To raft or not to raft, protocol?

[Icarus39]

We raft a great deal in Holland. In summer the rafts can be 6 deep easily. For me the golden rules and pitfalls are -

- put fenders out, those who don't are a target for me to go alongside .... the type of folks who think in a busy harbour they will not get rafted against if they disappear down the hatch when they see you coming in ... just not cricket
- pick a boat of similar size to raft against
- put shore lines on if you are 2nd or 3rd in the raft
- observe the etiquette of passing silently around the foredeck of your neighbours and not tramping round like a Wilderbeast

Pet hates .... people grabbing my stanchions or worse still, pushing off against them. If seen doing this they get a polite but blunt instruction not to do so. People continuously tramping on and off over your decks for no apparent reason. People who don't pur shore lines on ... a polite request to do so usually works.

As someone else mentioned, I prefer to help someone alongside and make sure no damage is done rather than come back and wonder if the boat that has tied up next to me has done any damage.

Good manners and etiquette are key, like others say .. some great evening with sociable neighbours !

 

[GrahamM376]

Thanks.

The first question related slightly to the second, whether it(rafting) was an acceptable practice within the insurance industry, and if it wasn't then maybe the person inviting would not have any claim against another boat, if damaged.

Rafting is normal practice even for very large ships, particularly when bunkering in ports such as Gibraltar.

 

[Poignard]

Good manners and etiquette are key, like others say .. some great evening with sociable neighbours !

The best boats to raft up on are luxury motor boats owned by people who used to sail. They always feel sympathy for us living in the relative discomfort of our tiny [nowadays!] 28-foot boat and often invite us on board to luxuriate in the comfortable surroundings and enjoy cold drinks and canapes.

 

[Grehan]

The thing I really hate, is boats that approach with crew standing ready with boathooks to 'fend off' by jabbing at my boat.
Forgive my unfair and sweeping generalisation, but Spanish boats are particularly prone to do this.

 

[Blue5]

Berthing in the middle of a large space leaving two slots too small to use

Agreed, I think this is really thoughtless.

No problem with being rafted but it is nice if people out of politeness ask which way to cross the boat.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Next question - if the crew rafting on you don't know the etiquette, do you spell it out to them or frown and mutter as they clamber through your cockpit and stare down the hatches?

It's happened so rarely to us that we've never commented. We just put it down to them being new to the game and it seems churlish to make an issue of it.

 

[prv]

Next question - if the crew rafting on you don't know the etiquette, do you spell it out to them or frown and mutter as they clamber through your cockpit and stare down the hatches?

I'd tell 'em. Otherwise how are they to learn? No need to make a big deal of it though.

The first question related slightly to the second, whether it(rafting) was an acceptable practice within the insurance industry, and if it wasn't then maybe the person inviting would not have any claim against another boat, if damaged.

Rafting is a perfectly normal evolution. I can't imagine an insurance company saying that it's your fault if someone else damaged your boat while performing it.

I have a 10.4m F33 flybridge mobo. There is no easy way on or off other than at the swim platform. If we are alongside, rather than stern-on, the platform can be a bit awkward because of the positioning of the shore lines. I would also imagine that a trek around the for'ard end would be a pain for yachties and I wouldnt really want people tramping over the area just in from of the windscreen.

I've just googled some pictures of boats like yours. It's a bit hard to tell from the high angles most of them are taken from, but the topsides don't look all that high, especially if alongside a largish modern slab-sided yacht. Perhaps yotties are more nimble than you give them credit for . Lacking other instructions, I'd probably climb aboard amidships and go round the bow because it's what I'm used to, but if the skipper said he preferred people to go across the stern platform or whatever then obviously I'd be happy to follow his request. It's not as clear-cut on a boat like yours what the least intrusive route (which is after all what matters) should be

Pete

 

[AllanJ]

Thanks, Pete.
For the record. I have no problem with others rafting against us; do unto others and all that. I'm sure we can work it out.
Walk wherever's easiest, but just don't wake me up or steal my crisps

 

[DanTribe]

Mike Peyton cartooned this

Next question - if the crew rafting on you don't know the etiquette, do you spell it out to them or frown and mutter as they clamber through your cockpit and stare down the hatches?

