MOORING YOUR BOAT AGAINST THE PONTOONS

If you are mooring your boat directly against the pontoons, you will find that there are numerous cleats placed strategically to facilitate safe mooring. Due to the relatively sheltered nature of The Camber, it is generally not necessary to use any complex knots or mooring techniques. The picture opposite shows a typical safe mooring technique (and a nice way to tidy your lines).

This picture shows how some people think it is necessary to use every last bit of their lines to secure to the cleat. Although this will secure the boat, it leaves little room for anyone else to tie to the same cleat and makes releasing the boat and overly complicated affair.

Please don’t be a “Cleat Hogger” any unused lines can always be returned back to the boat, used as a “spring” line or coiled up as above.

THE USE OF “SPRING” LINES

Again, due to the shelter provided by the buildings around the camber, safe mooring can often be achieved without the use of a “spring” line. If you are mooring directly against the pontoons you will often find that there is a convenient cleat directly in line with your boats cleats. This will have the effect of stopping your boat moving backwards or forwards whilst moored.

However, if you can’t find a convenient cleat, you can use a “spring” to stop the boat moving in any given direction. The picture opposite shows how this boat has been “sprung so it will not move in either direction. This is important as should the boat be allowed to drift backwards in the wind / current its engine could contact the engine of the boat behind – potentially causing rubbing marks!

MOORING AGAINST ANOTHER BOAT

During busy times of the season, when the weather is good and there are many boats in the water, it is often necessary to moor your boat against another boat – a practice commonly known as “rafting”.

When choosing your mooring, try and moor against a boat that is at least the same length as yours. The picture opposite shows a 6.5m RIB rafted against a 7.5m RIB. When tying to the other boat always choose a strong tying point like a cleat, “A” frame or bow roller. Although many Ribs have rubber cleats attached to the tubes, we do not advise tying to these unless you are only staying for a short period. The boat shown is secured well enough to not need a spring line.

TRIM TABS

If your boat is fitted with hydraulic trim tabs, please ensure that these are fully retracted when returning your boat to the pontoons. This aids safe recovery of your boat from the water and back to the Dry Stack compound.

OUTBOARD ENGINES

Boats left on the holding pontoons should be left with their outboard engines in the lowered position. Please do not trim your outboard to the up position (as is normal on a wet berth) as this can cause damage to other boats and makes it harder to recover your boat from the water. Although not essential, it is good etiquette to leave your steering in the central position as again, this aids the safe recovery of your boat.