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Post by dogless on Jul 16, 2023 7:38:25 GMT
Moored for a few days on piling in Rugeley, I noticed a guy untie his boat and move a hundred yards or so to moor in front of me.
Nice chap and it transpired he was shuffling in pursuit of a TV signal ... each to their own.
However I couldn't help but notice (because the process appeared endless) he moored with bow, stern and centre lines and took a great deal of time and effort to do so.
Looking around I see that only a tiny percentage of boats use centre lines for mooring, and wondered what the rationale for doing so could be.
Apart from moving the boat by hand I can't think of any other time I use ours.
Rog
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Post by Aloysius on Jul 16, 2023 7:49:05 GMT
Mooring using a centre line is very silly.
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Post by Mr Stabby on Jul 16, 2023 7:55:13 GMT
I normally moor with bow and stern lines tight and loosely attach the centre line to the piling so that when I untie there's still something holding the boat to terra firma until I'm finally ready to push off.
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Post by dogless on Jul 16, 2023 8:02:35 GMT
Yes ... I can see for solo boaters that the centre will come much more into play.
Rog
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Post by Aloysius on Jul 16, 2023 8:03:30 GMT
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Post by Telemachus on Jul 16, 2023 8:19:30 GMT
We are moored on pins on the Nene, after the last couple of days rain there is a bit of current. So a pin each for bow and stern. And then the centre line taken well forward (we are bow into current like good boys) to a third pin, line slack. Just in case.
But of course for that usage, one first has to venture onto a river…
The only time we would use the centreline on a canal would be eg if there was nowhere to tie one end to (solid concrete bank or whatever. You do see people who not only have attached their centreline, but also via several loops so that it is rock solid and no possible chance of movement. These are probably the same people who shout “SLOW DOWN” when their boat tilts alarmingly as our boat passes at 1.5 mph on tickover.
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Post by dogless on Jul 16, 2023 8:31:06 GMT
Yes ... two moored like that immediately in front of me at present ... tightest line is the centre. Having watched the guy in front, very meticulously shuffling between ropes tightening and tying, it has me wondering and now looking to see how many do it. On a canal ... piled at that, I was struggling to see why one would. Of course Mr Stabby came up with an eminently sensible explanation for a solo boater. Rog |
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Post by Mr Stabby on Jul 16, 2023 8:36:06 GMT
Yes ... two moored like that immediately in front of me at present ... tightest line is the centre. Having watched the guy in front, very meticulously shuffling between ropes tightening and tying, it has me wondering and now looking to see how many do it. On a canal ... piled at that, I was struggling to see why one would. Of course Mr Stabby came up with an eminently sensible explanation for a solo boater. Rog There is another advantage too in that if it rains, the centre line dries out much quicker afterwards if it is not sitting on the roof. |
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Post by Telemachus on Jul 16, 2023 8:39:49 GMT
Yes ... two moored like that immediately in front of me at present ... tightest line is the centre. Having watched the guy in front, very meticulously shuffling between ropes tightening and tying, it has me wondering and now looking to see how many do it. On a canal ... piled at that, I was struggling to see why one would. Of course Mr Stabby came up with an eminently sensible explanation for a solo boater. Rog I don’t really buy the “solo boater” thing. Although Jeff is normally on board, sometimes I set off or tie up without his assistance. For setting off, the strategy is to undo the bow, walk back and undo the stern, then set off. Not difficult. I have never felt the need to attach the centreline to make setting off easier, and I don’t see how it would. Of course the centre line is useful for tying up as a means to bring the boat into the bank, but once the bow and start are attached, the place for the centreline is on the roof. |
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Post by dogless on Jul 16, 2023 8:41:10 GMT
Yes I can see Mr Stabby what a huge boon that would be to a soft handed, delicate flower like you ... very wise 😁 Rog |
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Post by kris on Jul 16, 2023 8:42:54 GMT
Or is it just an opportunity to disagree with mr stabby?
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Post by dogless on Jul 16, 2023 8:44:49 GMT
Yes ... two moored like that immediately in front of me at present ... tightest line is the centre. Having watched the guy in front, very meticulously shuffling between ropes tightening and tying, it has me wondering and now looking to see how many do it. On a canal ... piled at that, I was struggling to see why one would. Of course Mr Stabby came up with an eminently sensible explanation for a solo boater. Rog I don’t really buy the “solo boater” thing. Although Jeff is normally on board, sometimes I set off or tie up without his assistance. For setting off, the strategy is to undo the bow, walk back and undo the stern, then set off. Not difficult. I have never felt the need to attach the centreline to make setting off easier, and I don’t see how it would. Of course the centre line is useful for tying up as a means to bring the boat into the bank, but once the bow and start are attached, the place for the centreline is on the roof. I think the advantage is the other way around ... step off with centre line, tie off bow and stern, and having done so why bother to untie the centre until last thing before leaving. Rog |
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Post by Telemachus on Jul 16, 2023 8:47:02 GMT
I don’t really buy the “solo boater” thing. Although Jeff is normally on board, sometimes I set off or tie up without his assistance. For setting off, the strategy is to undo the bow, walk back and undo the stern, then set off. Not difficult. I have never felt the need to attach the centreline to make setting off easier, and I don’t see how it would. Of course the centre line is useful for tying up as a means to bring the boat into the bank, but once the bow and start are attached, the place for the centreline is on the roof. I think the advantage is the other way around ... step off with centre line, tie off bow and stern, and having done so why bother to untie the centre until last thing before leaving. Rog But I never tie the centreline in the first place. Why would you on a canal where the water isn’t moving?! Or on a river for that matter. If there is current, you tie up the upstream end first. Then the boat is not going to move significantly whilst you attach the stern. |
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Post by Aloysius on Jul 16, 2023 8:49:24 GMT
Might make things a tad interesting if the water level fell sharply. Or worse, if it rose. Still, probably not a terribly important consideration on a canal.
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Post by dogless on Jul 16, 2023 8:51:27 GMT
On the rare occasions I've worked solo I learned to tie the centre line so the boat was secured whilst I managed to tie bow and stern ... embarrassing running between bow and stern lines like a see-saw was then avoided.
Of course with no other boats about I wouldn't bother with the centre as there was little movement, and either way I wouldn't leave it tied once moored.
Rog
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