Rafting up etiquette

[Joe_Cole]

In the latest (November) PBO there is a letter about Rafting up. The writer says ".....It is an absolute and non-negotiable requirement of good manners that would-be rafters get permission before tying up. If the owner is not on board, do not raft up."

Do you agree?

Personally I think that it is only good manners to ask, but if nobody is on board, or it is late at night, I raft up. On the assumption that we are talking about a berth where rafting up is expected, if somebody refuses permission for no good reason I will still raft up.

Of course, all the usual comments about putting out all the appropriate lines, not crossing through his cockpit, keeping noise down etc apply. But it seems to me that it is just good manners to allow somebody to come alongside. If somebody wants privacy then they should moor up somewhere else.

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[webcraft]

In Scotland it's indisputably bollocks.

If I come into somewhere as darkness is falling, there's no possibility of anchoring and all alongside berths are taken then I will most assuredly raft up whether or not there's anyone on board. I have often come into places where the alternative is a long and very uncomfortable night at sea.

Of course I always ask if there's anyone on board, but it's a formality - up here no-one would dream of refusing. If you are onshore and you return to find two boats rafted up outside you then it's no surprise and no problem.


If you are in an alongside berth you can and should expect to be rafted up to. Certain rules apply . . . essentially, you should always try to raft up outside a vessel the same size or larger than yourself, and you must take your own lines ashore.

Whoever wrote this is an idiot. Where do they sail?

Please excuse me for mincing my words, I would be more annoyed but at least I haven't wasted any money this month paying to read this twaddle.

- Nick


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[l'escargot]

I would put it the other way round - if you are somewhere that there is a high likelihood of you being rafted, and it is approaching the time when you can expect other sailors to be coming in, you should remain on board until someone rafts on the outside of you.
It is most probably in your best interests and if you don't, you can't complain when you return and find you have three 40 foot charter boats tide loosely to the outside of your 25 footer!

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[oldsalt]

I totally agree!

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[jac]

I think is is rubbish - go alongside providing the other boat is suitable and you're not blocking the fairway.

Who ever wrote this has obviously never sailed anywhere crowded!!

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[Magic_Sailor]

You\'re quite right

Assuming there are no other reasonablr alternatives.

Magic

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[AndrewB]

OK in UK but not everywhere.

Try rafting up to a vacant boat on a visitor's berth in the USA, and when he returns he'll feel well within his rights to cut you loose.

I made that mistake!

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[Guest]

I may be wrong ....... but no-one has the right to refuse unless it is liable to cause damage / risk etc. or is unreasonable.

I think many ike I have had the b----d who has waved you OFF - saying 'No rafting here' ----- or the guy who hangs the baord ..... No mooring alongside .... despite the fact that they are Visitor to same facility.

I have actually seen a Harbour Master 'have a go' at a boat that turned another away, when the harbour was near full. The cheeky b----d was actually rafted alongside another !!

It is hoped that most would consider using the appropriate boat to raft against - as obviously there are some bad combinations - my stanchions know all about that !!!. It is good manners to show intentions and watch for reaction etc. from boat you wish to raft to.
You can normally tell who is OK ..... they have fenders out in case.

Bembridge ...... only suitable boat for me - others were more modern high freeboard jobs and already rafted 2/3 - was on his own and matched my boat. He had no fenders out and did not want to help me come alongside - just sat there with his pal. Finally he understood that I was going to do it !! He took the bow-line and held it waiting for me or the lass to go over and finish it off ....... by the way he had a Blue Ensign - but that's another matter - I had 2 well placed fenders. I put another once tied up. No thyanks to him or any 'hello' !!
So I now have MY fenders out, none from him ... we've done all the work.
I want to go ashore so set-up inflatable. I get into tender and wait lass. A call from 'him' - "OI - what about more fenders ???" ..... pardon ? "put more fenders..." So I get out and put another fender, nicely enquiring where are his ..... no answer. I am not amused and when getting back into dinghy - promptly fell in the b----y harbour ......... I will NEVER ever forget that boat .......... Cost me a new Mobile ohone etc.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Neraida]

I agree. I would consider it to be extemely bad manners for another boat to use stanchions or winches on a boat to raft up. We have to be careful as we are only 28 feet and have very little freeboard so when rafting, try to make sure that we are out of the way or on the boat so that if someone comes along and wants to raft up, we just move on the outside. When harbour masters are involved in allocating a space for boats they always tend to be very sensible and considerate and won't allow a large yacht moor alongside a small one in my experience.