As there is another thread running on Mike Peyton, this reminded me of one his cartoons.
A man is crossing a foredeck and looks down the forehatch saying, " Good morning madam".
the boats name Lieutenant, [pronounced loo-tenant].

 

[kesh]

As there is another thread running on Mike Peyton, this reminded me of one his cartoons.
A man is crossing a foredeck and looks down the forehatch saying, " Good morning madam".
the boats name Lieutenant, [pronounced loo-tenant].

did that raise the spinnaker pole?

 

[alant]

We were moored at a busy river pontoon at the weekend. We put fenders out, just in case anyone wanted to raft against us.

The two yachts in front of us both had their dinghies tied alongside, making it impossible for anyone to raft.

What's the protocol?

Move the dinghies!

(1) if its a 'public' mooring, then they cannot object to anyone rafting, unless your boat is much bigger or conditions might cause damage. In Poole, before the marina was built, rafting alongside the Quay, was normal. However, the areas used were length specific, so heavier 45' boats, could not raft alongside 30' boats.

(2) When rafting, you should always attempt to have bows at opposite ends. This creates (a) private areas for both crews (b) prevents masts/spreaders clashing, when a wash causes rolling.

(3) When in Cowes, particularly during Cowes week, do not hand your lines to anyone who might 'look' like a sailor. I've done that in the past, only to find they simply continue holding it not knowing what to do, 'cos its the first time they have ever been on a yacht & are only there for the Pimms!

 

[Touchwood]

While we're on the subject of considerate behaviour in harbour, let's also mention a couple of my pet peeves -

Berthing in the middle of a large space leaving two slots too small to use and tying up a dinghy with a short painter or worst of all tying it alongside with two ropes.

Another of my Norfolk Broads memories:

Berthed at Neatishead Staithe during the Barton Regatta, we noticed one of our fellow regatta attendees coming in to berth. It was common practice for us to raft up, but there was a good two boat length taken up by a single hire boat. (Not his fault, he was there first when the staithe was empty) Guy sat on deck fishing.

Crew and I wandered along and asked the guy if we could move him please? No need for him to do anything. Abrupt refusal.

We explained that the boat attempting to moor had a number of handicapped persons aboard - one blind, at least one other in a wheelchair - though they could raft it would be far easier for them not to have to.

Further abrupt refusal accompanied by tirade of abuse. My crew and I started quietly discussing the idea of just moving him anyway, whilst a few others who had gathered remonstrated with the stubborn idiot who still refused to move.

Eventually a (female) head popped up through a hatch irately demanding to know what was going on.

"Madam, we are attempting to persuade this gentleman to move your boat so that another boat with handicapped persons aboard can moor safely"

In a voice reminiscent of Mrs. Thatcher.....

"Jack, you miserable old bu**er, MOVE THE F***ING BOAT"

"Yes dear, right away dear......"

 

[Nostrodamus]

Our boat is 45ft and 15 tonnes in her underwear.
What size boat is it wrong to raft against and would you object?
Would you objet if I asked you to move your boat so you could raft up on the outside of me?

 

[alant]

Our boat is 45ft and 15 tonnes in her underwear.
What size boat is it wrong to raft against and would you object?
Would you objet if I asked you to move your boat so you could raft up on the outside of me?

Makes sense.

 

[Poignard]

What size boat is it wrong to raft against and would you object?

First thing I would want to do is to have a look at your past posts in the Lounge!

Some of those who post in there scare me to death!

 

[doug748]

Our boat is 45ft and 15 tonnes in her underwear.
What size boat is it wrong to raft against and would you object?
Would you objet if I asked you to move your boat so you could raft up on the outside of me?

I don't think a soundly constructed 30 foot boat has anything to worry about inside a 45 footer, lying to her own lines, in non tidal shelter (apart form ones painted with Awlgrip, which everyone knows is made from face powder and scotch glue, like mine).
I have shifted to the outside in the past though, and it is more comfy.

