Mooring Etiquette : Questions

[StuM]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Well gentlemen, I just returned from another successful raft-up. With the large number of boats involved and limited space we decided to deploy two anchors from the stern of the next to the end boats. Although it was entirely successful, there was some discussion as to which boats should deploy the anchors.

The location and weather were?

And the longest and heaviest boats were?

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by downunder

Photos or it just a story.

Is there any reason to doubt the event? Not necessarily a big deal with similar type boats or smaller boats in OK places and conditions. Great for meeting others and promoting groups, but not as a way of life. Often the larger raft ups leave some scratches and dings on a few of the participants, and more significant problems definitely happen. They can be fun, but they can also be costly in money and other ways.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by StuM

The location and weather were?

And the longest and heaviest boats were?

It was in a river. The weather was great. 4 mph wind or less. clear sky's. Great 3 day weekend. A late season bonus.

[Don C L]

OK I got to laugh because the only raft-ups around here that I have seen happen on crowded holiday weekends and usually include alcohol, loud music, loud people, suspicious behavior and someone yelling, "Hey are we dragging?" or "Anyone got more margarita mix?" Now that I think of it, sounds like fun... in a spring break kind of way...

[brownoarsman]

We had a very strange experiment with a raft up once, that would suggest they can be poor even in calm conditions with differing boat types. We were a catamaran and a monohull, on an almost completely still night off of the Marquesas. With nothing visibly apparent to cause any issues, we got this terrible unsynchronized but low grade rocking that actually wriggled a cleat on the catamaran. Loosening the lines solved the issue, but a very odd event. Perhaps the difference in responses to even small ripples that some have noticed before between cats and monos?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by liveaboard60

Catching up on the thread when I ran across the references to serving in a uniformed Naval service translates to boating experience, I had to grin a little..

On some of the boats I have seen (with crew's larger than the population of towns in which I have lived), a carrier's worth of underway time, wouldn't equate to experiences discussed in this forum..

I had the bizarre experience a few years ago of teaching a rear admiral how to sail. She literally had never so much as touched a line on a sailboat.

It was right up there with learning that the midget gardner I worked with one summer during college was the doctor midget who pronounced the wicked witch of the east dead in The Wizard of Oz.

[Pelagic]

Yes....stern line is all it needs to make raft ups a safe practice.
https://youtu.be/oIidW_8O_cs

[weavis]

A lot of coincidences in life..........

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Any way you look at it, the real danger is the sh@t faced boaters causing the majority of accidents.

On the lake with the punters with coolers full of beer, the ski boats, day sailer, etc., on weekends, sure. Not at sea.

Very rarely maybe some rustbucket bulker with a Russian deck officer with a bottle of vodka (or cleaning fluid ) under the nav table, but that's very rare.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by brownoarsman

We had a very strange experiment with a raft up once, that would suggest they can be poor even in calm conditions with differing boat types. We were a catamaran and a monohull, on an almost completely still night off of the Marquesas. With nothing visibly apparent to cause any issues, we got this terrible unsynchronized but low grade rocking that actually wriggled a cleat on the catamaran. Loosening the lines solved the issue, but a very odd event. Perhaps the difference in responses to even small ripples that some have noticed before between cats and monos?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Yes, definitely.

Very small boats raft up with no problems - no inertia. we raft up with friends in a much smaller boat without problems - they 40', 10 tons, we 54', 25 tons - we don't bob around much, and carry them with us when we do. But cat and mono, both of decent size - recipe for ripped out cleats.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[CareKnot]

Wow! What a thread. Subscribing...

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Yes....stern line is all it needs to make raft ups a safe practice.
https://youtu.be/oIidW_8O_cs

Don't forget the radar!!!!!!!!!!!! It's the radar that makes it safe. Everyone knows that.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Wrong. Please read previous posts.

In crowded anchorages it is sometimes best to raft up with other boats for the night. I do this often and enjoy the company of other sailors. Rafting up does have it's own set of dangers though and not all locations and conditions are suitable for it.

Really a bad idea. Your anchor & rode is sized for your boat, not your boat & a couple more tied to it & when you drag it's way more complicated to deal with. From what I've seen the people rafting up are typically partying & are **** faced by the time they start dragging. Makes for an entertaining spectacle as long as you're not on the receiving end.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Well gentlemen, I just returned from another successful raft-up. With the large number of boats involved and limited space we decided to deploy two anchors from the stern of the next to the end boats. Although it was entirely successful, there was some discussion as to which boats should deploy the anchors.

I'm very glad you had a nice time.

Has it occurred to you that the differences in these discussions have been between you on your small boat and others with much larger boats? And that the techniques are and have to be substantially different?

I have sailed and anchored my Catalina 22 (1983 - 87), Catalina 25 (1987-998) and my current Catalina 34 (1998 - present). The 22 and 25 could be stern anchored, because I could haul up the rode easily by hand. I never did and never would. I wouldn't even think about it for my 34.

I have rafted up, but certainly wouldn't do it overnight.

I also think your "attitude" shows with your disagreements with folks on this forum who are trusted and known to have extensive cruising experience, and who invariably write very well.

weavis nailed it earlier. Thanks for that, weavis.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

I'm very glad you had a nice time.

Has it occurred to you that the differences in these discussions have been between you on your small boat and others with much larger boats? And that the techniques are and have to be substantially different?

I have sailed and anchored my Catalina 22 (1983 - 87), Catalina 25 (1987-998) and my current Catalina 34 (1998 - present). The 22 and 25 could be stern anchored, because I could haul up the rode easily by hand. I never did and never would. I wouldn't even think about it for my 34.

I have rafted up, but certainly wouldn't do it overnight.

I also think your "attitude" shows with your disagreements with folks on this forum who are trusted and known to have extensive cruising experience, and who invariably write very well.

weavis nailed it earlier. Thanks for that, weavis.

Of course it has. One of my boats is listed in my avatar for everyone to see and I have also said numerous times I prefer to sail my smaller catboat. I even posted pictures.
I see in your signature that you have a Rocna 10. I have the same anchor for my Capri 22. Are you sure it's big enough for a 34 footer? I have even dragged with the Capri in the silty bay bottom in only 30 kt winds. Well, I guess that's another discussion altogether.