James Trelawney
Read the wind and tide before you leave the berth
Before you cast off, take five minutes to watch the water. Wind direction and strength matter more than anything else when mooring a small boat. A gentle breeze can push a light hull sideways faster than you expect. Note which way the tide is running, too — even in a sheltered harbour, the ebb or flood can create a current along the pontoon. If the wind is blowing you off the pontoon, approach into the wind at a shallow angle. If it is blowing you on, come in more slowly and be ready to use reverse. When tide and wind oppose each other, the stronger one usually wins near the surface. Your goal is simple: know which way your boat will want to drift before you commit to an approach.
Prepare your boat, lines and crew
Mooring lines, called warps, should be ready before you enter the harbour. Put out at least three fenders on the side you plan to come alongside — more if there is any swell or if the pontoon has rough edges. Have a bow line, a stern line and two spring lines flaked and ready. A spring line runs forward or backward from the boat to stop her moving along the pontoon. Lead one line from the bow back to a cleat amidships so you can step ashore with it without scrambling. Brief your crew clearly: one person handles the bow line, another the stern, and nobody jumps or puts hands between boat and pontoon. If you are single-handed, decide in advance which line you will take first. A short, calm plan prevents most shouting.
Make your approach slow and deliberate
Approach the pontoon at the slowest speed that still gives you steerage — usually just above idle. Aim for a point slightly upwind or upcurrent of your berth, then let the wind or tide carry you down onto it. Use short bursts of throttle in forward or reverse to control your speed, and return to neutral between them. If you are coming in with a cross-current, use a ferry glide: angle the bow into the current and use throttle to hold your position while the water pushes you sideways towards the pontoon. Never approach faster than you are willing to hit. If the berth is crowded, or another boat is coming out, stop and wait. Going around again is always better than a crunch. A gentle touch with a fender is a success; a broken cleat is not.
Secure the lines in the right order
Once alongside, get a line ashore first — usually the bow line or a spring. Step off calmly, wrap the line once around a pontoon cleat, and return to the boat. Do not tie it off tight yet. Then take the stern line, followed by the springs. A bow spring leads from the bow back to a cleat on the pontoon near the middle of the boat. A stern spring leads from the stern forward to a similar point. Together they stop the boat moving forward or backward. Use a cleat hitch or two round turns and a figure of eight. Keep the lines within reach of the cleats, and avoid crossing lines over each other. When all lines are on, adjust them so the boat sits parallel to the pontoon, with fenders just touching.
- Bow line: stops the bow drifting out.
- Stern line: stops the stern drifting out.
- Bow spring: stops the boat sliding backwards.
- Stern spring: stops the boat sliding forwards.
Allow for tide, wind and chafe after you are moored
The tide will rise or fall while you are away. Leave enough slack in your lines so the boat can float at all states of tide, but not so much that she can drift onto a neighbour. Check your lines at half tide — that is when they are often tightest or loosest. Wind can change direction in a busy harbour, and a gust may push your boat against the pontoon or away from it. Add an extra fender on each side if strong winds are forecast. Chafe is the silent enemy: lines rubbing on a fairlead, a pontoon edge or a cleat can wear through in hours. Use a length of old hose or a purpose-made anti-chafe sleeve where a line passes through a restricted opening. Finally, before you leave the boat, look at her from the pontoon. If she looks happy and level, she probably is.
Busy harbour etiquette and common mistakes to avoid
In a crowded harbour, patience and quiet manners go a long way. Approach at idle, keep VHF radio chatter to a minimum, and offer to take a line from another boat if you see them struggling. The most common beginner mistakes are coming in too fast, forgetting to rig springs, tying lines bar-tight, and leaving fenders dangling in the water. Another is stepping off the boat before the engine is in neutral and the boat is fully stopped. Always check the tide before you leave, and never assume the pontoon will stay at the same height. If you do drift or bump, a cheerful apology and a helping hand cost nothing. With a little practice, mooring becomes a calm routine — and you will wonder why you ever worried.
