Oostende. How long a stern line do we need?

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rays

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We are planning our first trip to Oostende (as part of a cruise to Holland) in a weeks' time. Having just read the Oostende reports and looked at the photos, I feel that we need a really long mooring warp to run as a slip to the pesky stern mooring buoy. How long should this be? Are all the berths like this? Also, given that long coils of line get very heavy and unwieldy ( and we are not so young these days) I would prefer to go for a lightweight (but sensible option). We are 40'. What diameter line would anyone recommend.

CD

PS Thanks to Duncan for lending us the Almanak!
 
I had 30m of 12mm and it was a tad short for my 31 footer. For a 40 footer it should just be enough.

It is possible to raft up on a central pontoon and presumably HM will be happy with that if you haven't got a long rope or just don't want to moor bows or stern to.
 
Ours is 44' and is 13 tons.

I use 20m of 14mm - just about enough.
25 or 30m should be just fine for you.

If there's still enough time, get one of these.

A doddle to use (did it singlehanded last week), and there's no risk of your line being worn through when there's a bit of a swell.
 
I have a 26 footer. Used 40 metres of a 50 metre length of 12 mm. My understanding is that the bigger boats are allowed to raft up. I wasn't allowed to raft up when I last visited because, as a small boat, I would get squashed when a bigger boat wanted to raft alongside.

Guapa's meathook thingy looked easy to use, but I wondered if it would come loose if things got bouncy. In Scandinavia, I've seen people use a sort of giant snap shackle which seemed a much better idea.
 
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Guapa's meathook thingy looked easy to use, but I wondered if it would come loose if things got bouncy. In Scandinavia, I've seen people use a sort of giant snap shackle which seemed a much better idea.

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According to Robert - on whose recommendation I got me one of those - these things never come loose. It's just a matter of keeping adequate tension on your line.

I've tried snap shackles in the past - if you have a high freeboard, these things are very hard to attach, and even harder to release. And impossible if there's a swell.
 
Is the meat hook thing really that simple?

As I am simple too can you confirm my assumption is correct - the open 'u' shaped end goes over the ring of the buoy and your warp is the other end onto the stern of boat and your bow line onto the pontoon keeps the whole thing tight? What is the smaller bit of metal for? Sorry to be particularly thick but I have man flu today as well!

Interested to hear Guapa could moor stern to a buoy single handed - I would be worried about getting something round the rudder / prop etc (sorry not intended to be in poor taste) or ramming the bow whilst completing this on my own. After all I managed to take a lump out of the bow tying up (or to be more precise NOT tying up the midships spring I was motoring onto) in Ramsgate!
 
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Is the meat hook thing really that simple?


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Pretty much

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As I am simple too can you confirm my assumption is correct - the open 'u' shaped end goes over the ring of the buoy and your warp is the other end onto the stern of boat and your bow line onto the pontoon keeps the whole thing tight?


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U shape goes over the buoy ring as you said - warp tied (not lead through) to the other end. Split and lead through the fairlead either side aft. Secure unto a winch - not a cleat. It's far easier to adjust tension that way.

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What is the smaller bit of metal for?


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Dunno - only got the larger one

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Interested to hear Guapa could moor stern to a buoy single handed - I would be worried about getting something round the rudder / prop etc


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I 'cheated' - had been there three weeks before, so knew how much warp I woul need to let out. Secured ends to the winches, then flaked out the rest on deck. Once hook secured, I ever so gently nudged forward. Warp took care of itself then - as the boat proceeded more was let out.
To be fair, there was a kind soul ashore to take my bow lines.
 
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