What do you do to prepare your boat for mooring up?

[Firefly625]

I love watching folk come into moor up, and there is no place better than Yarmouth on a windy day IMO.

But forgetting the incidents for a minute, I am constantly amazed at boats of all shapes and sizes, mobo's and raggies that come into moor up, either against a pontoon or another boat without any mooring warps attached to their boats whatsoever. Some without a fender to be seen, it is as though the actually act of mooring up has come as a complete shock!

there then is a complete panic when they realise that now against the pontoon some kind chap offers to help and the crew are standing there wondering what they should throw him.... a mad grab in the depths of the cockpit locker produces a heap of string that they pass around each other until someone thinks it might be a good idea to attach it to a cleat... Probably I would say 50% of the boats that I saw coming into moor up in Yarmouth last weekend were not prepared....

So what do you do??

edited bit... was meant to be a poll... my options too long winded so scrapped it...

 

[lisilou]

Make sure the lines are attached to the correct side, make sure fenders are out and to the right height(ish), have a roaving (sp?) fender to hand just in case (not always tho) oh yeh...and make sure one of us is out there to do the tying up/fending off bit.
L

 

[paultallett]

Good question......

Well first off is fenders and ropes both sides.

Check where we are berthing, if it's port or starboard side too, bow in or stern.

Check the wind and THINK about what it's going to do to the boat, also the same with tide.

Talk it through with the SWMBO so we both know whats happening.... more important if it's blowing a gale.

Clear my path of junk from the helm to the stern door........

If it's a stern to mooring, tell the kids to sit down and shut up.... I need to concentrate!!

Then......

Moor perfectly!!..... Or not as the case may be!!

 

[benjenbav]

Make sure the lines are attached to the correct side, make sure fenders are out and to the right height(ish), have a roaving (sp?) fender to hand just in case (not always tho) oh yeh...and make sure one of us is out there to do the tying up/fending off bit.
L

What she said!

 

[jfm]

Coming into home berth is a well practised routine but at a new berth I'm often with the 50% of looneys you have seen in Yarmouth. I'll often come right up to the new berth to suss it out, decide which way I want to be facing (if i have a choice), etc, then hold the boat there while the job of getting fenders out of lockers and preparing lines is underway. It's the easiest thing in the world to hold the boat geostationary (once you get out of your head that you need 6knots for steerage, ).

It depends on the boat a bit I suppose - this system/farce(delete as you see fit) works for me because I keep fender lockers and lines each side of the boat so if I decide to berth port side to then I'll use the mooring gear on that side of the boat ('scuse the CDO revelation there)

This is slightly theoretical as, er, I don't have a boat at the mo...)

 

[Firefly625]

Coming into home berth is a well practised routine but at a new berth I'm often with the 50% of looneys you have seen in Yarmouth. I'll often come right up to the new berth to suss it out, decide which way I want to be facing (if i have a choice), etc, then hold the boat there while the job of getting fenders out of lockers and preparing lines is underway. It's the easiest thing in the world to hold the boat geostationary (once you get out of your head that you need 6knots for steerage, ).

It depends on the boat a bit I suppose - this system/farce(delete as you see fit) works for me because I keep fender lockers and lines each side of the boat so if I decide to berth port side to then I'll use the mooring gear on that side of the boat ('scuse the CDO revelation there)

This is slightly theoretical as, er, I don't have a boat at the mo...)

no jfm, you are not with the 50% of the looneys (sorry to disappoint) as you don't actually then just charged into the berth wondering where your mooring gear is...

but your statement of;

It's the easiest thing in the world to hold the boat geostationary

deserves the comment; show off !

 

[Jurgen]

Home Berth is usually the same i.e. Stern in but if the conditions dictate then bow in but will have fenders & lines all in place at least 5 mins before we get into the marina, crew briefed on who is doing what and in what order. Life jackets on for anyone going on the fore deck & passengers sitting quietly and out of the way.

If taking a berth while visiting a marina they usually tell you (in my experience) to come bow in and on which side the finger/pontoon will be so then follow the same process.

 

[rubberduck]

We have fenders permanently tied on both sides, simply put the on the side walkways when under way. We also have ropes permanently tied at all corners, stored safely on rails or in suitable holes when underway. Wherever we go, therefore, we are prepared. Does no one else do this ?

 

[volvopaul]

I just shout to the mrs, then she gets it all done!

 

[lynall]

We have fenders permanently tied on both sides, simply put the on the side walkways when under way. We also have ropes permanently tied at all corners, stored safely on rails or in suitable holes when underway. Wherever we go, therefore, we are prepared. Does no one else do this ?

Yep we do the same, but as weve only had the boat for 3 months i just assumed everyone did the same, when we got the boat it had one mooring rope!


Lynall

 

[Cardo]

I just shout to the mrs, then she gets it all done!

I also use this method.


It works, sometimes.

 

[talltim]

I just shout to the mrs, then she gets it all done!

I tried shouting to mine but to no effect

 

[jfm]

fenders permanently tied on both sides, simply put the on the side walkways when under way. .... Does no one else do this ?

Nooooooo!!
But that's a whole different topic!

 

[OAF]

I just shout to the mrs, then she gets it all done!

It's the other Way round for me, the missus shouts at me to slow down while she prepares fenders and lines, she is very good at preparing to moor even though she is a little solw

 

[Firefly625]

We have fenders permanently tied on both sides, simply put the on the side walkways when under way. We also have ropes permanently tied at all corners, stored safely on rails or in suitable holes when underway. Wherever we go, therefore, we are prepared. Does no one else do this ?

oh dear... that's a whole different topic

 

[Firefly625]

I just shout to the mrs, then she gets it all done!

excellent, I try this next time I see you, hopefully she can hop aboard without getting wet

 

[Kawasaki]

Quick tip
If you have to come in to a different berth or a Marina/ Harbour for the first time
Hang your fenders on the side you are going to berth against at Pontoon or pier/harbour wall height using a round turn and two half hitches (or whatever you are comfortable with as a 'fixed' knot)
Tother side, where you might have to fend off a vessel that you don't know the height of the rubbing strake etc.
Use a Clove Hitch so's you can adjust the height and position on your rails etc

Apologise
For a rather boring, serious type Post

Now a Really good knot is ----
Shiot
Yerl aft ter wait
Me Lambs ready
An when a Welshman has to see to Sheep it's really really important!

 

[lisilou]

this just reinforces to me I really must swot up on my knots coz I'm rubbish at remembering how to do them.
L

 

[superheat6k]

Unless coming to my home berth, I always have lines rigged on all both sides fore and aft, in large loops ready to lasso the cleats. Also have fenders out both sides.

If single handed I may rig a panama line on the midships cleat.

This gives me complete flexibility to change my mind at the last moment, or if the wind grabs me I can be relaxed that I am not going to cause any damage to me or others should I take a minor drift other than where intended.

Of course the other part is having the confidence to park the thing in the first place. I have had my Failrine Turbo for one year now and am just about getting it right now (most of the time anyway !!!).

 

[Ian h]

If its home berth ropes and fenders out about 5 minutes before arrival.
If different berth I have usually radioed for a berth and know which side too. Again Ropes and fenders out before arrival at berth.
But more importantly give the helm to my 22 year old son whom seems to be a natural. I usually get it wrong and there is always an audiance, He just seems to get it right every time