Reluctant as I am to start another knock a raggie Post..........Honest.

[oldgit]

Why are they they so carp at parking ?
Spent the weekend in Ramsgate.
Almost without exception any yacht arriving eventually would involve half the marina doing all the stuff that any self respecting boater should do on his own.
Most could not park a boat for toffee.
On arrival ropes still coiled up,fenders still stowed (both of them) people dashing all over the boat not doing much really and every one within in range of being hit wondering wether to abandon assisting and nipping off to protect their own boat.
All very amusing ....but really.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Well yes it seems many but not all are poor close quarter boat handlers. Yachts have minimal windage but are single engine so typically require more skill than a twin motor. They are designed for open water passages rather than caravan parking from one council estate marina to the next council estate marina in short hops.
"MV Tongue in Cheek"

 

[oldgit]

Well yes it seems many but not all are poor close quarter boat handlers. Yachts have minimal windage but are single engine so typically require more skill than a twin motor. They are designed for open water passages rather than caravan parking from one council estate marina to the next council estate marina in short hops.
"MV Tongue in Cheek"

Accepted....but.
Whats so difficult about getting your fenders ready and warps in the right place before you enter the port as opposed to after you hit the marina walkway and knocking your crew everywichway..............

 

[davidwf]

As a raggie who keeps his boat in a marina, I think what you are describing is an inexperienced raggie who keeps their boat on a swinging mooring.

Really winds me up when they don't put fenders out both sides.

Most mobo's live in marinas so they are used to marina etiquette.

 

[superheat6k]

I fully agree we should enter any berthing situation properly prepared. I rig fenders both sides and have line ready at each corner, even on my home mooring, but I am not so sure this is an anti Raggie thread, as I have seen plenty of Moboers really awful at prepping for arrival, then expecting everyone around to assist.

Don't get me wrong, if helps available I will gladly accept it, but take the attitude that I am single / short handed until such help shows up and therefore must be ready for any unexpected eventuality.

Unfortunately your argument is that of mandatory training, and whereas I think everyone should have proper training, the day it becomes compulsory, and all the rest of the over regulation that will accompany it, is one we shall all rue.

 

[AndieMac]

Well yes it seems many but not all are poor close quarter boat handlers. Yachts have minimal windage but are single engine so typically require more skill than a twin motor. They are designed for open water passages rather than caravan parking from one council estate marina to the next council estate marina in short hops.
"MV Tongue in Cheek"

Realising OG is stirring the pot what a yacht lacks in horsepower or number of engines, makes up for in spades with low speed forward steerage and as you say, windage related issues like being blown easily off a berth.
Some of the modern fin keeled yachts seem to be able to steer as well going astern as they do ahead, it's a pleasure to watch a good operator moving around a tight marina.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Don't get me started on this one. We've just spent a night moored against a town quay in Croatia where you have to Med moor in the traditional way ie drop you anchor and then back on to the quay securing your stern with lines to the quay. All very simple stuff but we lost count of the number of yotties who rocked up to the quay expecting some marinero to appear out of the ether to hand them lazy lines and catch their stern lines despite the few of us already moored on the quay trying to draw their attention to the fact that they needed to drop an anchor. Even then, when most of them realised this, they motored a few metres away from the quay and dropped their anchor only to find to their immense surprise that their anchor wasn't holding. One yottie had so many goes at cocking it up that I and another moboer took pity and got on their boat to do it for them. Even the ones that realised they had to drop an anchor managed to drop it across the anchors already laid by other boats. All in all, it was one of the most entertaining afternoons I've spent on my boat in recent memory so I have to thank all those yotties for providing me with so much amusement

 

[Momac]

I am not so sure this is an anti Raggie thread, as I have seen plenty of Moboers really awful at prepping for arrival, then expecting everyone around to assist.

The skipper of a motorboat on our pontoon has immense difficulty hitting the gap between the pontoon and the next boat - despite ample space. His boat seems quite robust and just bounces off the steel pile at the end of the pontoon finger. The bow hitting the main pontoon acts as his brakes. And thats with no wind. I can't imagine how he would handle the boat in a bit of wind. No ropes at the ready and not urgency at passing ropes to me or to others who have gathered at his bert to assist. I am pleased not to be the owner of the boats moored next to him as he has nudged them. He is an ex raggi.

