Tying up etiquette

[RTB]

Ok, I've seen the thread about using someone else's mooring and all the threads about tying up alongside in a mannerly and thoughtful fashion but what is the procedure when someone ties up alongside my boat which is against the quayside and is using great big black tyres as fenders ? Needless to say there is some damage to the fresh paintwork (fresh this year at considerable cost) from the tyres. There is no boat name, the harbourmaster is away on holiday, no-one locally knows whose boat it is, and I'm annoyed and upset at the damage. I only see my boat at weekends so can't sit and wait for him to return and receive my wrath. I intend to speak to the h/master when he comes back but what would you do ?

 

[paulburton44]

Take some pictures.......

 

[orizaba]

not sure about the tyres but that bug of pauls is brilliant,the first time i saw it i brushed the screen convinced a noseeme had become a seeme in my laptop.

might i enquire where you would find such a thing.

re the tyres is it possible to rig a pc of canvas along the side of your boat,maybe too late now but to help if it occured again

 

[RTB]

Yes thanks, the canvas is a good idea although an afterthought now and I have already taken some pics, but how do you educate people to be respectful of other peoples' property ? I tied up alongside for a couple of years until I got a quayside berth and I always was careful not to damage the other boat.

 

[Channel Ribs]

[ QUOTE ]
...There is no boat name...

[/ QUOTE ]

Is there nothing at all, perhaps a VHF license or a visible document?

What type of vessel is it?

 

[bilbobaggins]

Why not post some pics on here, clearly showing the offending marks, the tyres, and the boat's name.

Years ago, peer pressure within the established clubs - big and small - regularised behaviour on the water, within a smallish community of water users.

The community's much larger now, of course, but we can still exert considerable peer pressure, through this means.....



/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Anonymous]

That is disgraceful behaviour. As Martin suggests, there should be some kind of ident on the boat somewhere. You could leave your details firmly affixed to his boat, with a firm request that he pays for full restitution of your topsides.

In case he is computer literate, why not carefully print the url of this thread on your letter and post the vessel's details here once you have them?

 

[kengill]

All very much MHO

Very simple get the boatyard to do an estimate and take out a claim form against him - you can do it on-line I think. Nail it to his mast with a few very large six inch nails as per marine tradition.

If he fails to answer the claim form get the court to process it and secure the claim against the boat - see iff he's part 1 or part 2. If he 's part 1 then you can register the charge against the ship so hen won't be able to sell it unless he pays you of fplus interest etc - unless one of you legal folks knows different. Tell this guy how to extract his ha'porth of tar nearest the keelson.

 

[William_H]

From my little experience of marinas i find this post quite amazing.

Apparently you don't have the rights to mooring /(pen we call them) for you exclusive use. If you are simply mooring next to a quayside then you either have some sort of contract or arrangement with the operator to use the location or you are simply squatting.

If you are simply squatting it is likely the other boat owner reckons it is his spot or he has as much rights as you. You may be the one in the wrong or at least too bad to you.

If you have a contract implied or written and you are paying for the priviledge then you should know if you have rights to exclusive use of the location. It may or may not follow that he has no right to moor next to your boat. In any case black marks might be the least of damage possible.

You need top get clear understanding of your rights and his rights. Then you can either claim damages or just put up with the damage and try to minimise it yourself.

It is a concept that is completely alien to boating around here. The only time you would ever tie up alongside another boat is for a picnic and then with the agreement of the other skipper.

Referring back to the original post about mooring etiquette. Our local water (government) authority licence mooring locations to specific boats. There is a specified on the spot fine for mooring even temporarily and a fee to register a short term alternative boat to a mooring buoy. People are often chased off mooring they are not registered to but I havn't heard of actual fines.(yet)

The inspectors have the game sewn up because the same authority issues registration numbers to all boats.
Like the traffic police they can access the computer details in milliseconds from the patrol boats. (they also do speeding and alcahol fines and check safety gear) (and from next April will be checking skipper's tickets also)

You folks would call it a Nanny state perhaps you are right although I find it all works OK. olewill

 

[fireball]

To minimise further damage would it not be sensible to put down some fenders and a fenderboard between your boats - so the tyres are rubbing against your fenderboard and not your topsides ...

 

[RTB]

Thanks for all the replies and sympathy - and yes I immediately took 2 of my 4 fenders against the quay and put them between the boats. I then went and bought 2 new fenders and put one of them between the boats and 1 against the quay. I also threw one of his tyres back on to his boat for him to think about.
Before I "go national" with his identity, if I can get it, I'll speak to the harbourmaster.
thanks again