What do you do when two boats use the same pontoon cleat?

[lynall]

And one has to leave before the one who tied up last, so time is wasted untying their rope to get yours off?
I ask as we are moored next to a speed boat, no issues there but they dont use it much and I like my ropes on a certain way so dont want anyone touching them.
I was thinking of using a short bit of thick rope and leave it on the cleat full time and tie up to that?
Any ideas?

 

[Ripster]

We had that at one Marina with a common bow cleat we both wanted to use - me and my neighbour. So we agreed to tie a bowline (rather than do OXO etc) on that line around one of the horns each time. Worked fine after that. It saves the huge piles of lines all over the cleat and having someone remove yours and tie too tight or loose etc.

 

[bluejasper2]

we share a cleat with boat next to us,we both just feed rope through cleat and tie it to cleat on boat.:encouragement:

 

[Philiz]

Just use a bowline and keep the excess warp on the boat, second boat arriving passes bowline up through the neighbours loop before placing on cleat. That way either boat can leave without removing the other boats mooring line from the cleat. Seemples!

 

[lynall]

So simple, why didnt I think of that!

Thanks all

 

[burgundyben]

There's an issue with using a bowline like that, you can't undo it in a hurry from the pontoon, you have to get on the boat to release the other end.

In such circumstances a round turn and two half hitches is my preferred choice for the reason it can be undone under load.

 

[jac]

If doing a bowline, make sure you go the whole way round the cleat, as you would a round turn and two half hitches. More surface area in contact with the cleat and reduces chafe (according to Sir Tom)

 

[Beamishken]

in our marina the cleats have two upstands securing the horns so many owners shackle a short length of chain to the gap below the horns then tie it off with wire to prevent removal they then either splice permanent mooring lines or tie to the chain
taking any slack back to the boat
I dont like anyone else tieing up my boat either

 

[Elessar]

If doing a bowline, make sure you go the whole way round the cleat, as you would a round turn and two half hitches. More surface area in contact with the cleat and reduces chafe (according to Sir Tom)

Agree round turn and two half hitches preferable to a bowline.
As well as this precaution, also remember a bowline can shake loose if under intermittent load. If you must use one, put a hitch in bitter end.

 

[superheat6k]

Agree round turn and two half hitches preferable to a bowline.
As well as this precaution, also remember a bowline can shake loose if under intermittent load. If you must use one, put a hitch in bitter end.

+ another 1 for round turn and two half hitches and if the cleat is really busy just a single turn will do, especially if you use an extra half hitch. If you are concerned the hitches could ride under the other ropes and get locked up then simply tie a figure of 8 in the standing part of the line (the part twards the boat not the free end) about a foot or so away from the cleat turn and let the half hitches bear against that.

The problem with the loop up through the loop already there method is the idiot who arrives later and simply piles 16 locking turns on top !

To lock a rope to a cleat whilst keeping it fully releasable - a full turn around the cleat a full figure of 8 over the horns and another full turn, no locking turns, simples. The rope will part before it slips.

 

[macnorton]

I have pre-set lines permanently secured to the mooring with loops on the end, don't even need to go ashore to cast off and my main ropes are kept clean and chaff free.

 

[henryf]

Tie a bowline around one of the feet of the cleat then tie off the mooring line on you boat's cleat. That way you don't stop anyone else using the pontoon cleat and you can untie at will without disturbing anyone else.

If you need to keep the line attached as you are leaving then undo the bowline, extend the rope so it can be tied off on you boat and once you have used the rope / pontoon cleat to exit the mooring pull it through the pontoon cleat back onto your boat. You might want to wrap it around the outer feet of the pontoon cleat rather than through the middle of the two feet (as you would do when securing the boat) to reduce the chances of a snagged rope when you pull it through.

Henry