 

[harstonwood]

The skipper of a motorboat on our pontoon has immense difficulty hitting the gap between the pontoon and the next boat - despite ample space. His boat seems quite robust and just bounces off the steel pile at the end of the pontoon finger. The bow hitting the main pontoon acts as his brakes. And thats with no wind. I can't imagine how he would handle the boat in a bit of wind. No ropes at the ready and not urgency at passing ropes to me or to others who have gathered at his bert to assist. I am pleased not to be the owner of the boats moored next to him as he has nudged them. He is an ex raggi.

As a Raggie and a Moboer, (I like both equally) my experience would be that there are poorly prepared people driving both types of boats, and with experience and/or training most people do well

Lack of practice/thought/manners catch many out

Last week a Fellow turned up in a breathtakingly beautiful, noisy , classy speed boat and spend 2 hours (yes really) trying to reverse into various marina berths
His problem was he was driving it like a car, and not taking account of the wind (blow off) the tide (springs 2kts) sadly he was so engaged, possibly pissed, that he was oblivious to any advice/help,being offered. his wife used her feet to fend of various boats during the process, as their two fenders were not deployed in a particularly helpful way

We got him in eventually. He had not had any training as he was on park and launch from a nearby beach.

I have also seen the same with a yacht who had no issue bumping off his neighbour whilst berthing.....well I did and told him.

So its practice, attitude and training.....applies to all boats?

 

[lisilou]

As a Raggie and a Moboer, (I like both equally) my experience would be that there are poorly prepared people driving both types of boats, and with experience and/or training most people do well

Lack of practice/thought/manners catch many out

Last week a Fellow turned up in a breathtakingly beautiful, noisy , classy speed boat and spend 2 hours (yes really) trying to reverse into various marina berths
His problem was he was driving it like a car, and not taking account of the wind (blow off) the tide (springs 2kts) sadly he was so engaged, possibly pissed, that he was oblivious to any advice/help,being offered. his wife used her feet to fend of various boats during the process, as their two fenders were not deployed in a particularly helpful way

We got him in eventually. He had not had any training as he was on park and launch from a nearby beach.

I have also seen the same with a yacht who had no issue bumping off his neighbour whilst berthing.....well I did and told him.

So its practice, attitude and training.....applies to all boats?

Spot on. A couple of friends went out on a days training on a saily boat over the weekend as they really want to take up sailing. Part of their instruction was NEVER to wave at mobos...he was serious apparently. What a knob! So yeh..attitude has a lot to do with it.
L

 

[oldgit]

"So its practice, attitude and training.....applies to all boats?"

All a bit tongue in cheek of course...but the majority of yachts arriving did tend to make a pigs ear of mooring,until at some point people started to get concerned/worried and appeared to grab lines and help.
A couple of yachts did take the best part of 20 mins to finally and fully attach the boat in some fashion to the finger berth.
It was bit horrid outside and probably 100% attention on merely getting into some shelter would have been a priority.

 

[Elessar]

Spot on. A couple of friends went out on a days training on a saily boat over the weekend as they really want to take up sailing. Part of their instruction was NEVER to wave at mobos...he was serious apparently. What a knob! So yeh..attitude has a lot to do with it.
L

Name and shame the school.

 

[benjenbav]

On Sunday I was walking beside the river from Henley towards Shiplake. Lots of boats moored which was nice to see. Less nice was the fact that most had staked out a claim to a 10 metre gap on either side which I'm afraid I took to be a passive-aggressive statement: "dinnae park next to me." Poor show.

 

[oldgit]

On Sunday I was walking beside the river from Henley towards Shiplake. Lots of boats moored which was nice to see. Less nice was the fact that most had staked out a claim to a 10 metre gap on either side which I'm afraid I took to be a passive-aggressive statement: "dinnae park next to me." Poor show.

