Post mooring

[ians]

Good Morning All
Need some advise on mooring, Im sure there is a proper name for this type of mooring but have now idea what.
Its the moorings which have no pontoon fingers, they just have a post or buoy to attatch to the front of the boat. never done this before and would appreciate any tips and advise on these types of moorings and how to moor on them



many Thanks


ian

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

You will need 2 long ropes, length depending on distance between piles (posts) or buoys and at least one crew member. As with any mooring manouvre, approach against wind or tide whichever is stronger. Slowly motor upto the forward pile/buoy and try to hold station next to it or, with a pile, you can gently rest the bow against the pile. Attach the forward line by looping it through the ring of the pile or the buoy and bringing it back on board. Let the boat move backwards (in tide or wind) or use the engines whilst crew pays out forward line but don't allow too much slack so as to allow bow to slew around. Once bathing platform has reached rear pile/buoy, forward line can be tied off and crew can proceed to stern and attach aft line again by looping it through ring and bringing it back on board. Again bathing platform can be rested gently against pile to facilitate this. Once aft line is attached, either crew or helmsman has to go forward and pull in forward line whilst aft line is paid out until boat is central between both piles/buoys. You may need to use a bit of engine power to do this if wind or tide is strong
With buoys this process is more difficult as it is harder to reach down to the rings and some kind of attaching implement (forgotten what they're called but you get them in swindleries) is very useful.
An alternative procedure is to lead both lines to the bathing platform and attach them to each pile/buoy from there but it is more difficult to hold the boat steady by doing it this way and there is the risk that the forward line gets tangled in the props.
With practice this procedure is quite easy but as with any mooring manouvre, its best to do it when wind and/or tide are weakest until you and your crew gain confidence in doing it

 

[ians]

Mike

Thats brill, thank you very very much


Regards


ian

 

[Talbot]

if there is a strong wind, and youare really inexperienced in this, it is easier to drive the boat stern first up wind towards the pile, as the boat will naturally turn into the wind, and also a very slow speeds it is much easier to control where the stern is going than the bow. Once the stern is secured if the wind is directly from one pile to the other, just slack off on the stern rope until you can pass the bow line aeasily, then go astern again until n your chosen position. If the wind is blowing away from the piles. keep secured astern, and use your dinghy to pass the bow rope, then using a combination o f bow thruster and heaving in of the bow rope you will get into place. Remeber it is very easy to damage the boat (and neighbouring vessels) when doing this, so the long method above will be the safe way until you get a bit more confidence in this procedure

If you dont have a bow thruster, then use the dinghy and outboard to push against the bow.

 

[DPH]

This months MBM had an article on mooring to piles and buoys.

For piles they said first bow into the wind or tide whichever is stronger, and tie up.

Then they suggest you leave enough slack on the rope so you can get your stern quarters resting on the rear pile and then tie this. Never seen anyone do this and can't imagine how gentle you'd have to be to stop a barnacle from scratching your lovely shiny GRP.

IMHO duff advice unless no wind/tide/wash.

 

[Talbot]

Next time there is a strong wind I suggest that you try this - you might be surprised. It is obvious to even the newest helm that the end of most boats that is blown round easiest is the bow. now there are several ways of dealing with that especially when you know how to, ranging from the other advice given before through to using a fender and leaning on the first post while a rope is passed. But all of these require a modicum of knowledge. I was trying to provide a means which would provide the easiest and safest way to do it until there was sufficient expertise to do it the way the "experts" recommend.

 

[Talbot]

Another thought on your description of my advice as being duff do please try to secure to two piles (or even bows such as in Lymington harbour when single handed. My method works, I have had lots of entertainment watching others trying to emulate the professionals.

 

[ians]

Mark & Dave

Thanks for advise


ian

 

[Talbot]

some posts have a solid steel bar attached parrallel with the post which has a mooring ring on it. To stop chafe and provide the best attachment to the post, you need to be connected via this ring. However it is normally at the base of the steel bar, and although when new there may be a bit of rope to heave it up, this soon perishes. Furthermore it is quite heavy and awkward for the weaker crew to hold ring with one hand and thread rope with the other. Best initially to just pass the rope through the between the bar and the post , and sort it out from the dinghy afterward. indeed in extremis, you can just pass a loop right over the post .


This definitely a manoeuvre that needs practice with zero wind and tide until you feel confident and start to increase the wind/tide effects.

 

[DPH]

Hi Mark,

I did preface my remark with IMHO so you have no right to get lairy!!!!

I take your point about being single-handed but I still couldn’t bare the thought of nice shiny GRP sliding up and down a barnacle encrusted pile.

Some other bits of advice come to mind for piles, this is my limited experience so cannot guarantee it’s good.

1. Never split a mooring rope between cleats/fairleads, eg. Don’t cleat one end of the rope to the Port side, round the pile and then the other to the starboard cleat. As the boat swings around it will pull on one side and then the other causing the rope to slide and hence fraying.
3. If it’s windy take a turn around the pile, this will help reduce any movement of the rope and reduce risk of fraying.
4. Use a rope with stretch in it. This is something you’ll only ever do once if it gets windy and there’s no other boat next to you. This applies especially to Mobos with planning keels. On our first weekend away on the new boat we stayed at Yarmouth on the piles. The boat came with rope suitable for tying fenders on not mooring. Spent must of the night with very little sleep as the boat blew about from side to side with an awful tug as the rope became taught on each oscillation. Incredibly fortunately, I ventured onto deck just as the rope snapped and managed to hold the boat of the rear pile. Again fortunately Yarmouth Harbour Master was already up in his dory and sped over to assist.

 

[Talbot]

[ QUOTE ]
Use a rope with stretch in it

[/ QUOTE ]

On the surface, the concept of using a springy rope is good, because it will reduce those shock loads. however, there is another side to this (isnt there always) The springy rope will cause a great deal more chafe! therefore you will need to watch this aspect very carefully. This is particullarly true if you have had to secure to the bar rather than the mooring ring, but even a rope doubled through the ring will have the same problem if it is springy enough, there will also be chafe at the fairleads. That is why it is better to use a rope withe very little stretch plus some device to put the springiness back into the line such as the rubber snubber

 

[ians]

Thank you all.
So right, now do all the front posts have rings on, if they do not is it best to use a bowline round the post and back to the boat ? just a single line ? Looking at it I would have thought that two ropes from the front post both sides of the boat would have been the way to do it, so thank you for pointing that one out.
We are a mobo, so will proberbly pop a couple of fenders over the bathing platform just to cover any rear end scrapes.
Hopefully we will not end up on any of this type of mooring, but I would rather have a idea of how to actually moor on them than having to think about how to do it when we are 2 minutes away.

So many many thanks


Ian

 

[DPH]

Ian, Think we may have confused you, the front post is just the post you tie the front of the boat to, up to you to decide which one that is.

I think all of us above suggested ways of determining which way round you should moor taking into account wind, tide and your ability. The reality though is that if you end up mooring with your stern into the wind your partner will demand that you turn the boat around forthwith!

Would suggest you give it a go and try it. It’s not that hard unless there’s a strong wind/tide. You always have the option of getting one end tied up first and swinging for a bit while you get the tender out.

 

[ians]

Thanks Dave

We are on a trip to Holland in 3 weeks, looking at some of the cruising guides I spotted that some of the marinas were post to pontoon mooring wich we have never encountered before.
So all replys have given us some ideas of what to do, now its try it and see.

Many thanks of your help


Ian