Rafting up

M

mrloudly

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Did anyone read the "Moaning" letters about "Rafting Up" in one of the mag's last month? (Can't remember which). I can't see the problem. We've already met some great people through mooring alongside. These idiot's were saying "It shouldn't be allowed". I always thought boating was about common interests and helping each other. Is it just the raggies that don't like it because they arrive late and have no choice:-))))))

<hr width=100% size=1>Andy M
 
Theres a strong etequete to rafting up. Those that follow the rules generally enjoy it. Those that dont will have a rough time of it. In the West country it is very common to be rafted. This is fine till some d**k heads from the Solent turn up and treat other folks boats like an extention to the pontoon. Or like last time I was in Dartmouth. Said to the guy on the outside of me, that I was going in a few minutes and he said. YOU THINK YOU ARE!! Hmm. So I went!!

<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
 
Your correct, it's the inconsiderate that cause a problem....on Poole Quay this summer I was the inside boat and not only did I have to ask the seven boats outboard if they would mind putting out shorelines as they only rafted to me not the wall but almost received a smack in the mouth when I chastised a chap who used my guard rails as a ladder then walked through my cockpit whilst we were eating. I'm a raggie, all the boats outboard were too........3 with blue dusters.


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We haven't had too many problems rafting up, the only two were from raggies who took the p**s out of our 'tupperware' boat. We're always careful to do the job properly and follow strictly all the rules of etiquette. (In fact we were congratulated by a raggie in Lymington for being so professional..a bit patronising I guess but still nice to hear!).

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I agree with you. Rafting up is fact of life in many crowded harbours and my attitude is that anyone who is a bit sniffy about being rafted up against ought to bugger off and moor somewhere else
Having said this, conventions such as putting out shorelines, asking permission to cross someone else's boat, taking hard soled shoes off, not running generators until the wee small hours etc should be rigorously observed

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Ok so lets have a number of points to observe when rafting up, Some people don't know all.

1/ pass the port to the left (must be socialble!)

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Back to the same time at dartmouth, broke down when prop shaft fell off. First a 50Ft boat moored along side. He did not want stern lines on because father would have to duck under it. It was all electric so generator was used for every cup of tea and whatever. Got ride of that eventually, then a taxi came and dropped his customers in my cockpit whilst I was snoozing. Then three boats came having a party, so my swim platform became the pontoon, kids play area and dinghy park. I did not mind the loud music all night as I went to the pub. It was after all this when he told me that I could not move!!

<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
 
1/ ask permision. It's only polite.
2/ Let the bloke be involved as to where he wants your ropes.
3/ Put out fore and stern lines to the shore or to buoy. It's safer anyway. But piddes folk off if you dont.
4/ Alway ask to board others boat if possible. But anyway always walk round the bow, not over coach roof and never through cockpit
5/ Ensure boat is berthed and fendered to the satisfaction of the inside boat.
6/ Try to make conversasion and become friendly if at all possible. Your his guest after all.

<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
 
I suppose there's good and bad with everything. You'll always get some ar.ehole who thinks he can do what he wants with no regards for the neighbours. Thing is I guess the original post was just putting the other side forward. It can be good, and I've met interesting, decent people through it. Maybe if the RYA included more on the etiquette side of rafting in their day skipper sylabus it would be better.

<hr width=100% size=1>Andy M
 
To be honest I seem to spend a lot of time on the south coast rafted up and usually it is a joy. Meet some great people and had some good times. I think that the episode in Poole was a RNSA get together and of course they are the "professionals". Probably ex Supply officers who have never driven a boat but can because they are ex Andrew.
Most of the stinkies down Saf seem to behave quite well in raft up situations. Only exceptions being the little speed boat owners who have more than once tied up to be when I've been at anchor.

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Moving from inside the raft is sometimes tricky particularly if some raggie thinks he's got to go at sparrow's fart. I usually gently suggest that he moves to the outside of the raft to save everyone being woken up at some ungodly hour but simply refusing to let you out is not cricket so you would have had every right IMHO to cast the bounder adrift

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had a MB moored up next to me in Cowes. Was the first time I had rafted and was a bit put out. That was until the SHMBO of the rafter started parading about in her cabin, topless. I soon changed my mind. My wife had to pour water over me.
What a lark
Phil

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Re: Ranting on

Cannot be my wife you saw,otherwise you would have been outta there like a shot./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.
 
Easy to get out of inside of raft. Just undo yourself from pontoon. Take whole raft out a bit, turn them round and park them up. Saves disturbing there lunch.

<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
 
I don't want to get into an argument with anyone but I generally find it's a sailing yacht who objects to me rafting to them and yet they have no problem rafting to me in numbers with NO shore lines!

Once had 8 sailing yachts rafted onto me at East Ferry pier (situated in a channel with a 6/7 knot tidal flow) . Not one of them put a line ashore and as a result the line of boat was in the shape of a crescent moon pointing downstream. A good thing I have extra strong warps!

I don't mind anyone rafting to me (they always normally do anyway) but it would be nice to get a little bit of consideration!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.begleys.com/kevin/weather.htm>Useful links for when cruising in Irish waters.</A>
 
Didn't know they were there 'till we came back from the pub and then we stood looking in amazement at the sight.

Took a bow line from the nearest yacht to the pier and then we reversed out.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.begleys.com/kevin/weather.htm>Useful links for when cruising in Irish waters.</A>
 
On the river we get a very different attitude to Rafting.

In Poole you very rarely find a mixture of stinkies and raggies on the same raft - raggies are usually "just about to leave" when a MB comes alongside.

On the River Severn all the boats are MB's hence one problem removed.

This year at the Upton Water Festival we were 8/9 deep - with narrowsboats (some 70 footers) included. Of course there is always a current but always in the same direction. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif Shore lines we put out on 3 or 4 of the baots in the raft to support the drag and ALWAYS on the outside boat.
Anyway - The guy we moored alongside (first time we had met him) INSISTED we went thro his cockpit, as it was safer for the kids. Beer, wine, coffee and various foods were passed between the boats all weekend. He even got his Sea Magnet out when one of my kids dropped the torch over the side and recovered it for me.

Now I have the best of BOTH worlds - river and sea - relaxation on the river and excitment of the sea. Long live trailer boating.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian - <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>More Pics of Kelisha</A> /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
 
Re cleats

which is a bit of an issue for me when they utilise the 'obvious' ones (fitted to secure the tender on snap davits) rather than the mooring cleats 'hidden' on the stern - Spanish boat designed for stern to mooring.
The good thing about a nice crescent shaped raft is the ease with which you can leave it 'upstream' !

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