You obviously did not read the signs on the river bank which state by law that
A All craft must park in the middle of any available spot.
B.Skippers are Prohibited to move in any direction what so ever under any circumstances.
C.Thou shalt hide in your cabin on the approach of any boat obviously looking for somewhere to park.

 

[boaterbaz]

Just spent a couple of days in Fowey. I was kept amused by the rib drivers parking abilities. One in particular kept trying the bow at right angles to the pontoon, hit pontoon and rebound two metres then forward again method of approach. I am of the opinion that ribs are rapidly becoming the new jetski's of the southwest.

 

[CharlieAlpha]

Now I'm no expert, only been seriously mobing for 3 years, but on Saturday I had a mare of a day when close to my home marina, hit a pile sideways when I stopped as crew member had lost their hat overboard and completly misjudged the windage, my 'un'lucky horseshoe lifebelt took most of the blow . Then trying to get into my berth ended up sideways across the front of other boats - bow thruster and a ball fender got me out of that. No damage to boat (only pride) and nobody hurt, but we all have bad days don't we? Oh and I wave to everyone I meet who smiles.

 

[Bertramdriver]

We all have bad days, even the most experienced. I have never forgotten standing next to a large mobo where the marina salesman was talking to a couple of young guys in overcoats and bright braces. The tallest one says " so how easy is it to drive; do I need a licence or anything?" Salesman says "it's just like driving a car but the traffic's not so bad " smaller man with braces points to the baskets where fenders should be stored "bloody hell is that where you store the beer casks" we all fall about laughing and I offer a silent prayer that they take up F1 racing, or shooting or something equally harmless.

 

[sailorman]

Well yes it seems many but not all are poor close quarter boat handlers. Yachts have minimal windage but are single engine so typically require more skill than a twin motor. They are designed for open water passages rather than caravan parking from one council estate marina to the next council estate marina in short hops.
"MV Tongue in Cheek"

Most modern day cruisers are designed around the kitchen & multiple bathrooms with a hull wrapped around to suit. They are designed for marina berths & dont sail ( well). Tongue not in cheek

 

[lisilou]

Name and shame the school.

No idea who it was tbh Mark and I didn't ask coz I didn't want to get into a Rag v mobo convo with them. Just advised them they might do better being taught by someone whose not a w*nker. That killed the convo stone dead lol
L

 

[kcrane]

Don't get me started on this one. We've just spent a night moored against a town quay in Croatia where you have to Med moor in the traditional way ie drop you anchor and then back on to the quay securing your stern with lines to the quay. All very simple stuff but we lost count of the number of yotties who rocked up to the quay expecting some marinero to appear out of the ether to hand them lazy lines and catch their stern lines despite the few of us already moored on the quay trying to draw their attention to the fact that they needed to drop an anchor. Even then, when most of them realised this, they motored a few metres away from the quay and dropped their anchor only to find to their immense surprise that their anchor wasn't holding. One yottie had so many goes at cocking it up that I and another moboer took pity and got on their boat to do it for them. Even the ones that realised they had to drop an anchor managed to drop it across the anchors already laid by other boats. All in all, it was one of the most entertaining afternoons I've spent on my boat in recent memory so I have to thank all those yotties for providing me with so much amusement

Just back from a week sailing a modern Jeanneau around part of Croatia (Hvar, Trogir etc). It was all med mooring, but if I recall, lazy lines everywhere. It did find that at low speeds the boat went backwards as well as it went forwards, thankfully, as I'd gone from 2 engines and twin thrusters on my boat to one engine and no thrusters on this charter yacht, argh. However no problem, even backing down a long thin fairway (the ACI marina opposite Hvar, if you know it) was do'able.

To redress the motor/sailing balance I was taken aback by the poor seamanship of several motorboats. They pass sailing boats within 100m whilst on the plane, with not one glance behind to see the havoc they were causing. The worst were two large'ish flybridges, separate incidents, who had slowed down as they approached a harbour (on the run in to Trogir for example) and steamed right passed sailing boats with kids clearly visible in the cockpits, at 12-15knts, just off the plane and causing as much wash as possible. I twice had to turn 45-60 degrees to cross the wake and minimise it as best I could. Very aggravating, I found myself wishing for the V48 so I could get some revenge.