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 with a workboat who could help you with the ropes until you get the hang of it.

 

[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.

 

[Dockhead]

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

OK, thanks, that sounds sensible. That's kind of what I was thinking.

There is a local yard, from whom I may be renting a dinghy berth, but I would hate to ask for help getting onto a mooring!!

 

[Dockhead]

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

Does he single hand though?

I've been on pile moorings before with no pontoon, but not single handed.

As to the M64 -- I don't know, but possibly not. I'll ask him if I see him.

 

[Dockhead]

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.

OK, thanks for that. That sounds like a good idea. I guess if the line is a floating polyprop, that will be less risk of getting into the prop. Maybe with a float in the middle.

I could go up there during the high tide stand this weekend if it's calm and maybe get tied on normally, then get all that hooked up. Hmm.

Might be worth taking a long dinghy trip up the river and look at how others have done it.

 

[Dockhead]

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.

Now some concrete experience Thank you for that.

One question to you -- you tie either end of the pickup line to the mooring strops/lines of both piles? So the pickup line is roughly the length of your boat? You don't untie it once your tied off, but just leave it on deck?

And do you use two mooring strops/lines per pile, or only one?

In order to avoid running up to the bow, which is pretty far on my boat, I think I will try the temporary line through the bow cleat. I can then get the mooring strop/line hardened up from the cockpit.

Strong cross winds are what I'm really afraid of. I do have a 10hp bow thruster which will help with the bow, but so far I think that above 15 knots or so of cross wind it just won't be possible, or at least, not safe.

 

[sigma38dave]

Book the local sailing school to give you a days ‘own boat tuition’ and when the instructor arrives mug him with it.

Don’t mention any of your previous experience and say something like….‘Hi I’m Dockhead, I’ve just bought this boat after watching some sailing on YouTube, I just need you to show me how to park it between these two piles on my own a few times before I head to the Mediterranean,’

 

[Babylon]

There is a local yard, from whom I may be renting a dinghy berth, but I would hate to ask for help getting onto a mooring!!

Actually - before reading of your pointless pride, and whatever your mechanical solution for between these piles - I'd have said your best option would be to retain a local hired hand to help you when you moor/unmoor. What price cocking it up, not just to your boat but to other people's in a crowded environment? And how often each season are you likely to come and go anyway?

NB: whilst I don't have a twentieth of your geographic mileage and only single-hand a boat a tenth of your tonnage or whatever, I also take pride in getting it right, and in 19 years of ownership have never hit or damaged anyone or anything even in severe conditions of wind and tide on the Hamble or anywhere else at sea or in harbour - yet for me discretion is always the better part of valour and I'd readily ask for help if it's on hand to reduce unnecessary risk.

 

[Poignard]

Book the local sailing school to give you a days ‘own boat tuition’ and when the instructor arrives mug him with it.

Don’t mention any of your previous experience and say something like….‘Hi I’m Dockhead, I’ve just bought this boat after watching some sailing on YouTube, I just need you to show me how to park it between these two piles on my own a few times before I head to the Mediterranean,’

It's a good idea to get an experienced instructor to show you how to do it and practice a few times.

That's how I learned the technique I described in my post #11.

It was in 1997 and, if I remember correctly, we went to Wootton Creek to use the piles that were there then. I think they have now been replaced with a pontoon.

 

[Neeves]

You guys on smaller boats apparently don't really understand that a larger boat is much more stable and mostly easier to handle in close quarters than a smaller one. The only issue is the distance you have to go from the cockpit to do stuff single handed, which requires time and planning.

Its not every day that anyone mentions that our 38' cat, with a 22'6" beam is a small boat. But I might partially understand why you sail single handed.

It merits mention, those of us with small boats and don't have 50,000nm under our keels and can claim sailing in high latitudes spend more time mooring our craft than anyone crossing an ocean. As we move up the size ladder of our owned yachts we develop the skills for the craft we own. Personally I prefer to have company and share the experience. We sold Josepheline when I grew to the ago of maturity and we were not using her as intended when we were younger and had her built.

I crewed on big Schionnings for a couple whe never sailed their cat without crew, friends and neighbours. I never saw the point of owning a monster yacht if you could not sail it single handed, whether making long passages or mooring.

Size does not impress

Each to their own.

Jonathan