Our club, it is new and I am new to it, is having a "gourmet raft up." It is an overnight event and we are to bring a dish to feed four and recipe. What is this? I am assuming it is a "some anchored, the others tied together" kind of thing. I am interesting in participating but have some questions: 1. What is it? 2. How does it work? 3. Can a little-bitty H23 participate? 4. Expectations/etiquette? 5. Abything I should know/ask? TIA Richard H23 "Invictus"
What is a raft up?
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Raft Up etiquette
Raft ups are fun times and they are pretty much how you envision. Here are some points: Depending on conditions a raft up can have 4 or 5 boats swinging on 1 anchor, or you could have more boats tied together swinging on 2 or 3 anchors spaced several boats apart, it all depends on conditions, calm water, no wind, tide, current and so on. It is generally good practice to pass boats rafted together from the stern (avoid anchor lines from the bows) and request permission to join a particular group. Once invited you would want to follow directions of those you are joining as which side or location they want you to go to, keep in mind that as a 23' boat you would probably be better off joining on the outside of the group rather than end up as the center of a sandwich of other larger boats. You must be prepared with your own fenders (clean fenders) and lines. It is good practice to give the boat you are tieing off of the loop end of your lines, that way you adjust the tension on the lines using the bitter end and have any access lines coiled up on your boat rather than on your neighbors. Once you are secure with good clean fenders and properly adjusted bow and stern lines you should set your spring lines, once again giving your neighbor the loop end to put over a cleat and you using the bitter end to adjust (remember to watch your spreaders and make sure that they are not in line with your neighbor, they should be offset so that they cannot touch should the boats rock for some reason). Now that you are all tied off you can offer your neighbor a cold one for helping you join the raft up. One of the pleasures of raft ups is visiting with each of the other boats and entertaining sailors from the other boats on yours. It is also a good idea to have some snacks/treats to offer or set out for your visit to other boats or for your guest. Another important point to remember, when moving from 1 boat to the next it is appropriate to move around in front of each mast rather than trying to crawl through someones cockpit and disrupting those sitting in the cockpit. Pitch in dinners are very common, and you should plan to provide something that is easy to prepare and store (you are only 23' with a small ice chest). Salads, or desserts are always good or you could contact the organizers and see if they have some suggestion, realizing your boats limited capability. Hope this helps. Enjoy yourself and make lots of new friends. PS: Remember "Clean Fenders" you don't want to leave a bad impression on your neighbor and leave big back dirty marks all over the side of his boat. You won't be welcome back if you do.
Raft ups are fun times and they are pretty much how you envision. Here are some points: Depending on conditions a raft up can have 4 or 5 boats swinging on 1 anchor, or you could have more boats tied together swinging on 2 or 3 anchors spaced several boats apart, it all depends on conditions, calm water, no wind, tide, current and so on. It is generally good practice to pass boats rafted together from the stern (avoid anchor lines from the bows) and request permission to join a particular group. Once invited you would want to follow directions of those you are joining as which side or location they want you to go to, keep in mind that as a 23' boat you would probably be better off joining on the outside of the group rather than end up as the center of a sandwich of other larger boats. You must be prepared with your own fenders (clean fenders) and lines. It is good practice to give the boat you are tieing off of the loop end of your lines, that way you adjust the tension on the lines using the bitter end and have any access lines coiled up on your boat rather than on your neighbors. Once you are secure with good clean fenders and properly adjusted bow and stern lines you should set your spring lines, once again giving your neighbor the loop end to put over a cleat and you using the bitter end to adjust (remember to watch your spreaders and make sure that they are not in line with your neighbor, they should be offset so that they cannot touch should the boats rock for some reason). Now that you are all tied off you can offer your neighbor a cold one for helping you join the raft up. One of the pleasures of raft ups is visiting with each of the other boats and entertaining sailors from the other boats on yours. It is also a good idea to have some snacks/treats to offer or set out for your visit to other boats or for your guest. Another important point to remember, when moving from 1 boat to the next it is appropriate to move around in front of each mast rather than trying to crawl through someones cockpit and disrupting those sitting in the cockpit. Pitch in dinners are very common, and you should plan to provide something that is easy to prepare and store (you are only 23' with a small ice chest). Salads, or desserts are always good or you could contact the organizers and see if they have some suggestion, realizing your boats limited capability. Hope this helps. Enjoy yourself and make lots of new friends. PS: Remember "Clean Fenders" you don't want to leave a bad impression on your neighbor and leave big back dirty marks all over the side of his boat. You won't be welcome back if you do.
Caution
When rafting up, be sure to alternate bow-to-stern and stern-to-bow. Otherwise a rude motorboat passing at high speed can produce a wake that will oscilate the parallel masts in perfect harmony -- until they interlock and come crashing down. I heard of this off Oxford MD in the Chesapeake Bay.
When rafting up, be sure to alternate bow-to-stern and stern-to-bow. Otherwise a rude motorboat passing at high speed can produce a wake that will oscilate the parallel masts in perfect harmony -- until they interlock and come crashing down. I heard of this off Oxford MD in the Chesapeake Bay.
Another suggestion
You may not have to tie bow to stern – but offset the boats (fore and aft) by about 5 feet. That keeps the rigging from getting tangled when the idiots in the power boats go by at max wake speed.
You may not have to tie bow to stern – but offset the boats (fore and aft) by about 5 feet. That keeps the rigging from getting tangled when the idiots in the power boats go by at max wake speed.
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