Pile Mooring -- Single Handed

[Mark-1]

A different mooring would certainly be my first choice! But I've owned this boat for 17 years and single hand her a lot. I've sailed her as far North as Northern Greenland amongst the icebergs and as far East as Russia. Definitely not changing her for something smaller!

Is there some kind of web presence of those amazing adventures? Website or Facebook. Sounds utterly brilliant.

 

[Dockhead]

Fair enough - but big boat plus Solent generally equals big bills. If want lower cost mooring something has to compromise - but safety (for skipper and boats) when berthing wouldn’t be my first thing to compromise.

If I can't figure out how to get onto this mooring safely, then I'll give it up, of course. But I think it's doable.

Oh, and by the way, for you guys who think this boat is too big for a pile mooring -- the next person on the waiting list from me owns a Moody 64! And has taken up another pile-only mooring with no pontoon!

 

[Dockhead]

Is there some kind of web presence of those amazing adventures? Website or Facebook. Sounds utterly brilliant.

I'm a rather private person, so no web presence, but I could put some snaps on my profile page.

 

[Mark-1]

I'm a rather private person, so no web presence, but I could put some snaps on my profile page.

TBH, I'd hate to intrude so no pressure, but if you did I suspect a few people would be grateful, me included. (Grateful, but slightly jealous.)

 

[Dockhead]

Likewise, the (happily very few) times I was given a visitors mooring with pilings I provided entertainment for people all around.
The lassoing of one of the pilings first time lassoed my solar panels, second time lassoed also a few of the antennas I have on the stern, twisting their supports; the relief came from the anchor I had on the davit which after having bumped into the concrete pontoon got finally blocked against it, stopping the boat. More lassoing attempts from the boat confirmed that s really not my cup of tea.

I've had my own adventures getting onto those; luckily no damage.

But when it's your own mooring you can pre-rig the lines which makes it a lot easier. Also, it's allowed to rig a line between the piles.

There has got to be an efficient way to do this.

 

[Dockhead]

This might be a crazy idea... but would a very well fendered and secured dinghy midway between the piles effectively be a temporary pontoon? ie. you'd come alongside the tender, initially secure to the tender, then attach main lines to your boat.

Doesn't sound crazy at all. Could work. Or if not secure to the tender, have the strops lying in it. I'm center cockpit so a tender centred between the piles would be at the right place for me to get to easily.

After sleeping on it, I'm thinking that I might have temporary leading lines through BOTH bow and stern cleats, one end on winches and the other ends brought to the cockpit. If I could get to both strops from midships, I could tie or clip on to both at once, then simply winch them in. Bow line on a big electric winch which could pull it right in, and I can use it from the helm position so giving a bit of engine power if it's needed.

In a strong side wind, however, it's likely to be unfeasible single handed. At least, I haven't thought of how to deal with that.

 

[Egret]

Try approaching the dinghy head to tide and on the windward side and with the dinghy ropes fairly taut on the piles, nose slightly in ahead of the dinghy so the tide tends to take you onto the dinghy - and you should lay alongside for a few moments while you pick up the ropes - isn't there a local yard who could help

 

[ylop]

I've been in all kinds of situations on this boat in 50,000+ miles and 17 years of my ownership, much of them single handed. So far never bashed or even scratched another boat (touch wood).

But presumably none of them with piles and no pontoon or you wouldn't be asking!

Oh, and by the way, for you guys who think this boat is too big for a pile mooring -- the next person on the waiting list from me owns a Moody 64! And has taken up another pile-only mooring with no pontoon!

Does he single hand though?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

would start with a heavy floating or buoyed line between the rings and as suggested the bow and stern lines pre attached to the rings and each other. Securing to the floating line at midships should give you time to get the Iines secured to the boat.

 

[PeterV]

On my Hamble pile mooring I put two mooring lines of the right length on each pile, with a pick up line and buoy between them (to which I usually secured the dinghy). I nearly always moored singlehanded but in a smaller boat. I’d come into tide to the berth, pick up the buoy amidships with the boathook and then chase the line to the bow or stern mooring lines, whichever were up tide/wind (whichever was strongest). I’d then proceed leisurely to the other end to secure the other two lines. My biggest problem was in strong cross winds when I had to be quick before the bow blew off downwind. Otherwise it wasn’t difficult.