Dutch01527
Well-Known Member
I have recently changed my boat to a Contest 41 foot, 14 ton sailing boat with a highish freeboard. This change meant that I had to move from my two boat Dartmouth trot to a single boat trot in a more exposed position.
I often solo moor the boat after dropping my wife and dog off at the quay to save her having to clamber on and off the water taxi or tender. The new trot is at right angles to the prevaling SW wind and luckily the first in the series of trots when travelling upstream.
I am concerned that the weight and windage of the boat will make it too heavy to heave in by hand by the time I have got mooring lines on. My idea on mooring line procedure and set up is as follows:
- approach the trot from leeward of the prevaling wind, port side to
- permanent 8mm Dyneema line connecting the fore and aft trot buoys. This line to have three long loops in it, via Alpine Butterfly Knots, that can be slipped over cleats when picking up the line. If they do not line up well initially the line can be just dropped over the fore, aft and stern cleats. This line is 5,000kg breaking load and it floats
- two mooring lines fore and aft connected to the Dyneema that can be unhooked and used to position the boat correctly and made off, leaving the Dyneema loops in place as an additional safety line.
- when leaving let go the main mooring lines and hook back on to the Dyneema. Slip off the Dyneema and if needed bow thruster( all lines are floating) and prop wash both can be used to move boat to starboard or just drift back on the current if possible until clear
- hardest time to leave trot would be an easterly wind pushing me on to the lines and a upstream current pushing me into the next boat up. In that case let go the stern Dyneema loop last using engine and bow thruster to take off pressure and force bow out to drive off forwards
Any flaws in that thinking? Advice welcome.
I often solo moor the boat after dropping my wife and dog off at the quay to save her having to clamber on and off the water taxi or tender. The new trot is at right angles to the prevaling SW wind and luckily the first in the series of trots when travelling upstream.
I am concerned that the weight and windage of the boat will make it too heavy to heave in by hand by the time I have got mooring lines on. My idea on mooring line procedure and set up is as follows:
- approach the trot from leeward of the prevaling wind, port side to
- permanent 8mm Dyneema line connecting the fore and aft trot buoys. This line to have three long loops in it, via Alpine Butterfly Knots, that can be slipped over cleats when picking up the line. If they do not line up well initially the line can be just dropped over the fore, aft and stern cleats. This line is 5,000kg breaking load and it floats
- two mooring lines fore and aft connected to the Dyneema that can be unhooked and used to position the boat correctly and made off, leaving the Dyneema loops in place as an additional safety line.
- when leaving let go the main mooring lines and hook back on to the Dyneema. Slip off the Dyneema and if needed bow thruster( all lines are floating) and prop wash both can be used to move boat to starboard or just drift back on the current if possible until clear
- hardest time to leave trot would be an easterly wind pushing me on to the lines and a upstream current pushing me into the next boat up. In that case let go the stern Dyneema loop last using engine and bow thruster to take off pressure and force bow out to drive off forwards
Any flaws in that thinking? Advice welcome.