To turn the old cliche on its head, it is dreadful to get ready to turn in at
20h, ready for a 4am start, and someone then prepares to come alongside. Much better to get outside them at the outset.

PS
As for the dinghy alongside brigade. I have often seen them repel boarders all afternoon only to go ashore and find they are host to large, lively and well crewed neighbour on their return. I regret to say this gives me more joy than it should.

 

[Sybarite]

We raft a great deal in Holland. In summer the rafts can be 6 deep easily. For me the golden rules and pitfalls are -

- put fenders out, those who don't are a target for me to go alongside .... the type of folks who think in a busy harbour they will not get rafted against if they disappear down the hatch when they see you coming in ... just not cricket
- pick a boat of similar size to raft against
- put shore lines on if you are 2nd or 3rd in the raft
- observe the etiquette of passing silently around the foredeck of your neighbours and not tramping round like a Wilderbeast

Pet hates .... people grabbing my stanchions or worse still, pushing off against them. If seen doing this they get a polite but blunt instruction not to do so. People continuously tramping on and off over your decks for no apparent reason. People who don't pur shore lines on ... a polite request to do so usually works.

As someone else mentioned, I prefer to help someone alongside and make sure no damage is done rather than come back and wonder if the boat that has tied up next to me has done any damage.

Good manners and etiquette are key, like others say .. some great evening with sociable neighbours !

+1

I usually like to make sure that there are fore and aft springs to make sure the boats don't saw against each other, and don't shift their position when the tide changes. Sometimes also when boats are tight against each other the fenders squeal. A little bit of washing up liquid on them cures this.

 

[alant]

I don't think a soundly constructed 30 foot boat has anything to worry about inside a 45 footer, lying to her own lines, in non tidal shelter (apart form ones painted with Awlgrip, which every knows is made from face powder and scotch glue, like mine).
I have shifted to the outside in the past though, and it is more comfy.

To turn the old cliche on its head, it is dreadful to get ready to turn in at
20h, ready for a 4am start, and someone then prepares to come alongside. Much better to get outside them at the outset.

I got back about 2300 hrs, to a charter boat I was skippering at Yarmouth one August Bank Holiday. It was a 'mature' hen party of a dozen females who had imbibed much wine, which was one reason I had absented myself from their company.

Yarmouth on that warm balmy evening, was wall to wall boats, full to the brim, with ours against the wall & many, many rafted outside. All the boats were partying.

The charterer then informed me, that we had to get back to the Hamble by 1000 hrs the following morning. Aghast, I advised her that to do that, we would have to leave very early to catch the tide & pointed out the unlikelyhood of un-rafting, without the assistance of hung-over irate crews on the outside boats - "would you like to ask them"?.

Asking what was the alternative, I replied "we should go now, whilst they are friendly & compliant", which is what we did. The outside & adjacent rafts, were extremely helpful, warping us out by hand, until clear water.

Off we went, full moon, no wind, flat sea, motoring - also having dropped off some 'passengers' onto the outside trots, who had missed their ferry. After a 'romantic' moonlit trip, we moored up at about 0330hrs, everyone satisfied.

Just an example of how rafting, can be a reasonably pleasant experience, at odds with another at Cowes Week, where a boat 5 slots in, dropped his lines to go racing on Sunday morning, setting adrift all the raft outside him, who then drifted into the path of Red Funnel, before the onboard crews, could detach.

 

[prv]

Our boat is 45ft and 15 tonnes in her underwear.
What size boat is it wrong to raft against and would you object?

I wouldn't be very happy with you outside of me, unless perhaps it was very calm. But I'm only 24 foot.

Would you objet if I asked you to move your boat so you could raft up on the outside of me?

Not at any reasonable time of day. Ok, it's a bit of a faff to move and re-moor, but then I'd be safe from being squished, could leave on my own schedule, and wouldn't have you twanging my shrouds and stomping on my decks

Pete

 

[bendyone]

Poole town quay.

I'm in the middle so small the HM did not see me or charge me for the night. The outside boats were together and took me out on the town for the night. Cant remember much but I guess it was good.