Hooking up or leaving a tight mooring with a side wind.

[caguy]

This came up this weekend as a large motor cruiser tried to moor up single handed. While he tried to tie up the bow hawser the boat was blown sideways into the boat next to him. The harbor patrol separated them with a tow rope so he could hook up the stern hawser.

What are techniques for hooking up and leaving a mooring single handedly in a crowded mooring with a side wind. The moorings at Catalina are set up with a docking line at the front and back.

The only thing I could think of was some sort of way to tie the bow hawser to the cleat with slip release knot that could the pulled and released from the cockpit.

Frank

Mooring setup at Catalina

 

[Stu Jackson]

that could the pulled and released from the cockpit

THAT'S the answer. The narrow part of the boat is hard to work from and bringing a line back, and clear, from the cockpit would have let him use the stern to tie up and simply have the boat steady back. Drawing the line tighter would have afforded an opportunity to keep from going sideways. Don't know how windy ti was, but this'd work in up to maybe 12 knots.

 

[David in Sandusky]

Fenders?

If we were mooring up that close, we would hang out fenders on the downwind side, then discuss our plan with the downwind boat. Then make fast to the bow, settle into the downwind boat, and return to the stern to haul up the stern hawser.

Pardon me, but it sounds like your slip knot at the bow is for leaving the mooring?

Fun puzzle!

David
Lady Lillie

 

[Brian D]

What I have done before

Was to idle in and catch the stern line first. Then put the motor is low forward motion with the rudder turning the boat into the wind. Kind of acting like a swing line. It worked once but I haven't had a need to do it. However, with my new slip location, I will be getting cross wind all the time. So it looks like I will need to practice this maneuver again.

 

[Don12364]

Use My Alligator Catcher??

I understand in Florida they catch alligators in peoples swimming pools using a noose on a stick. They are just as useful for catching dock cleats.

Take 40" of garden hose and an old warp which will fit inside it.
Make a 3" long slit along the hose ending 5" from one end.
Using a stiff wire or straightened out coat hanger use this to pull the rope all through the hose and out thru the slit.
Keep pulling until there is only 6" showing at the open end of the hose, then tie this in a SMALL bowline round the hose, thus making a noose. See photo.
Now get a garden cane 5' long and offer it into the opposite end of the hose to the bowline end.
If the cane is a loose fit, bulk up the end of the stick with tape until it is a nice sliding fit.
Now you have a noose on a stick.

Use:- At about midships and starting outside the lifelines feed the free end of the rope thru a stanchion base or toerail hole or suitably placed block, and from there to a winch or cleat.

Now:- Come alongside, stop the boat, loop the noose over a dock cleat, pull it tight and then pull the cane away.

Next:- Tighten up on the winch and you are moored.

Then:- Light a cigarette, sip your beer, get your normal dock lines out and step nonchalantly ashore. You have all the time in the world to set up your normal docklines

The knack is that all this takes so little time the boat hardly has time to drift away from the dock. Also, if you are a little shy of your final position you can go ahead or astern or winch in to get to your desired location.

We now use this operation for all our dockings. Nobody risks jumping ashore and into the drink. No risk of a sprained ankle. No chance of the helmsman being stranded alone on the boat with the crew on the dock. No lines in the water waiting to catch the prop. If you get it wrong its easy to try again. etc, etc.

This is also extremely helpful when mooring in a strong tide as well as a strong wind. Sometimes we deploy it from the stern quarter and again sometimes from the bow - it all depends on the circumstances at the time.

Leaving the dock:- Use a slip in the same midships position. Just make sure both ends are close at hand to the helm so they can be pulled aboard before they tangle with the prop.

PS. Disregard my previous posting in July 2001 - a coathanger inside the noose works perfectly but is more nuisance.

 

[Don12364]

If

If the pickup buoy were in the middle of the line joining the two main mooring eyes it would be possible to pick it up and get it onto a midship cleat very quickly. Also the helmsman would not be very far from the cockpit so would only be momentarily not under control.
Approach from the downwind side but parallel to the direction of the two sinkers and, having made this line fast, move quickly along it to whichever end is being blown away and make this fast next.
I have done this single handed many times in a 30' fin keel yacht but it was always a trial of strength and one needed a little luck to make it a success.
Practice in a light crosswind and you will know where to put the fenders!!

In truth a LARGE motor cruiser should not attempt this in bad conditions unless with plenty of crew or outside assistance.

 

[caguy]

I think Stu has the right idea

that if you pick up the stick in the cockpit and attach the Hawser to a line that is run outside of the rigging and through the center of the bow cleat and back to the cockpit you should be able to pull the boat back into place without drifting sideways. You can control the tension on the stern line at the same time.

The power boat had a really high free board and was pushed pretty hard against the next boat.
I idea of the slip knot was for departing and should work. I have found releasing devices but most are large commercial hooks.
Frank

 

[caguy]

Unfortunately the pickup stick is attached to the forward Hawser

with about a 5' line.
I can drag my little boat sideways in a pretty good wind, but that cruiser had its captain pulling with all of his might both feet braced against the gunnel and going nowhere. It was amazing how much force the harbor patrol boat needed to pull him off.
Frank

 

[Rick D]

Don't Get Too Cute...

