responses I've actually had from raggies, what do YOU say?
What do you think other raggies say?

 

[robmcg]

OK then, you are in your cockpit having a well earned, cool sundowner after a long sail, and I turn up in my fugly block of flats with 2 burbling diesels.
I ask to come alongside.
Before I state some of the responses I've actually had from raggies, what do YOU say?
What do you think other raggies say?

I say " do you have any gin on board your palace - I have some ice"

 

[Rigger Mortice]

, what do YOU say?

If it is appropriate for your boat to be alongside mine; "May I take your lines?"

If it isn't; "Sorry, but I don't think you can safely be alongside me". I can't recall ever having to to say that though. FWIW I can't recall many occasions when I've had a stinkpot alongside me.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Not once in a decade has anyone tried to tie up to me. They look at my boat, decide they can't figure out what to tie on to, and go somewhere else. Or maybe it's my personality that does it.

 

[Sans Bateau]

OK then, you are in your cockpit having a well earned, cool sundowner after a long sail, and I turn up in my fugly block of flats with 2 burbling diesels.
I ask to come alongside.
Before I state some of the responses I've actually had from raggies, what do YOU say?
What do you think other raggies say?

I'd say, "Hey, good to see you, I think its your round".

 

[prv]

OK then, you are in your cockpit having a well earned, cool sundowner after a long sail, and I turn up in my fugly block of flats with 2 burbling diesels.
I ask to come alongside.
Before I state some of the responses I've actually had from raggies, what do YOU say?
What do you think other raggies say?

Well, assuming you're not such a massive block of flats that it's clearly inappropriate for you to be outside us, I say "sure, no problem" and get up to give you a hand with the lines.

Sadly I can believe you might get short shrift from some raggies though.

Also I would be unimpressed if the burbling diesels continued after you were securely moored, but given the price of fuel...

Pete

 

[prv]

I can't recall many occasions when I've had a stinkpot alongside me.

Nor me. Given the differing boat shapes and freeboard I think it generally works better if raggies and stinkies tie up to their own kind, and I know in Yarmouth for instance they do their best to stick to this. But if things do work out to put a motorboat alongside us, I certainly don't have a problem.

Pete

 

[Sans Bateau]

Not once in a decade has anyone tried to tie up to me. They look at my boat, decide they can't figure out what to tie on to, and go somewhere else. Or maybe it's my personality that does it.

Ah! That was your boat was it? Few years ago, you had it in Shepards Wharf, Cowes? We were directed to go alongside, I stepped on it and put a turn on a warp around a 'cleat' which immediately pulled out of a rotten deck. Quick word with the HM and he gave us another option. Turns out he had been trying to get a boat alongside you all morning, told me it had been abandoned. Sorry.

 

[lw395]

OK then, you are in your cockpit having a well earned, cool sundowner after a long sail, and I turn up in my fugly block of flats with 2 burbling diesels.
I ask to come alongside.
Before I state some of the responses I've actually had from raggies, what do YOU say?
What do you think other raggies say?

In my experience, it is a lot easier to sort the fendering between two stink boats or two yachts than one of each. Other than that, unless I was in a much smaller boat, I'd rather take your lines than be the outside boat when the stragglers barge in in the dark while I'm in the bar.
It often pays to be pro-active and offer fenders etc to the boats you think will be nice quiet neighbours, if that's what you want, or alternatively, those that look like they will be good fun.


I have had a motoryacht alongside me, it was so much higher they had difficulty getting down to our deck.

 

[lw395]

Ah! That was your boat was it? Few years ago, you had it in Shepards Wharf, Cowes? We were directed to go alongside, I stepped on it and put a turn on a warp around a 'cleat' which immediately pulled out of a rotten deck. Quick word with the HM and he gave us another option. Turns out he had been trying to get a boat alongside you all morning, told me it had been abandoned. Sorry.

One of my boats only had one cleat when I got it.

 

[JumbleDuck]

OK then, you are in your cockpit having a well earned, cool sundowner after a long sail, and I turn up in my fugly block of flats with 2 burbling diesels.
I ask to come alongside.
Before I state some of the responses I've actually had from raggies, what do YOU say?

"Sure. Do you want to go on the inside? It might be easier for both of us that way."

 

[l'escargot]

OK then, you are in your cockpit having a well earned, cool sundowner after a long sail, and I turn up in my fugly block of flats with 2 burbling diesels.
I ask to come alongside.
Before I state some of the responses I've actually had from raggies, what do YOU say?
What do you think other raggies say?

If I was on a visitors berth and there was another motorboat you could berth alongside I might suggest that to you as an alternative as it would be easier access for you, with a similar boat layout. If not I would offer to take your lines. If I was on a private berth with no rafting or the rafting limit had been reached, I would say sorry you can't come alongside and explain why.

If the positions were reversed, I would probably go somewhere else because I find very few motorboats have been designed with any thought given to access across them from a sailing boat in a raft. In fact I would go as far to say that very few have been designed with any thought given to rafting alongside any other boat, power or sail, and perhaps they shouldn't raft at all.

 

[Elessar]

OK some more details:

I won't try if the inside boat is obviously much smaller or otherwise inappropriate.

I carry 2 big ball fenders for mooring alongside - allows my flat side to safely rest against a curved yacht.

So it comes down to a how do you treat, and think others treat, a stinker question.