Whats The Attraction In Backing in.

[mjf]

Actually, this picture shows why I berth stern-to in my home berth. Not saying I'd do the same everywhere or that it's right for everyone:

As can be seen, the finger extends only a little way beyond the blue fender which means that, if berthed bow-to, then anyone wanting to egress from the vessel would need to climb over the rails and jump about four feet down to the pontoon rather than step aboard as is possible at the stern. Anyone wanting to gain access from the pontoon would probably need climbing gear.

The round white fender, I hear you ask? Just to stop anyone else who might be struggling to berth stern-to from sideswiping me!

That was exactly how my old mooring was too.

and yes I also deployed round fenders on both side of the bow - but also an additional one right on the anchor as I am now on bow roller No3 I think following several swipes by 'others'

 

[Ripster]

Interesting reading all the different systems and ways peops berth and why. I always go Stern too at home berth just for ease of access on and off. I just turn in the fairway square on and walk her down a bit then drop swmbo off on the end of our finger with a stern line and she talks me in whilst controlling any stern wondering with the line if I get it wrong. But then with two engines and BT its fairly easy (relatively!). When I think back to the days of single shaft and no BT - it was a case of lassooing and boat hooks! - then sighs of releif as we pulled her in!!

 

[Powersalt]

We always moor bow in to a finger. Prefer the privacy of having the aft end away from the pontoon or shore. Our bow thruster only gets used about once a month on average (eg when strong wind blowing her off and I'm single handed). Don't understand the fuss about mooring, it's all very relaxing.

I would not be able to get off the boat if I went bow into the pontoon so I have to reverse in. Im stb side to the jetty with helm port side to and its hellish diffcult to judge the distance. Funny really as I can manuover about most places with no problems, but getting back inot my home berth fills me with dread as I often get it wrong and have to have 2 attempts.

I hate bow thrusters and only use it for when I have cocked up as a safety measure etc. I have even seen bow thrusters being used to turn boats heading in marinas whilst coming out of berths etc. Dont understand why.

 

[Frontier]

the finger is much shorter than the boat QUOTE]

Same for me - so why do they charge more for a longer boat, when you dont get a a corrisponding extra lenght of pontoon.


My gas shut-off is in a locker on the bathng platform, if I am stern in I can easily get at it, if I am bows in I have to climb over the transom (dinghy is in the way if I use the gate)

D

 

[Scubadoo]

For me it is bow in, when we are relaxing I like to overlook the water rather than a pontoon. The other problem for me is I have a Dinghy on snap davits so it would make it difficult to get on and off from the stern.

I watch others in the marina go stern to and it seems to take them a few goes at it and on a few occasions I end up giving a hand.

 

[oceanfroggie]

I would not be able to get off the boat if I went bow into the pontoon so I have to reverse in.

Understand. Horses for courses, etc. If we had a forward master cabin, I can see how we might prefer backing in. It's more to do with choice than ease of mooring.

I hate bow thrusters and only use it for when I have cocked up as a safety measure etc. I have even seen bow thrusters being used to turn boats heading in marinas whilst coming out of berths etc. Dont understand why.

Agree fully. They are a last resort, but I dispair when I see folks over using thrusters because they don't know the basics of boat handling. Jeepers it not rocket science and kind of easy after a bit of practice and experience.

 

[Kawasaki]

Jeepers it not rocket science and kind of easy after a bit of practice and experience.

Yeh
You touched on this in an earlier reply to this thread
I agree
But some peeps will not practice
It is obvious from reading on here that most are proffecient
'boat berthers'.

I think you said 'Pracice Practice' or similar.
Anyway
That is the key for getting alonside the Quay! etc
Sometimes the conditions are that the normal berthing manouvre is not on
Plus If you rock up somewhere strange or different you need the skills to sort it.
Else you are petrified of leaving 'home' or arriving somewhere else.
Which curtails your boating/ cruising experiences.

Doesn't matter what type of 'drive' you have
Single. twin, inboard, outboard, outdrives etc de blah de blah
They are all different but the same!
The basics are the same
It's just practice practice or get someone along to show you the ropes and that's that.

Nose in blunt end in
Be sure, even in your own berth you can 'do it both ways'

 

[deborahann]

reasons to berth bow first:

1) the drinks cabinet is further from the other pontoon moorers
2) MF's toilet exits are away from the pontoon
3) others can't see the full ashtrays
4) we can get off after lying about the length of the boat
5) the dog is frightened to get off that way & annoy other boat moorers

it works for us

 

[hlb]

I dont agree at all at all. I've been driving boats about for yonks. Even taught you a thing or two.

Lets take out the folk that have to back in, some times you have to, but dont make any sence. I've never heard of teaching, that tells folk about the hard way to do things. Only the best ways. Please folk dont bleat off about, cant get off if I drive in. The post aint aimed at you.

If I drive in, as in 99% of time, I get, what superbe boat handling, wonderfull, marvelous. The boats parked up in seconds. No ones got off the boat yet.

If I have to back in. Rare but particularly on port side. I cant see the pontoon, or the back end. No amount of training is going to solve that. I'm not saying I cant or wont do it. I can and do.