My own mooring typically has wind about 20 knots and 15 degrees off the bow in the later afternoon. Picking it up singlehanded is a matter of approaching it at a significant angle to allow for the stern to kick to port when reverse is hit and to allow for drift while picking up the mooring at the bow. Everything needs to be ready including a pole to get the wand if it starts to drift away. That and a commitment to release and approach again promptly if it does not all work right. The biggest problem too often is to try to deal with an approach that has gone bad rather than trying again. Casting off is a lesser issue in that I cast off the stern line first (of course, for those who know these moorings) and then the bow, but I let the boat drift and back away rather than trying to go forward since the prop walk works in my favor and the wind is pushing her back in any event.

Having said that, there are some moorings that are a PITA. For example, the B row at Isthmus harbor, on the west side. There is often a strong cross wind blowing and the moorings are tight there. If I single hand into one of those, I always let the harbor patrol know to stand by since there is little room to bail out if something goes astray. Twice over the years they had to give the stern a push to help me get the stern line on. Again, I find leaving easier, but it is usually in the AM with lighter winds. In a heavy cross-wind, it would be very hard to cast off and give the mooring tackle enough time to sink clear and not risk whacking the guy on your port side. It would be, IMHO, irresponsible to do that alone without harbor patrol standing by or at least a couple of dinks to help. And, a high-freeboard power cruiser would have an even more difficult time, especially if the Capt. has to climb to the fly bridge.

RD

 

[Rick D]

One More Thing...

...I have been trying a 6" S/S split ring on a 50' line to pull the sand line up from the cockpit. It's an anchor retrieving ring, slightly modified. I have tried it about three times, but not solo. The idea is to slip it over the sand line at the bow and tail it from the cockpit, allowing the ring to slide over the sand line until it is off the stern quarter or more. Pull up the sand line, and then hand-over-hand the sand line as usual and tie up. I have a big, heavy shackle that seems to provide enough weight. The downside is that the mooring line weights are now squared off on the end instead of being tapered as in the past (maybe they are not lead anymore?). So, that makes for a fouling situation with the ring, but so far at least, it has not been a problem. So, I'll try it some more before fully endorsing the idea.

BTW, we are heading over with Attitude Adjustment2 Monday and will be in Cat Harbor with the SBO burgee up for a week, so swing by if you are there!

Rick D.

 

[caguy]

Rick, the burgee really works, met a semi regular here that goes by the name Arturo.

He is the whitest redheaded homey I have ever seen. Said he would look me up on SBO. I won't be going out to Catalina again until early October for the Jazz festival.
I know what you mean about the Isthmus we were on their string line last year with Novelman. Fortunately I got the last spot on the line and was down wind from everyone else. It gave me plenty of time to recover the stern without hitting anyone. I also like the idea of backing in, it seems like I have more control and a better view than going forward.
Frank

 

[Dennis W.]

Isthmus Mooring Problems

The harbor patrol at Isthmus is there to assist all boaters. If requested they will stand by while you're picking up the mooring, and if you have limited experience with the moorings it's best to let them know. I spent six months helping boaters onto moorings and out of many other situations. Any skipper who attempts close quarter manuevers single handed needs to be aware of what the wind and current will do to his vessel while drifting. Picking up a mooring in Catalina requires the vessel to approach the wand, stop and drift until secured. Any use of the engine will surely catch the sand line and cost you plenty. The harbor department charges dearly for damage to their equipment. During the time I worked at Isthmus I lived on my boat and returned to San Pedro weekly. I was always single hand and I got a lot of practice picking up in the wind on my return. My mooring was in Cat Harbor by the abandoned pier by Wells Beach. Anyone who is familiar knows that every PM the wind runs through at 15+ kts until sunset

 

[Rick D]

Dennis....

...I'm on Delta row, down from Ray's houseboat. And, OK, I was probably exaggerating when I said 20 knots. More accurately, 15-20 in the late afternoon.... I really like Cat. After waiting for 13.5 years for a mooring, I thought I'd get on the upgrade list for a front cove mooring. But, I've come to appreciate the all-weather security of Cat and the fact it is quiet and just remote enough. I gave up my other wait lists and am happy where I'm at. But, it was a lot better sailing angle from MDR compared to Shoreline where I am now. I'm thinking of trying to go around the east end. I figure it's an hour more, but it should be a better sail for me. Might beat motoring to Vincente to get a decent sail angle, or beating and tacking out of Queens Gate. And, I don't like running DDW after the west end on the way back. What did you find? RD

 

[Dennis W.]

Trying the East End

Rick, For about 10 years I sailed out of Newport Harbor and took the route you suggest. You can get a great angle in the PM to go around the East end but have a long starboard close reach to clear Ben Weston Point and approach Cat on port tack. Both directions involve a lot of upwind work. With a mooring in Cat Harbor I'm sure you know Rudy, say hey for me when you see him. By the way the S/S ring you mentioned is common equipment on the power boats with very narrow or no side decks, when it sticks on a weight just allow to go slack and then restart. Helps keep the mud off the boat and hands also. DDW is no fun, I usually go to Vicente from the West end and then ride the compression off the point down to Angels Gate.