Rafting

lisilou

lisilou

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Is it just me or does anyone else tend to avoid places where rafting up looks likely. Never rafted and avoid it like the plague coz it makes me nervous and looks a bit complex to me (which ropes to tie where etc). Its a shame as there are places we'd like to go but don't because of the rafting situation. Have pictures of us getting stuck in the middle of other boats and having to wait for their return and worse, being cast adrift by someone not sure of what theyre doing or casting someone adrift because WE get it wrong!!

Lisa
 
Rafting's great fun. Get stuck in! You need lines at the bow and stern to the boat next door, plus springs running diagonally, and don't forget to run lines ashore or you're putting all the load on someone else's cleats.

Etiquette says you always go across the next boat's bows when going ashore not through their cockpit, unless invited to (which will usually involve alcohol).
 
lisilou said:
Is it just me or does anyone else tend to avoid places where rafting up looks likely. Never rafted and avoid it like the plague coz it makes me nervous and looks a bit complex to me (which ropes to tie where etc). Its a shame as there are places we'd like to go but don't because of the rafting situation. Have pictures of us getting stuck in the middle of other boats and having to wait for their return and worse, being cast adrift by someone not sure of what theyre doing or casting someone adrift because WE get it wrong!!

Lisa
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Lisa, and interesting post. For various reasons we don't tend to raft up, mainly as SWMBO is not as steady on her feet as she should be so clambering over lots of boats is a risk we don't take. However having grown up around boats rafting was always a way of life, especially at places like Yarmouth back in the day... (god I sound so old...and I'm really not!). We have just spent 2 weeks on the boat, mostly at Yarmouth and yes rafting up is still a way of life which I think is the wonderful fun part of Yarmouth, however the standard of rafting up today just is hilarious, people just don't know how to do it. But its no great mystery. Just as you secure your boat to a pontoon, you do the same to another boat, the important thing is to ensure your boat is parallel to the other boat, not bow or stern in, if you do the the next boat that comes along side will also be at an incorrect angle as as we observed in Yarmouth last week you get to a point where boats are sticking out wildly into the main channel and nobody can get past!

Just to be clear:
So you need your bow and stern lines and springs attached to the boat you have moored against, then you need shore lines, that is lines from your boat to the pontoon (so if your are 4 boats out you must ensure you have long enough lines to reach), fore & aft.

For example at Yarmouth if you intend to stay a few days normally the HM will not put you on a trot that is full of short stayers. It is the place where you meet other people because you need to establish if anyone inside of you is leaving before you and it is a bit of fun. Of course if you are the inside boat you might have 4 boat crews walking over your boat at all hours day and night... that's the down side. Or find that your neighbours want to leave at 5am.... but that's the joy of rafting up!
 
Its not too bad as long as you have some sort of similar boat next to you, or it can be a right scramble getting on and off. You will also find some people are helpful and understanding, and others will do anything they can to prevent you tying up along side them- in which case you probably dont want to be next to them anyway!
 
Gotta give it a go then, if only for the 'fun' factor. I can just see me asking people to wipe their feet tho :):)!!. A trip to the chandlers for extra rope and lengthy bits too is in order i think.
Ok...so it's bow, stern and springs lines to neighbouring boat plus bow and stern shore lines yes??
Scenario: what if we are the boat in the middle and want to leave before the outer boat/s?...we undo all attached lines obviously but how do we get out and then reattach other boats securely? I know it sounds obvious and a matter for common sense but the getting out bit frightens the life out of me.
Feel free to laugh at me and take the preverbial :):)
 
lisilou said:
Scenario: what if we are the boat in the middle and want to leave before the outer boat/s?...we undo all attached lines obviously but how do we get out and then reattach other boats securely?
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Personally - I organise departure with the outer boats - they either go before I do or we'll swap places.
With just 2 onboard I don't want the hassle/responsibility of taking my boat out without others there to tie the remainder of the raft up ...
 
Thanks all. Invaluable as ever. Would be interesting to hear peoples rafting experiences/stories/nightmares.
 
Yarmouth's quite a good place to give it a try, because you'll never be in a raft of more than three boats. Once you've got the hang of it you will be able to graduate to more challenging places like Weymouth, or the Folly :) Seriously, if you don't raft you will miss out on visiting some of the best destinations in the Solent.

So far as leaving a raft when you're in the middle is concerned, take it slowly and carefully. It obviously helps if some of the other owners are around, but if not you will need to slip out under (ideally) everyone else's warps, and re-secure anything going ashore to allow for the gap that you will create by leaving. Also, don't forget to re-secure the outside boat that was attached to you, to your inshore neighbour :)

Sometimes you will just have to wait.