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[Jeremy_W]

>>>"...If the owner is not on board, do not raft up."
Not quite - some yachts on the outside of a raft tie their tender fore and aft alongside them before heading ashore. This is the nautical equivalent of a "Welcome" mat.


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[bedouin]

Yes - I have always thought of that as a very friendly idea.

I presume the idea is that you should use it as a big fender rather than having to deploy your own

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[tillergirl]

I think there does come a time when the raft is big enough. A couple of years ago in Calais we were number two to an absentee owner who had left his boat for a week. The weather was grim and each lock opening brought another twenty boats or so. Everybody was rafting up and eventually we had four substantial boats outside us , all to windward and you could sense the pressure. When we saw a seventh boat looking to join, we and the dutchman alongside us (on our behalf) asked them not to join on because of the conditions. They agreed and went against the wall the other side which as it happens was more sheltered if a little inconvient because there was no pontonn.

On a lighter note, we were in Cherbourg one year planning a 5am departure for Alderney on the end of the hammer head. Joined by one boat (not UK) who accepted that we would move at 5am. Went to bed and woke up at 4.30am to find there were eight now outside us. Only the first one had lines 'ashore' of course and the rest moved backwards and forwards quite a distance. We tried to slip out backwards intending to have one of our crew on the hammerhead to pull the swathe of boats in with the first raftee but everybody woke in turn. Bedlam ensued while 8 boats motored in circles trying to keep their turn and we lost an hour on our plan because it was bit hard to get the outside boats to understand that 'we want to go right now'.

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[Jeremy_W]

>>>Yes - I have always thought of that as a very friendly idea.

Indeed - another very friendly idea is:-
If the yacht inside you has said they have to be up at 0500 to catch the tide, set your alarm for 0445. If, on waking, you hear no sign of action alongside helpfully bang a winch handle against their mast half a dozen times before returning to bed with the satisfaction of a neighbourly act accomplished.

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[hlb]

I had a boat moored next to me the other week. I said. I'm going now. He said. You only think your going now!! So I took him with me.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[Guest]

GREAT MINDS think alike !! nm

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<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[Guest]

Small correction here ...

My stanchions are loose from too high freeboards boats and drying out pontoons 'pushing' them in.

I NEVER allow anyone to moor etc. to stanchions or winches when rafting. OK I use my main sheet winches as spring points - as they are strong points - but do not trust it for another boat.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
/forums/images/icons/cool.gif

 

[Violetta]

Judgement needed

Happily, we rarely raft. Our anchor serves us well. But we were in Southwold this summer and directed to raft against a lovely old West Solent One Design in cruising mode. Ours is a heavy boat.. It was clear to me that this was not on and so I asked the harbourmaster (a charming and efficient young women who loves wooden boats) for another berth - which she readily agreed. Once in to Southwold it's not a good idea to go out again, but nothing would have induced me to raft up as originally directed. I like WSODs.

I'm put in mind of an occasion many years ago in Ramsgate. Lots of boats were waiting to cross the channel at the right moment for the tide to deliver us to Calais. Big raft, mainly Dutch and Belgian. (Before the current pontoons in the outer harbour) We got so fed up with all the coming and going we decided to anchor for the night in Pegwell Bay. Consternation in the raft. Why were we going now? Did we not realise?...... Yes, we did, but we were going to anchor......But is it permitted? (!!!!!) Best of all - I would too, but my wife won't permit......

Why is it that SWMBO is always to blame when we chicken out?

Being S but not WMBO I don't have that excuse to fall back on.

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[Apetts]

I don't mind boats rafting along side, its what they do when they are there thats sometimes the problem. Last year after getting a racing boat snugged down alongside I returned down below to read my book. A few minutes later it went dark and all hell seemed to have been let loose on my deck. The cheeky blighters had only fetched their sails onto my boat and were using my decks to fold them. They seemed a little upset when told to clear off.

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[petery]

Sailing single-handed, I always put fenders out on both sides before I enter a harbour and I leave them all out in anticipation of others rafting against me when the situation allows.

Luckily this year, I've always found others who do the same and have had enjoyable conversations/drinks whenever I raft up against them.

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[LadyInBed]

I also rig fenders and lines both sides as I'm not always sure which side will be to, but once tied up, I move my outside fenders shoreside ever since I read a post here about outer fenders tangling with the fenders of an approaching boat. It seemed to make sense. If the outside boat to me hasn’t got adequate fenders, then I put more his side.
I have never considered fenders as a welcome mat.


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