Tips for rafting with a shared buoy singlehanded

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chris-s

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So, assume reasonably benign conditions, picking up a mooring buoy single handed, no problem since I do it all the time l, rafting alongside with a pontoon on the inside, no problem. But, just so I don’t look a complete fool, what’s the best approach for rafting alongside and wanting to tie to the shared buoy when singlehanded? I was thinking, use midship cleats before trying to get a line on the buoy, but if it is out of reach of my hooky stick (bow blown off, other boat longer or using long mooring lines) then what is the way? Pass a line thru from the other boat if it is closer? Inflate/launch the dinghy? Or tie to the buoy first and then the other boat, but by the time I’ve got a line thru the buoy we could have drifter apart. I guess if there is someone aboard the other boat to take a line that might help. Probably just over thinking it as usual!
 
The first time I had to do this was in the River Dart, on a visitor buoy at Dittisham. All the buoys were occupied but a kindly old gentleman beckoned me alongside his classic yacht (what else would a kindly old gentleman have? :)) and I rafted up with his help.

Having done that, he handed me a 'Moorfast' line-threading boathook with which to pass my buoy rope through the ring on the buoy; which was out of reach.

That's the technique I have used ever since, having bought a 'Moorfast' as soon as I returned home,
 
Lots of fenders. The other boat should be lying to the tide (if as you say not much wind) so either midships or forward cleat and tie onto the other boat. Forward cleat is probably better to stop your bow drifting off. Then it is dinghy or a long handled Swiftie or mooring device to attach to the buoy then stern line and springs.
If there is not much tide running you may be able to pull yourself forwards on the other boat until you can reach the buoy.
 
The key is to go alongside the attached boat first, you can get lined up and secure and then attach a line to the buoy (by whatever means suitable - moorfast, dinghy, lying down on the other boats bow etc.). Do not try and go straight for the buoy (I once saw someone try and do that bow to bow).

Once attached to the buoy, you head rope to the other boat will most likely be useless; stern line and springs become the most important.
 
Another tip: as with any rafting up, make sure your masts are not directly opposite each other so that if you roll towards each other your spreaders, shrouds etc are les likely to touch,
 
chris-s said:
just so I don’t look a complete fool, what’s the best approach for rafting alongside and wanting to tie to the shared buoy when singlehanded? I was thinking, use midship cleats before trying to get a line on the buoy, but if it is out of reach of my hooky stick (bow blown off, other boat longer or using long mooring lines) then what is the way? Pass a line thru from the other boat if it is closer? Inflate/launch the dinghy? Or tie to the buoy first and then the other boat, but by the time I’ve got a line thru the buoy we could have drifter apart. I guess if there is someone aboard the other boat to take a line that might help. Probably just over thinking it as usual!
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You need a Buoycatcher - just happen to have one for sale - https://forums.ybw.com/threads/buoy...with-extendable-pole-vgc-like-new-£49.619436/
 
Singlehanded with no one on the first boat, I would first attach a bow temporary line to the stern of the first boat, climb on it to pass a long mooring line from my boat to the buoy, then slowly motor forward sideways while pulling the line from the cockpit.
 
chris-s said:
Got one, thanks anyhow.
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In which case, and I have used that Buoycatcher whilst rafting on those exact visitors buoys in Dittisham, come alongside on the windward side of your host. Fix stern and/or midships, watch out for spreader clash risk (I set the lines so we're a metre or so in front or astern of the other boat's mast/spreaders).

Use the boat hook to get a line onto the buoy and as you tighten up, it will bring both bows together. Fix your bow to theirs, a couple of springs and pour that beer.
 
Many years ago we were moored in Fowey. A large yacht hailed us:

1) may we come alongside please? Of course
2) would you prefer us on your port or starboard side? Port side please
3) Thank you, I'll pass you four lines with loops, please drop a loop over your bow cleat, one on the stern cleat and two on midship cleat then we'll not need to trouble you further. Okay

It was all done so courteously, quickly, quietly and without any fuss, I've never forgotten it. Skipper was about 70, he had a crew of about six youngsters, as smart and seamanlike as you could wish for, the epitome of old school sailing. A rare pleasure indeed having experienced the opposite more frequently.
 
LittleSister said:
Where's the fun and excitement in that? ;)
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Yes boat that has been chosen to more against the owners standby anxious as shouting breaks out aboard yacht approaching,…..five meters out the wife hurls a bundle of rope at the bow area whilst the husband confuses ahead with astern and trips in the cockpit throwing a rope end at the fast approaching yacht,it falls short meanwhile the wife pulls in the bow line and the stearn is swept away……
 
Wansworth said:
Yes boat that has been chosen to more against the owners standby anxious as shouting breaks out aboard yacht approaching,…..five meters out the wife hurls a bundle of rope at the bow area whilst the husband confuses ahead with astern and trips in the cockpit throwing a rope end at the fast approaching yacht,it falls short meanwhile the wife pulls in the bow line and the stearn is swept away……
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. . . running over the dropped line, which gets wrapped round the prop . . .
 
Watched a trim thirty five foot motor yacht steam into the harbour to moor up on a pontoon void of any other craft for some inexplicable reason shouting broke out and suddenly it all went terribly wrong and the yacht started going astern with the wife gesticulating whilst the husband was dodging in and out of the wheelhouse ……it was a Spanish yacht………mooring up seems to be a problem of international dimensions!
 
Wansworth said:
Watched a trim thirty five foot motor yacht steam into the harbour to moor up on a pontoon void of any other craft for some inexplicable reason shouting broke out and suddenly it all went terribly wrong and the yacht started going astern with the wife gesticulating whilst the husband was dodging in and out of the wheelhouse ……it was a Spanish yacht………mooring up seems to be a problem of international dimensions!
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It all adds to the thrill of yachting! (Not to mention keeping boatyards and insurers in a job.)

Why do you think they build yacht club and other bars overlooking the pontoons? 😁
 
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