I wonder if folk are just doing things that dont make any sence, just because others are. Or should we be not asking for longer pontoons.

Would anyone advise driving a car into an on road parking slot. No, it's nearly immposible, they would tell you to back in. Same with boats except tuther way round.

 

[Kawasaki]

Yeh but sometimes you need to know how to go sideways backwards forwards etc innit
So I,m saying.
It's all needed at some time.
Plus more practice is good too
All boats are different , thats summatt I have learn't over the last 5 years
Even twin shafts like yours
And as one Guy said to me once
Who has parked more boats than Nelson and Noah (did noah actually park by the way!)
'yer only as good as the last Puff of wind!!'

 

[DAKA]

I dont agree at all at all. I've been driving boats about for yonks. Even taught you a thing or two.

Lets take out the folk that have to back in, some times you have to, but dont make any sence. I've never heard of teaching, that tells folk about the hard way to do things. Only the best ways. Please folk dont bleat off about, cant get off if I drive in. The post aint aimed at you.

If I drive in, as in 99% of time, I get, what superbe boat handling, wonderfull, marvelous. The boats parked up in seconds. No ones got off the boat yet.

If I have to back in. Rare but particularly on port side. I cant see the pontoon, or the back end. No amount of training is going to solve that. I'm not saying I cant or wont do it. I can and do.

I wonder if folk are just doing things that dont make any sence, just because others are. Or should we be not asking for longer pontoons.

Would anyone advise driving a car into an on road parking slot. No, it's nearly immposible, they would tell you to back in. Same with boats except tuther way round.

What you say makes a bit of sense but leaves the main point unanswered ....

Going in stern to allows the boat in the neighbouring finger to use your bow to roll in, this is really important to most marinas which are located on the coast and suffer from afternoon sea breezes.

Benjenbav leaves a ball fender just in the right place for this reason , every one should follow his example.


oh and as to driving your car in front first, I ve seen 4x4 women drivers do it all the time, oblivious to reverse gear they bounce the front wheel over the pavement using excessive revs which usually disperses the bus queue in a panic.

 

[hlb]

What you say makes a bit of sense but leaves the main point unanswered ....

Going in stern to allows the boat in the neighbouring finger to use your bow to roll in, this is really important to most marinas which are located on the coast and suffer from afternoon sea breezes.

Benjenbav leaves a ball fender just in the right place for this reason , every one should follow his example.


oh and as to driving your car in front first, I ve seen 4x4 women drivers do it all the time, oblivious to reverse gear they bounce the front wheel over the pavement using excessive revs which usually disperses the bus queue in a panic.

My nieghbours go in forwards, as do nearly all the raggies.

 

[DAKA]

raggies are narrow at the stern anyway so they make a decent funnel .

Just because your neighbours are inconsiderate doesnt mean you have to follow , perhaps you could educate them on how it should be done, perhaps after been based on the south coast you should take on a new title of ' south coast liaison officer ' or how about ' Ambassador to the south coast' ?

 

[hlb]

Right O . I'll just back my davits and dinghy over the pontoon then.

 

[PaulGooch]

Right O . I'll just back my davits and dinghy over the pontoon then.

Why not, some of the raggies on our pontoon leave them parked with anchors and pullpits over the pontoon. job to get by with a trolley sometimes.

 

[deborahann]

What you say makes a bit of sense but leaves the main point unanswered ....

Going in stern to allows the boat in the neighbouring finger to use your bow to roll in, this is really important to most marinas which are located on the coast and suffer from afternoon sea breezes.

Benjenbav leaves a ball fender just in the right place for this reason , every one should follow his example.


oh and as to driving your car in front first, I ve seen 4x4 women drivers do it all the time, oblivious to reverse gear they bounce the front wheel over the pavement using excessive revs which usually disperses the bus queue in a panic.

oi, I drive an old jaguar car, proper one, why I continue to do this, its a long story. Anyway arrive at Lytham, lyner parking with all the men outside shops waiting for their wives think, oooh yes I'll watch this. Neatly park up, men look away, they weren't really watching.

Now as to stern too mooring at Holyhead recently ended in we had crocheted the boat to the pontoon, with the bathing platform in great danger, we did feel ashamed & quietly moved.

 

[Kawasaki]

Neatly park up, men look away, they weren't really watching.


I liked that Debs




crocheted the boat to the pontoon,

That too

 

[DAKA]

oi, I drive an old jaguar car, proper one, why I continue to do this, its a long story. Anyway arrive at Lytham, lyner parking with all the men outside shops waiting for their wives think, oooh yes I'll watch this. Neatly park up, men look away, they weren't really watching.

Now as to stern too mooring at Holyhead recently ended in we had crocheted the boat to the pontoon, with the bathing platform in great danger, we did feel ashamed & quietly moved.

Well it stikes me this post should have been named

" I cant reverse into a finger so will eveyone else start going in forwards"

Perhaps you should helm for Haydn ? just the parking bit, its a well known fact women's brains can cope with multi tasking better than mens, perhaps all those levers looking backwards is just too much for him to cope with

I'm off to my boat now Haydn and will not get chance to read a reply