Single Handed Mooring a Leader 805 vs Targa 29 vs Leader 30s

  • Thread starter Thread starter N D
  • Start date Start date
julians said:
My wife has just done her powerboat level 2 - after 25 years of messing about in boats without any qualification , and one thing the instructor made her do was jump ashore and pass the lines (fixed to the berth) to someone on the boat, whereas my practice has always been to hook them from the boat using a boat hook. There must be some RYA directive about getting someone ashore as soon as possible..... seems odd to me, the boat hook method has worked fine for 30 years.
Click to expand...

Yes I was told that on my PB2, but only when you have more than one able person onboard, otherwise I'd lasso from the centre cleat
 
It seems that the RYA and its instructors/examiners have not read: Unintended movement of pilot boat Haven Harrier during crew boarding with 1 person injured - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and in particular the second bullet point of:
Action taken
Risk assessments for use of the pontoon have since been revised and operational instructions now require:
  • pilot boats to reduce speed well in advance of approaching the pontoon;
  • vessels to be parallel alongside and secured with at least one line before boarding or disembarkation begins; and
  • tyre fenders not to be used as steps during boarding or disembarkation.
 
A miships cleat with a thin(ish) rope on is handy, come alongside the berth, lassoo a bollard and tie off. It won’t hold it permanently, but will allow you to tie off bow and stern.
 
julians said:
My wife has just done her powerboat level 2 - after 25 years of messing about in boats without any qualification , and one thing the instructor made her do was jump ashore and pass the lines (fixed to the berth) to someone on the boat, whereas my practice has always been to hook them from the boat using a boat hook. There must be some RYA directive about getting someone ashore as soon as possible..... seems odd to me, the boat hook method has worked fine for 30 years.
Click to expand...
There is no such directive. I am an instructor (though my ticket has run out) and I don’t let anyone off the boat until we’re tied up. It’s how I teach it.
Leaping is a terrible way to stop a boat. Yet I see it taught that way all the time.
 
Plum said:
For me, the main difference between singlehanded marina mooring a sailboat versus motorboat is usually the time it takes you from leaving the helm to being on the pontoon with lines in hand. Many motorboats will take several seconds longer, particularly if the helm is a long way forward of the wheelhouse door on a different level, which makes a big difference in how far the lighter and more skittish motorboat will drift before you are on the pontoon. Recommend you take this into account in your choice of boat.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
Click to expand...

Thank you.

That is my precise concern, hence thinking an open boat would make life a lot easier.
 
alandalus11 said:

Whichever boat you buy just practice, practice and practice. Go out on a calm day first and try docking on your own, you'll find what works for you best and then try it with gentle winds blowing you off and on pontoon. It's all down to the prep work before you get into the dock so you have everything ready. Getting over the fear first time was my biggest hurdle. What if something goes wrong etc. but after doing it a few times on my own it all started to fall into place.
Click to expand...

Wise advice, thank you!
 
stelican said:
Assum they are all open cockpit and all have midship cleat they should all be equal.
I would recommend getting a mid ship line on first then the boat is going nowhere far.
Click to expand...

Hi, the Leader 805 is open hence my initial preference. The others are closed / partially closed
 
Elessar said:
I single hand my 46 ft boat quite often. Can be done on any of those boats you mention easily.

Forget the yachtie affection for jumping off. Tie the boat up before getting off!

Either secure a line amidships or secure a stern line and motor forward against it.

Choose the boat that’s best for you and forget which is easiest to single hand.
Click to expand...

Thank you and yes, the muscle memory still likes me to jump off!
 
MartynG said:
A friend has bow and stern thrusters which he has added a remote control like car key fob . He can step off the boat ante tie it up while controlling the boat with the thrusters . That a great help for him as his wife is becoming less agile.
Perhaps a stern thruster is going a bit far but a bow thruster is certainly of value and a lot better (cheaper) to buy a boat with a thruster already fitted .
Stepping off the boat with a rope attached to the mid cleat is certainly a good plan whether single handed or not.
Click to expand...

Thank you
 
PeterBoater said:
Practise lassooing a cleat from a little distance off, get a long strong boathook to pull the boat nearer the finger and possibly one of those clever gadgets on a pole that can thread a line through a cleat and bring it back to you. Have plenty of fenders on the boat and consider installing some dock fenders on the berth if allowed. Other than that, as said above, practise practise practise, starting in calm wind and water, and you should be fine.
Click to expand...

Thank you.

My thinking is this would be ok with the Leader 805, being an open cockpit, but not doable from a Prestige 30s or Targe 29, given the closed sides.
 
stelican said:
I thought they were all open boats when the hood is down?
Click to expand...

Sorry, what I mean is it seems you could stretch over the side/ windscreen of an 805 with a boat hook or to lassoo but the sides / windscreen are more of a barrier on the T29 .

I have been on a Leader 805 but not a T29 nor a 30s so perhaps I am creating an issue in my mind! When looking at photos of the T29, I struggle to see how I could get from the helm to a cleat in time to fix a line midships.

Perhaps the lesson is to forget my sailing days and to get out on a T29 to see for myself....
 
N D said:
Sorry, what I mean is it seems you could stretch over the side/ windscreen of an 805 with a boat hook or to lassoo but the sides / windscreen are more of a barrier on the T29 .

I have been on a Leader 805 but not a T29 nor a 30s so perhaps I am creating an issue in my mind! When looking at photos of the T29, I struggle to see how I could get from the helm to a cleat in time to fix a line midships.

Perhaps the lesson is to forget my sailing days and to get out on a T29 to see for myself....
Click to expand...
If it’s not windy I’ll single hand moor my T46 quite literally - as I’ll do it without putting my drink down.

Have a day out with Julie Proudfoot. Book her via Mendez marine. She’s brilliant and you’ll be mooring confidently in no time. Without any gadgets.

Boating needn’t be stressful.
 
Elessar said:
If it’s not windy I’ll single hand moor my T46 quite literally - as I’ll do it without putting my drink down.

Have a day out with Julie Proudfoot. Book her via Mendez marine. She’s brilliant and you’ll be mooring confidently in no time. Without any gadgets.

Boating needn’t be stressful.
Click to expand...
Agree
I am completely self taught but sent my son and son in law on a weekend, stay on a boat, course so they could handle my boat.
They came back experts!
Next life I’ll go on a course first.
 
julians said:
My wife has just done her powerboat level 2 - after 25 years of messing about in boats without any qualification , and one thing the instructor made her do was jump ashore and pass the lines (fixed to the berth) to someone on the boat, whereas my practice has always been to hook them from the boat using a boat hook. There must be some RYA directive about getting someone ashore as soon as possible..... seems odd to me, the boat hook method has worked fine for 30 years.
Click to expand...
Jumping ashore is great with a fit young professional....we all have a spouse for crew...and ND doesn’t even want that!...I think the RYA directive is bollocks
 
DavidJ said:
Agree
I am completely self taught but sent my son and son in law on a weekend, stay on a boat, course so they could handle my boat.
They came back experts!
Next life I’ll go on a course first.
Click to expand...
I too am self taught - after racing sailing boats where I mostly crewed, I bought a motor boat which I put on the Thames.
Every day I would moor maybe 12 times. Waiting for lock, in the lock, waiting for lock, in the lock etc.
Practice makes perfect. Well not perfect. But you know what I mean.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top