Singlehanded Mooring

[MissIsle]

My wife has broken her leg which leaves me & the kids (9 & 11) grabbing a few weekends with no "Mummy" to take the lines ashore when we get into a marina berth.
I can always ask the marina staff if someone is available to help with lines, but any working tips from old hands would be appreciated.
The kids are excellent as well, but probably not strong enough to hold the boat against any sort of breeze.

 

[xyachtdave]

Get the 11 year old to drive the boat?

 

[scruff]

Get the 11 yr old to do the helming and you can to the rope part.

Parking generally is pretty easy so they should be able to pick it up no bother.

Alternatively, long bow line led back to stern with you at helm, drop over cleat on the pontoon with a large bowline and motor gently against this as you tie up.

Only be aware of other boats manoeuvring near by and the effect your prop wash may have on them.

 

[skip50]

Can't remember the name but get one of the large caribeeners which clips to a boat hook, with a warp tied to the caribeener. Then the caribeener can clip onto a cleat, pull the boat hook away and you have one line attached (temporarily!!). Can be done from on board. Don't forget the value of the single midships line, pulled tight the boat doesn't go far, giving you time to sort out the other warps.

HTH

 

[2copplane]

I normally moor up using a rope from the centre cleat with a hoop in the end which I hook over the end cleat of the pontoon. You can motor against this and balance the helm so she sits neatly alongside. I'd recommend something in nylon to absorb the initial jerk as the rope goes taught, and once taught keep the revs on otherwise you'll be catapulted back out again! I try and bring the rope taught as gently as possible the put more revs on to hold her in position.

The trick is not to have the rope too long and end up hitting the pontoon before it goes taught.


For leaving you can run her gently in forward to keep her alongside, remove all the other lines then reverse out. For obvious reasons it is important to get it off the pontoon cleat! So when solo I have the loop around just one horn of the pontoon cleat and have an additional line tied to the loop going back to the helm. Once I start to reverse I yank on the line to flip the rope off.

 

[MissIsle]

Get the 11 year old to drive the boat?

I thought of that first, but it's a bit of a confidence issue.
Both kids are pretty sensible though & I'd forgotten the single mid-ships line trick.

 

[scruff]

Do you have a marina near by with an along side pontoon such as a hammer head?

I taught my g/f to moor using a hammerhead. If the attempt is not successful, it's easy just to bail out and go around for another attempt.

I would be inclined to take the 11yr old out for a day, just the pair of you and practice mooring up. Try to pick a nice day with little wind, and just practice. Make it low pressure and keep your stress levels low and do not raise your voice.

A few attempts and they will pick it up fine. Could be good for their overall confidence levels too.

I know at that age I was sailing my dad's boat alone. (don't tell him though!)

 

[xyachtdave]

I do a lot with my now almost 10 year old daughter. Just having her on deck to pass a warp is brilliant, or when raising our anchor (no windlass..) she handles the throttle and wheel.

It's amazing when children know their job is important, how attentive and grown up they can be. I expect her to be borrowing the boat shortly to take her mates out!

 

[ianat182]

Yes from the boat's MIDSHIP CLEAT a warp leading aft with a large bowline already tied, can be dropped over the first outer pontoon berth cleat, whilst the motor idles ahead in gear. No need to jump over the side onto the pontoon, take your time, then ashore to fix bow and stern lines already to hand, followed by the springs. She'll then lay alongside.

(Just in case you read SCRUFF's post as being the BOW LINE and not the knot!!)

Then engine off.

ianat182

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Do you have a marina near by with an along side pontoon such as a hammer head?

I taught my g/f to moor using a hammerhead. If the attempt is not successful, it's easy just to bail out and go around for another attempt.

I would be inclined to take the 11yr old out for a day, just the pair of you and practice mooring up. Try to pick a nice day with little wind, and just practice. Make it low pressure and keep your stress levels low and do not raise your voice.

A few attempts and they will pick it up fine. Could be good for their overall confidence levels too.

I know at that age I was sailing my dad's boat alone. (don't tell him though!)

Excellent advice.

 

[MissIsle]

I do a lot with my now almost 10 year old daughter. Just having her on deck to pass a warp is brilliant,

I't my daughter who is 11. I've kinda' promissed to take her down to Gosport then over to Gunwharf for a Daddy & daughter shopping day in a couple of weeks. Actually, don't tell her but I'm quite looking forward to it.

 

[xyachtdave]

Shopping with your daughter and lapping up attention from the sales assistants is one of life's simple pleasures.....

