HARBOUR ETIQUETTE GUIDE Draft

[SPR]

Hi,

Something I have written, pretty basic stuff comments and additions would be welcome.
regards

S.


HARBOUR ETIQUETTE

The following is advice in Etiquette in harbours in general:

1. When APPROACHING a Harbour, they might be moored boats or boats doing manoeuvres on the outside of the harbour. SLOW down, to a speed that you are not making unwanted wake and give these boats a WIDE Berth. Nothing worse than having a boat bast by when you are trying to hoist sails or prepare fenders.
2. Know local bye-laws, OBEY SPEED LIMIT, but even doing the speed limit in the harbour might cause unwanted wake, so you are best treating as a NO WAKE ZONE. Remember you are not the only water user in harbour.
3. When mooring in the Harbour, please use the visitor’s berths, or if you need to raft up to another boat get permission of the Owner. They are usually areas in the harbours that are reserved for PICK UP & DROP OFF only.
4. If RAFTING UP to another boat please make sure your boat is well fendered. treat the other persons boat with RESPECT.
5. If in strange Harbour, its best to contact on VHF or call the Harbour Master first, to find out where they want you. If you cannot reach him, try and find them or ask local for advice.
6. PAY any fees that might be due for berthing, some charge for a day visit whilst some harbours only charge for overnight stays.
7. When leaving your Berth or Mooring, BEFORE pushing off, check to see if any BOATS are in your vicinity. MAKE SURE you know of their intentions before PUSHING OFF. If in DOUBT WAIT till the boat passes.
8. LEAVE HARBOUR, at NO WAKE SPEED as you arrived obeying Local Bylaws, and using common sense and courtesy.
9. REMEMBER – A Yacht or Sail Boat under power is a POWERBOAT, and you must obey the RIGHTS WAY as a POWERED BOAT.
10. Most of ALL have FUN, if you make a mistake, don’t make things worse by arguing back, accept it and move on. We ALL make errors but it is how we handle them that make a difference.

Following this guide will make your boating less stressful for yourself and less stress for others in the Harbour

[martini]

When rafting alongside another boat, put lines ashore/to pontoon etc not just to the boat you're alongside!

Grrr pet hate

[BruceB]

I always find it slightly odd that a planing craft should slow down to displacement speeds to stop drawing a wake and "rocking everyones boat"
When you slow down you draw a much larger wake!

[Nos4r2]

Anchoring etiquette would be a good one to add in there too to prevent occurences like this:-

http://rib.net/forum/showpost.php?p=360198&postcount=96

[SPR]

Ok added to point 4...

4. If RAFTING UP to another boat please make sure your boat is well fendered and you attach your boat to the Harbour Wall/Pontoon as well as the boat you are rafting up against. Treat the other person’s boat with RESPECT.

Will republish when, all modifications done.

S.

[willk]

Originally Posted by BruceB

When you slow down you draw a much larger wake!

How right you are. The locals on Tory are still looking for me

Who would have thunk such a wee rib could've set such a big Aquastar 46 Ferry rocking off the quay wall like that?

[DGR]

Yes - but in moorings you probably shouldn't be planing...

That seems like quite a good list fo not p*ssing of the locals - my only comment would be that some harbours have a long drag from the entrance to the moorings!!

[SPR]

that is why i refered to no wake speed, since driving at the speed limit causes more wake than speed....but NO Wake means

" (Lowest speed you can go without losing the ability of steering)"

I know you have bigger harbours down on south coast, most of the harbours in Scotland are relative small and enclosed.


S.

[willk]

Originally Posted by DGR

you probably shouldn't be planing

Wasn't

[willk]

Originally Posted by SPR

since driving at the speed limit causes more wake than speed

Was

[SPR]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Anchoring etiquette would be a good one to add in there too to prevent occurences like this:-

http://rib.net/forum/showpost.php?p=360198&postcount=96

yes feel free to write one ....not my expertise ...i have a slipway etiquette, i will dig out and publish but its location specific was written after i was forced on rocks when launching boat! so guide was printed and put on club notice board! ...

S.

[RRIBS]

Thank you for doing this. I am about to undertake some commercial RIB work and I would hate to get things wrong. This is a great help, so thank you very much. Regards.

[BruceB]

Originally Posted by willk

How right you are. The locals on Tory are still looking for me

I suspect they are looking for you in relation to more than that