Pile Mooring -- Single Handed

[Fr J Hackett]

So I'm on my new mooring. A forumite most kindly came along and helped, without which there's no way I would have managed it.

After the experience, I know less than I knew before, or let's say, I know more about what I don't know.

It was especially difficult because the light line connecting the two strops was too short, so we had to untie it to get both strops on board. Whilst the boat was not really tied to anything. There was 5 knots of cross wind and zero current (high tide stand) so almost ideal conditions, and still it was difficult.

We did try a leader line through a bow cleat and that helps somewhat.

Some way to stabilize the boat at least temporarily whilst getting the strops on would really be helpful. I thought about a static line, but how would you rig it? The range of tide here is more than 3 meters, so depending on state of tide it can be high overhead or underwater (which would be dangerous).

I'm going to go down the river this afternoon in the dinghy and try to see how others have done it.

A line with floats on it originally suggested that one in the middle but if that's not sufficient then a couple of others along the length of the static line. It sounds as though there are no iron risers that will help the line to rise and fall so rather than fixing the line to the pile some form of buoyant collar needs to be improvised so that there is not too much slack in the static line.

Edit
A quick thought for the floating collars: If they are still available the cork or whatever inshore net fishermen use on their nets threaded onto the line which is then made into a loop which can be done when moored or if it's possible to get the collar over the top of the pile then done ashore or again on board but the loop can be formed with a splice.
Alternatively use a largish diameter tube 3" in place of the floats filled with closed cell foam.

Three fenders threaded onto the line before making the last collar should ensure that it floats and is visible without much slack in it.

 

[Dockhead]

A line with floats on it originally suggested that one in the middle but if that's not sufficient then a couple of others along the length of the static line. It sounds as though there are no iron risers that will help the line to rise and fall so rather than fixing the line to the pile some form of buoyant collar needs to be improvised so that there is not too much slack in the static line.

Edit
A quick thought for the floating collars: If they are still available the cork or whatever inshore net fishermen use on their nets threaded onto the line which is then made into a loop which can be done when moored or if it's possible to get the collar over the top of the pile then done ashore or again on board but the loop can be formed with a splice.
Alternatively use a largish diameter tube 3" in place of the floats filled with closed cell foam.

Three fenders threaded onto the line before making the last collar should ensure that it floats and is visible without much slack in it.

Thanks for this.

There are big iron rings on a vertical rail which allows the strops to move up and down with the tide. But the rings are underwater at high tide, at least on a spring tide like yesterday.

One consideration with the static line is that it will be extremely dangerous if it's just underwater. I guess it would need floats along the whole length to prevent that, or maybe a floating polyprop line.

Or maybe mounted high enough to never be underwater, to be usable only at high tide.

I will also consult with the HM today to see if he has any insight.