Shore lines and rafting

[fireball]

if you put equal static tension on - but not bar tight then apply a force to the raft then one of the shore lines is going to go slack - stands to reason!

 

[Danny Jo]

So why don't you have slack on both sides of the pic?

Isn't this the reason we use shore lines to stop the raft swinging like a slow pendulum?

The raft in question was photographed from the southeast and the wind was in the North.

 

[TamarMike]

Looking how they were draped over the line leading left they may well have been tighter when the tide was out.

As to the purpose of lines in harbours they do, as mentioned earlier, make it easier to control the outside of the raft while an inner boat leaves.

 

[Chris_Robb]

The comments on here do raise the issue of what land lines are for To reduce the pressure on the inside Yachts lines/cleats, To keep the raft in place, or as a precaution against the inside yachts poor knot tying.

I have always assumed the first and in bad conditions the second and am happy with every other boat putting them on. I tend to think being properly moored with springs is more important.

I agree with you, first and foremost, I would like all yachts inside me to moor properly, ie - parallel to the next boat, then breast lines, and then springs - fore and aft - preferably long ones from one end of the boat to the other, but mid ship cleat will do if weather and surge allows.

Then I worry about shore lines. So depending on the situation, ie if there is a strong side wind/tide, then shorelines are not much good if they are at 90degrees to the boat, so if there is no room to tie at a wider angle, then they do not relieve any strain on the inside boat. They then are only useful as fail-safe, ie if the inner boats head line fails.

If the wind is offshore/no tide then it is only necessary for a couple of boats to put a line ashore.