Rafting

[David of Essex]

We are attending the Jubilee in St Kats Dock next month and expect it to be a bit manic and packed for the occasion. I have not had any experience in rafting up before and would like your advice as what and what not to do inside the marina and also outside in the Thames. We will be arriving outside St Kats on the Thames before high tide which can be flowing and will be looking to pick up a buoy outside, if all are taken at the time can you just raft up along side another boat and can they refuse?
David

 

[sailorman]

We are attending the Jubilee in St Kats Dock next month and expect it to be a bit manic and packed for the occasion. I have not had any experience in rafting up before and would like your advice as what and what not to do inside the marina and also outside in the Thames. We will be arriving outside St Kats on the Thames before high tide which can be flowing and will be looking to pick up a buoy outside, if all are taken at the time can you just raft up along side another boat and can they refuse?
David

having seen how choppy it gets below Tr Br i would certainly not contemplate rafting.
inside no probs, for / aft lines + springs + line ashore is 4 or 5 out

 

[blueglass]

not really good to raft up with a boat on a swinging mooring - different if he's alongside.
I have been known to tie up on one of the moored rubbish barges to wait for St.Kats

 

[sailorman]

not really good to raft up with a boat on a swinging mooring - different if he's alongside.
I have been known to tie up on one of the moored rubbish barges to wait for St.Kats

go alongside the fuel barge
1/ some where to stop
2/ cheap red ( cash )

 

[OAF]

not really good to raft up with a boat on a swinging mooring - different if he's alongside.

I was instructed by the HM to raft up to two other boats on a bouy in salcombe last year, I was a bit concerned about doing this but the bouy was big enough to handle it, stayed there for a couple of days without issue, rafter up as normal and than tied to the bouy as well!

 

[oldgit]

Would not raft

Just picking up one of those bouys in the ever present chop outside St Kats is FUN.
The first lock in always chaotic, mainly with big foreign yots operating the well known continental system of "me first" and normally ignoring the instructions given by marina man on his handheld.
We usually,if arriving early pick up bouy but hover around nearbye if locking in has started
.

Good idea to keep your radio tuned to Kats Marina channel

 

[MY littlebirchwoo]

Definitely concur with the ethos of foreign vessels, mainly yotties who often feel that the use of fenders is not necessary as they have a given right to scratch and dent your boat!

As for the rafting. St Kats are notorious for attmepting to raft you against a vessel that you cant possibly easily negotiate to get on and off your own boat. We found this out to our peril last year and ended up stuck onboard. When we challenged them saying where we had been placed was unacceptable, we asked them if they would like to have a go at getting on our boat - their reply "Im sorry, where you are is too dangerous for us to attempt to get onboard."

They put us there!

 

[Mike k]

Are you putting him through for bender of the month competition, oops meant fender of the month competition.
David

I f your rafting you might want to eat your own rude words now!

 

[David of Essex]

I f your rafting you might want to eat your own rude words now!

Apologies for making a flippant comment at the time no intentions meant. Must have been an intake of wine.
David

 

[mbird]

We were at St Kats two weeks ago with 22 other boats for the Sealine Owners Club cruise. I have to say that the lock-keeper was very good at getting everyone in, but then we were all booked!

There only seems to be one waiting buoy now, and if you are moored to it on an in-coming tide, you basically block the lock entrance. However, holding station in the chop and tide is much more fun!

One tip we got before we went, was to get the crew a lanyard to enable her to clip on to the pulpit rail (assuming her lifejacket has a D ring). It certainly made her feel a bit safer with all the rockin and rollin. Also, get your fenders and warps sorted long before you reach St Kats. Once outside there, the chop from passing ferries (this Navy landing craft are the worst) makes moving around decks pretty scary.

 

[David of Essex]

Thanks for all your replys some handy tips
David

 

[oldgit]

H,mm,thinking about it there was only one boat moored outside last week.

Wonder if the rest of the bouys have been moved for mantaince or security reasons. ?

 

[taormina]

Hi,
I was rafted up next to you a couple of years ago outside st kats! so shouldnt be a problem again.....you were on a buoy and we came up along side, just so happens were on same cruise! if you are still in Burnham were stopping over there on the thurs nite and then making the last leg down on fri morning, so safety in numbers!!

 

[David of Essex]

Hi,
I was rafted up next to you a couple of years ago outside st kats! so shouldnt be a problem again.....you were on a buoy and we came up along side, just so happens were on same cruise! if you are still in Burnham were stopping over there on the thurs nite and then making the last leg down on fri morning, so safety in numbers!!

Decided to stay for a week in St Kats hopefully will miss the rush. Will be leaving 2pm 29th May.Its all the rafting up inside that I'am more concerned with. Catch up with you when you arrive. ''Small world''
David