Add in a bit of sailing on the way there, job's a goodun!

Enjoy!

 

[mcframe]

Yes from the boat's MIDSHIP CLEAT a warp leading aft with a large bowline already tied, can be dropped over the first outer pontoon berth cleat, whilst the motor idles ahead in gear. No need to jump over the side onto the pontoon, take your time, then ashore to fix bow and stern lines already to hand, followed by the springs. She'll then lay alongside.

My trick ('tho rarely used) is to rig the inboard end of midship line (bowline or eye outboard) *round* the midship cleat *back* to a primary winch. That way you have some degree of adjustability in case the position of the pontoon cleat doesn't quite agree with the geometry of your boat.

Remember that the helm may need to be made fast on full lock for it to work properly.

 

[Poignard]

My trick ('tho rarely used) is to rig the inboard end of midship line (bowline or eye outboard) *round* the midship cleat *back* to a primary winch. That way you have some degree of adjustability in case the position of the pontoon cleat doesn't quite agree with the geometry of your boat.

Remember that the helm may need to be made fast on full lock for it to work properly.

I use that technique a lot and it certainly makes berthing a lot easier.

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

I loop my spring line-with-a-bowline over the midships cleat and bring it back to the winch with just enough slack to brush the water; then burble slowly up to the pontoon, throw the slack line over a handy cleat onshore and winch it tight. Max beam is exactly halfway 'tween mid cleat and winch so she adjusts herself and I can step ashore and tie off whichever line is upstream first.

 

[dsw]

Unless your boat is 50 ft or more then why cant you do it
yourself ? i do . or is the "confidence issue" you say about
your kids is not them but you .

 

[Jamesuk]

Unless your boat is 50 ft or more then why cant you do it
yourself ? i do . or is the "confidence issue" you say about
your kids is not them but you .

I do it single handed from time to time on the 63ft yacht that I am on, although I would much prefer an extra hand, I once got a riggers apprentice, Jesus I should have gone solo.

RE: the original question.

You know I try and speak to the marina staff to give me a hand when I arrive it makes life easy and less stressful for all involved. Anyone who does not cope well with mooring up should go below.

The other alternative is to invite another "Dad" along, Uncles or what ever.

Enjoy your sailing.

PS as for moorings just reverse up to it and pick it up that way, you will figure out the rest on the day.

 

[onesea]

Unless your boat is 50 ft or more then why cant you do it
yourself ? i do . or is the "confidence issue" you say about
your kids is not them but you .

As its a very quick way to put kid & others off sailing. They stand watching as you jump around the boat leaving them feeling useless.

+1 to get them to drive, do not understand the strength issue. All they have to do is put an extra turn on the cleat. Tie up with 00XXX instead of your standard 0XXX. Once secured you can help them tidy & tighten up after.

I would rather send a 9 year old + 11 year old go ashore with ropes. They will be faster and more agile.

 

[Seven Spades]

Doing it single handed is not always possible if you are on a berth with a fast tide running.

The answer to this question is to take a line from the bow and get take 11 year old to cleat it off on the middle cleat. Motor against it with the helm over (To posh the stern in) and then lean over the side and drop a stern line over the stern cleat. The 9 year old can be given the unimportant job of taking the bow line foreword so that they do not feel that don't have a role to play.

I used this method whilst my children were young and never had a mishap, but I always briefed them in a serious tone before we arrived at the pontoon so that there would be no shouting on arrival.

 

[marklucas]

Practice makes perfect and brings confidnce.

IMHO, the ability to throw a long loop of warp over a cleat whilst still on the boat is a core boat handling skill - it's certainly one I teach on any practical course. A bowline loop is relatively small and cannot be thrown so as to open around a cleat.

For single handed have the loop made off at both ends on your mid-ship cleat and then bring the boat onto the pontoon and throw the loop (which you brought back to the edge of the cockpit in preparation) over what will become your stern line cleat on the pontoon. Then steer away from the pontoon and put on some gentle forward power. Steady as a rock and now you can safely sort out the breast lines.

Even when mooring with plenty of crew, if I'm handling one of the lines (particularly the stern line), I never get off the boat as there is no need. Once secured, the lines can be made off properly with round turn and two half hitches or as appropriate.

Also, the ability to throw a warp / rope to it's full extension is another core skill. The number of times I go take someone's lines and the line lands up in the oggin - I'd be rich if I had a pound every time!

All this can be easily practised and any harbour master or marina office will let you use a free pontoon if you ask nicely.