BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - four pile mooring for single-handed sailing

shaun

Wayne.B wrote:
On 25 Mar 2007 17:14:47 -0700, wrote:

G'day

I am looking for tested rope system allowing single-handed operations

from 4 pile mooring (including bad weather conditions). We have 26

feet yacht (keeler).

PILE 1 PILE 2

O O

/\
/ \
/ \
[ ]
[ ]
[ ] boat
[ ]
[ ]
\____/

O O

PILE 3 PILE 4

Alright, let's give this a try. You don't say whether or not this is
going to be a more or less permanent arrangement, but I assume so. If
this is to be your regular tieup, I strongly recommend installing
permanent lines between pilings 1 and 3, and between 2 and 4. These
lines should be about 2 feet above normal high water, fairly tight,
and strong enough that you can lay the boat against them in a
crosswind. If these are your pilings, I would also recommend
installing rubber pile guard strips on the inside of each one to
protect the boat while you are tying up.

Depending on wind direction, go more or less upwind and enter between
1 and 2, or 3 and 4.

Start by having two lines prepared in advance with a large loop at the
end of each, one at the bow and one at the stern. Bring the boat to a
stop between the pilings so you can attach your stern loop to the
closest available piling. Now motor forward against your stern line
bringing the bow close enough to loop a piling at the other end. Lay
the boat against the side lines if necessary. Use a boathook to
assist with looping the piles. Once you have the bow and stern
secured, use a boat hook and the pre-installed side lines to pull the
boat to the other side, loop the additional pilings, install fore and
aft spring lines, etc.
Just another thought if you tie lines from pile 1 to pile 4 and from
pile 2 to pile 3 at the end away from your entry exit join the two lines
where you want the bow to be and at that point put a loop that can sit
over your bow cleat.
simply drive your boat into the X shape it will automaticly arrive at
the loop then all you need to do is aply left or right rudder to bring
the stern over to the upper wind side attatch line then drift down to
other pile atatch line and center stern put loop on bow and walk
away...grin or if its a head wind do bow first while you use the motor
to hold it into the x then drift back to the stern piles you will need
to play with the hights of the ropes to get the right combo for you but
does work for me
may or may not work for you
Shaun