Rafting up on a mooring buoy

[sprocker]

Can anyone advise/confirm on the correct method for rafting up from a mooring buoy please?

We will be two, possibly three boats, 1 x 50', 1 x 34' & 1 x 31'

The largest boat being 50' so I assume they will be centre, with the smaller boats either side.

Bow & stern lines with forward & aft springs.

Does each boat also need to have a line to the mooring buoy? Or just the centre boat?

 

[jrudge]

Bear in mind that it is relatively unlikely that the bouy was designed ( and more importantly its ground tether ) was designed to take that weight

 

[Lucky Duck]

Rafting is expected/common on visitors buoys in places like Salcome or Fowey, the ones in Chi harbour can take up to 6 boats!

 

[Bouba]

The correct etiquette is...don't do it! If you see me on a bouy or a dock, stay away

 

[Firefly625]

Can anyone advise/confirm on the correct method for rafting up from a mooring buoy please?

We will be two, possibly three boats, 1 x 50', 1 x 34' & 1 x 31'

The largest boat being 50' so I assume they will be centre, with the smaller boats either side.

Bow & stern lines with forward & aft springs.

Does each boat also need to have a line to the mooring buoy? Or just the centre boat?

yes all boats need a line to the mooring buoy, I was taught its not polite to hang off another boats lines, as well as the factor of strain on one line and 1 boats hardware, if you are tying up along side friends and its just a lunchtime stop over then perhaps excusable but for all reasons I said previously I still would put my own line to the buoy, why wouldn't you...

& Indeed lots of area's its common place to see a number of boats rafted on a single buoy, (so long as indicated to do so by someone who knows what weight a buoy can take! always assume there is a coke can filled with sand as the sinker until you know for sure!)

 

[sprocker]

Thankyou for your replies gents, we are all friends and rafting is a last resort just in case their is a shortage of moorings. It looks like there will only be the two of us now which should make things easier.

It will be overnight and I take your very good point on checking out the mooring capacity with the owners prior to rafting.

 

[jrudge]

Interesting this is allowed. Do they make an additional charge for sharing a bouy or just one?

In Mallorca rafting on bouys is specifically forbidden. I am thinking Cabrera, The Poseidon Bouys and Andraxt.

If you dont know the person rafting then I would imagine it makes a nice stop into something pretty lousy - why not just anchor up - free and no neighbours.

The poseidon bouys in Mallorca also carry a spefic warning printed on then they are only good for the planned length of boat and x knots of wind. It would be interesting to know how they calculate the safe load ... and 6 on one bouy ... i am not sure how that could possibly work.

Have they thought of laying more bouys I wonder?

 

[Lucky Duck]

http://www.conservancy.co.uk/page/visitors/324/

There are six visitors' moorings off Itchenor jetty which can take up to six vessels each depending on size

 

[prv]

why not just anchor up - free and no neighbours.
[...]
Have they thought of laying more bouys I wonder?

Answer to both is generally that there's no more space available.

Pete

 

[NorthUp]

Avoid having all the masts in line- especially if you are in an area prone to passing boat's wake.

 

[gjgm]

Only done this is Salcombe but the procedure from the HM is in effect each boat moors to the buoy, and then you take some lines to each other. Bear in mind there, you will all be swinging about with the tides , so don't lock on too keenly ! Easiest seems to be to take the tender out rather than ram every one else, and then lay back to similar swim platform levels.Given in Salcombe the chances are you have never met the next boat, perhaps that is some technique rather than social angle..dont know!