If you're the inside boat on a raft, and no-one else will move, there is one Forumite* who famously untied everyone from the shore and turned the whole raft around, ending up with his boat on the outside. This was particularly impressive because he doesn't believe in bowthrusters, and relied entirely on a couple of diesels. And, erm, a little liquid "refreshment" I think :D

*(Edit: whilst writing this post, the Forumite in question has slipped in his own comment. Coincidence or what? :D)
 
the chap who ran our day skipper shore based course had an animated diagram to illustrate how to get a boat out the middle of a raft without having to wake the other boats up.... the sequence of untying and tying ropes were obvious once shown.. will see if I can find it online
 
Spent two days weather-bound in Falmouth recently. We rafted against three boats and as they left we ended up on the pontoon. We met some lovely people and everyone worked well when anyone needed to leave.
I've had minor problems in the past but nothing too bad.
Allan
 
oGaryo said:
the chap who ran our day skipper shore based course had an animated diagram to illustrate how to get a boat out the middle of a raft without having to wake the other boats up.... the sequence of untying and tying ropes were obvious once shown.. will see if I can find it online
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Would be much obliged if you could find that thanx :)
 
We end up rafted up in some way shape or form pretty much every weekend, it is necessary at times even on the rivers. We have met some great people through being rafted up to them. Being a smaller boat we often end up on the outside so have to trample across others boats.

The only time it has potentially gone wrong was last year at Wells next the sea. The harbour master instructed us to moor alongside a very pretty yacht, the crew of which had gone into town for the day. So with a little sorting out of ropes we managed to get alongside in a comfortable manner, not easy when the shape of the two boats is so completely different. The tide had turned by this point with the pontoons lowering with the tide. Luckily we stayed close by the boat for the first tide, because as the water disappeared the yacht sat up on its fin keels, almost leaving us hung from the side. The owners of the yacht saw the funny side later in the evening when we told them what had happened but it could have been much worse.
 
Rafting is quite a normal necessity in many non marina harbours here, or over full harbours on busy weekends. We too avoid it if possible, mainly for peace and quite, but have no reservations on safety once lines are correctly set and fenders used intelligently. If the weather and/or location permits we tend to anchor rather than raft. Dislike white marina caravan parks, always opt for a night on the hook rather than marina or rafting, if comfy anchorage is nearby.
 
to slip out from the middle of a raft

Does this sound simple enough...?

It does require people on the boat on the outside of you, preferable on both boats & then for example if you are going out forwards. Firstly remove your shorelines. Then boat to the outside of you takes their forward shoreline and removes it from the pontoon, but still attached to their forward cleat runs it behind everything on your boat and secures it to the boat on the inside of you forward cleat. Then they remove their stern line from your boat and run that behind your boat and attach to the insides boat stern cleat.

Then the exciting bit, remove your springs and lines to the boat on the inside while the boat on your outside removes their springs and forward line to you. Then you slip out forward, once you have gone (and left the carnage) you leave the boat to the outside of you to heave in their old forward shoreline which is now attached to the inside boats forward cleat and stern line which is also attached to the inside boats stern cleat... not something to be attempted in high winds or strong tidal situations, or if you do be prepared for a big audience!!

edited bit;

I would just add to this, if you are one of the boats on the outside always a good idea to have your engine running, as once you have cast off from the departing boat and eased lines so that there is enough space for departing boat to get out you end up about 30 feet away from the boat that you are attached.... so sometimes a bit of forward or backward assistance is required to ensure you end up where you want to be and not crashing into a trot of boats either ahead of you or behind you... or course a bow thruster can also assist you get back in... or a friendly HM with a dory pushing you back in..
 
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lisilou said:
Would be much obliged if you could find that thanx :)
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sorry had a good look through the slidesets and only found a none animated diagram... similar to this one.

alongside.gif


in hindsight, I think he talked us through it as per firefly's process
 
Firefly...thankyou. had to read it twice and somewhat slowly :) but yeh, it makes it clear. (am going to write it down verbatum and keep to hand :) )

Gary...would've loved the animated version but thanx so much for that.

To everyone else, thanx so much again. Will still read with interest more experiences good an bad if others care to share.
Will definitely muster the courage and try it so, if you see 'About Time Too' being directed to raft up to a place near you....take my advice and either borrow extra fenders or cut loose while you still can!
 
I can see why people avoid rafting and sometimes we aren't in the mood. We just want to be on our own. Other times it's a great way to meet people. We had a few days rafted in Weymouth last week and met some lovely people.

Someone asked about getting out if you're the inside boat. The boat on our inside had the simplest solution which was immensely effective. He had a White board onto which was written his departure time / date So we all knew the score and to be ready. Other than that you just chat and let people know.

As for the etiquette of crossing across the bow I hate it and much prefer people to use the bathing platform or cockpit. Otherwise you have people walking over the roof whilst you're in bed. You also get foot marks that need cleaning. I always invite people to cross our stern.

Henry :)
 
If your on the inside, you will have to learn the Pandora manuver.

Just untie yourself and any shore lines, then with your engines. Spin the whole raft round, till your now on the outside.

Might neeed a drink or two first.:D
 
hlb said:
If your on the inside, you will have to learn the Pandora manuver.

Just untie yourself and any shore lines, then with your engines. Spin the whole raft round, till your now on the outside.

Might neeed a drink or two first.:D
Click to expand...

So I guess you're the 'impressive forumite' with a dislike of bow thrusters :). Now that WOULD be cool to do. Out of interest, did anyone complain??
 
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