take of the ropes?

FlyingDutchman

FlyingDutchman

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I am always having a discussion with SWMBO:
I take of the ropes from the front cleats before leaving the marina as I am always afraid the wind or the waves drop them of the foredeck and they get sucked in the propellor.
SWMBO thinks it is better to leave them on as this is easier when berting (she does the ropes).
Please confirm, that I am right???
 
I hate to contradict a woman especially when she is the one doing the work, but I think you are right. I (the female rope-handler), always coil and stow the mooring warps even for a short trip. It doesn't take long. Be tactful, though!

Ali
 
Normally for any length of passage all the fenders and all the spare ropes are put away in a locker out of the road.

I asked SWMBO and her opinion is that the ropes should always be removed otherwise you will trip over them.

The exception is when in a canal with lots of locks to negotiate.

Iain
 
she has an excellent point ( /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif) but logically your wins - ie if the ropes are left, slip in the water and get round the prop you won't need them easily accessed for berthing...........

winning on logic is not however advised therefore I would suggest that you discuss how to make the lines safe and neat whilst still attached to the cleat and, if you are lucky, 30minutes into the explanation she will suggest that she removes them instead.
 
When exactly do you mean 'take them off before leaving the marina'? With no fault of your own, your English phrase could be ambiguous.

Do you mean 'take them off before you motor off the pontoon'?

or 'Take them off before you leave the surrounds of the marina'?

For what its worth, I would have thought that the seamanlike thing to do was to get them stowed as soon as practicable...
 
Thanks all for your comments!

John, sorry for the confusing wording, but English is not my first language.
I take them off and stow the away before motoring from the pontoon, while SWMBO holds the boat in place by hand (24'mobo).
In case we have to go through locks, I attach ropes to the middle cleats and coil the end up inside the boat so that they are readily acessible.

We had one bad experience when we bought the boat last year and had to bing it to our marina via the Iisselmeer in a wind force 5/6 and very choppy water.
We had left the ropes on the foredeck and I had to crawl out of the escape hatch to get them in when I realized i had done something very stupid (no experience whatsoever) with lots of water coming over (wet, wet, wet)
 
No apology needed - I guessed that English was not your first language.

I understand your problem and the mobo aspect changes things slightly. My only concern is being able to stand and hold the boat successfully if there is any wind and tide. However as I assume that you are boating inland, you might be able to get away with the way you are going things now...

If and when you enter tidal waters you might have to reconsider things. Perhaps finding a way to hang the lines on the foredeck temporarily whilst you motor clear.

Regarding getting wet on the foredeck, you can be imaginitive about this. Think about motoring backwards into the wind and chop when you clear the foredeck?
Motoring down wind/tide slowly if there is room? Just going very very slowly will ease the pain a little - although make handling/steering very difficult.

Perhaps the best plan is to remain flexible. Just because you get away with holding the boat in the berth while you secure all the lines normally, doesn't mean that you should always do it this way when conditions dictate otherwise...
 
Thanks John,
You are absolutely right that we should not have kept hammering against the waves at 5,5-6 knots whilst trying to clear the foredeck.
In fact, we should have reduced speed anyway. At this speed the boat climbs up on the first wave, falls down into the second wave and gets launched up to hit the third wave. Lots of water coming over the boat. The wave hight was a guesstimated 80 cm.
Although the boat has a CE / C cetification (coastal waters, wave hight up to 2m wind 5/6) i would not dare to try that.
You can have a look at this link: http://www.seaways.nl
It is the Skagerrak 720.
 
Instead of holding by hand ...

You say you have a midships cleat that you use fopr berthing etc. ...

Have you thought that you could double a rope back to the boat so that you can slip it easily when departing ... once this rope is in place - you can take of the others - such as bow lines safely, stow them as agreed with Wife etc. Wife then unmakes one end of the midships line .... ready to pull it through shore cleat - back on board at your instruction .... ??

This way you are not using the arms of your beloved as mooring lines !! You always have the rope taking weight until you let go ....

etc. etc.

As to lines on fredeck - not a very good idea even coiled ... wave over the bow and whoops !!
 
Re: Instead of holding by hand ...

Personally, as a confirmed cynic regarding the reliability of my engine, I'd be inclined to leave fenders on until clear of the marina, likewise a bow and stern line. The bow line too short to catch the prop and the stern one safely tucked away so there's no way it could find its way over the side.
 
Re: Instead of holding by hand ...

I have to agree with Stemar above. I'd leave bow & stern lines attached to cleats and pontoon until last minute before leaving. After clearing the pontoon, crew leave the lines attached to cleats, with the body coiled and made fast to the pulpit/pushpit. If the engine fails, the lines are readily available if needed.
Once outside the marina, stow fenders, and on other than short passages I'd probably remove the bow line(s) too; dont see much need to remove stern lines if they are out of the way on the pushpit, although no reason not to I suppose.
 
Re: Instead of holding by hand ...

Thank you all for your commments!

Nigel: the pontoon in the marina does not have a cleat in the middle of our boat, just 2 rings at the bow, 1 ring at the stern and 1 pole at the stern, so I don't think I can use the trick with the doubled line here...
Steve: I never thought of having the bow lines too short to get caught in the prop, this certainly is a good idea...
Aidan: I can see your point, if something goes wrong, it is better to have the lines ready for use!

I will think the procedure over!
best regards,
Jan
 
Re: Instead of holding by hand ...

You might find the highwayman's hitch useful when leaving the pontoon. A tug on the loose end and your line is free from the pontoon ring with very little danger of it snagging.

It's too bulky for permanent use - and too easy to release accidentally, but using it as you single up to leave could make life easier. Just make sure you learn it well, just like any other knot - get it wrong and it may not release properly, bringing you to an ignominious halt, or release all on its own, with suitably embarrassing consequences. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Re: Instead of holding by hand ...

Most of us leave our ropes tied to the pontoon, all set up ready to re berth after a trip.
Now going to fit fenders to the pontoon, so won't need to take aboard each trip.

We keep spare rope/fenders in lockers just incase needed when away.
 
Re: Instead of holding by hand ...

Thanks Steve!
I will make a printout of this page and put it on the boat.
Looks really handy to me and, as you mentioned, it comes in handy when leaving singlehanded (although I have never singlehanded such a "big ship" as ours, have you seen the picture in the link?)
 
Re: Instead of holding by hand ...

You do not need a cleat on shore at mid point .......... in fact its best at or near stern of boat ... if you berth bow in to dock.

That way you have a line going aft, engine on slow ahead, helm over a little holding the boat in.

OR

A line leading forward to a cleat on shore near bow ... then engine on pulling astern will hold the boat in ... against the line.

Anyway - you let go one end ... pull in line and go ... just being careful not to have line go in prop.

An old salt I sailed with ... he showed some in the club I belonged to one time all sorts of tricks with lines from boat cleats to cleats on shore ... and what can be done etc. All started frtom someone who asked about single-handed mooring etc. As he said and I agree ... if you are on quiet pontoon with no-one else's boat near ... try out all sorts of combinations ... see what happens ... you have a line to the pontoon - so you are not going to drift away !!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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