Every good sailor knows a multitude of concepts, techniques and things related to ships and their navigation. One of the main and most essential, that of mooring a boat. It is a basic requirement that is required to be able to pass the PER exam (Recreational Boat Pattern) and that is why we have decided to make a specific article about it.
What is a mooring or what does it mean to moor a boat?
Mooring or docking a boat refers to the maneuver of tying your boat to a fixed element, such as docking at a dock, or to a mobile element, such as another boat. As you can imagine, the mooring has to be effective. This means that it has to withstand the wind, the tide, the current, the waves along with other various forces that will pull it.
What terms are used when we talk about boat moorings?
In order to understand the language of moorings, we have to be clear about their basic concepts and the most common words used when talking about mooring a boat:
- Tack: pull a rope to collect it with a machine.
- Demand: pull a rope to collect it manually.
- Templar: stress a corporal
- Lascar: loosen a rope that is working at that moment.
- Carpenter: to tighten a rope, although it is also used when referring to sails.
- grind: slowly release a rope.
- Lower: Loosen and let a rope run, although it is also used when talking about the sails or the flag.
- Release: Let go of one end altogether.
And the mooring lines?
To dock a boat or moor a yacht or other vessel, it is essential to have good handling of the mooring lines. You have to be clear about the following docking maneuvers:
- Tie by breast: The bosom of a rope is passed through a bollard, bollard or ring of the dock and both ends are made firm on the boat or yacht. This way of mooring makes undocking easier.
- Capling a gauze to a bollard: He passes the gauze over the top. If there was already another, it is opened and passed inside, so that the two boats can leave without disturbing each other.
- Collect in duchess: the ropes are each of the circular turns of a rope.
- take turns: Hold a rope or cable, twisting it infinitely over any element on board to tie ropes.
- Make firm: Secure a rope with knots or turns, thus preventing any movement.
Different types of moorings
We always talk about the same types of mooring, which apply to all categories of boats, whether mooring a yacht, a boat 6 meters in length or more, such as cases of up to 90 meters. However, it is vitally important choose the correct mooring for your boat.
Long Moorings
They are the most common and work towards the same head as the one they come out of. This means that if they start from the bow, they work towards the bow and vice versa.
It will allow you to place your boat or yacht in a very comfortable position to leave and will prevent it from moving towards the bow or stern depending on the case.
Cross Moorings
They are moorings perpendicular to the bow-stern line. The objective of this type of mooring is to leave the boat as close to the dock as possible and also prevent your boat or yacht from leaving the mooring. Although it will be more difficult to get out than with a long mooring, it is a docking that prevents any transverse movement.
Spring moorings (or Esprín)
Ties that work diagonally. It is used if your boat or yacht is berthed, since it is a mooring that will prevent longitudinal movements of the boat
Elbow tie downs
It is placed perpendicular to the starting point and avoids any movement that could involve hitting the hull against the dock, as it keeps the boat away from the pontoon.
How wind and current affect docking a boat at a dock
We will simply have to give the long bow rope first if there is a land or current wind and give the stern elbow if the wind is from the sea.
Where to rent a boat mooring?
Be it the mooring rental and purchase of a mooring For your boat, you will have to look at marinas that have this service. At Marina Vela we have 130 moorings for boats from 12 to 90 meters in length, so we are sure that we can find the ideal mooring for your case.
