Anchoring with another boat

R

rip@chugach.net

New member
Hi Folks,

How do you tie up with another boat for a over night in a bay ?

I am planning a overnight in a bay with my buddy that has a 27 foot Sea Sport, which is much bigger boat than my Classic 22, and was wondering if we could just tie the bow/sterns together with bumbers on the sides and both boats have set anchors? Am I risking something here by doing this ?

Or is best to anchor separately and give eachother swing room, than raft over, I can see after dinner/drinks, rafting back to my boat might be a challenge...

Thanks for any suggestions...
 
A LOT depends on the weather. If it's calm and in a protected area and you're pretty sure it won't blow up overnight, it's safe to tie securely to him and just swing on his anchor. Hopefully he has a big one and he should let out extra scope to provide more holding power.

If it's rough, you may bang up your boat (and his) with the wave action. In that case, I recommend you anchor separately, far enough apart so you can't swing into each other.

Don't forget the anchor lights! Probably don't have much dark up there this time of year anyway!

Charlie
 
There's a couple easy ways to do this:

If you don't mind the togetherness, have your friend set his anchor and then just raft off to him. As long as his anchor is big enough and well set, it will hold the two of you.

Or, you each anchor separately and set the usual amount of rode. Then, you both let out more line so that the boats can raft up for socializing. When you're ready to cash it in for the night, pull back to the original rode length.

If you anchor close enough to each other to raft up with your normal scope, you run the risk of the rodes twisting around each other, and that is a big ol' pain in the butt.

Have fun.
Jim B.
 
We raft up almost every week end with at least 2-5 boats on one (1) hook. Use the round fenders (big one at the bow and smaller at the stern) and have them in the water so they do not rub on the boat. Check out Memorial Day in our photo album. Keeps the boats apart the best. Like to have the stern tied up to the beach if possible so we can get the animals to the beach easier. Cocktails start at 6pm.
Have fun! Life is Good!
 
Our general approach, is to let the largest boat/anchor set the hook and then the smaller boats tied off to each side as tight as possible.

The idea is to float as one raft, with as little movement as possible. We usually do this with bows and sterns tied tight, and spring lines keeping us aligned fore and aft. That way the wakes or waves will have as little effect as possible, and you have the greatest mass to cushion the blows.

Of course the more, and bigger, fenders the better.
 
One last suggestion - we usually raft up for cocktail hour and dinner and then pull away and set our own hook for overnight. Or if it will be dark after dinner we set a hook (about) a hundred feet out upwind, drift down the wind and tie together for cocktail and dinner and then pull back up on our already set anchor to have overnight space.
 
I agree with Bill and El. Better to be on your own than be tied together with two hooks down. One twisted mess will convince you not to do that again. When we had a larger boat we did raft with our kids, but only on our one big anchor, well set and in very protected coves.

Fred, Pat, and Mr. Grey(the cat)
 
In the California Delta, we would raft up 15-20 boats. About every 3rd boat would have a bow anchor out and a few would have a stern anchor. The mild climate and winds permitted this. Up here, you just have to trust the weather prognisticators. It's a wonderful thing when it works and a true disaster when the unexpected happens.

Circular rafts of 30+ boats have been accomplished there.
 
Another key point in rafting up, even for a quick swim.... is what all is running on all the boats there???? Gen sets are often running now days/nights.... and that in itself lends to a safer drift off mode. Weird things happen with different sizes/shapes of hulls and topsides and winds and twist and turns on the hook.

Just had a little raft up on Lake Marting down in AL... Some guy named Alan Jackson or something was singing. We are in the white boat.
LAKE_MARTIN_RAFT_UP.sized.jpg

Yall have a great time and be safe.

Byrdman
 
Little Raft Up!!

Byrdman, you are a hoot fer sure.

Did he sing his "Plywood boat, 75 Johnson- electric choke, Daddy let me drive" song?

Wooda loved to be there!
 
Nice party pat!!. one thing to look out for when rafting is heating exhuast. make sure you both are not burning a whole in to the other boat with your heater exhust thru hull.
 
So true Tom....and the dock masters sure get a real attitude when ya tie up and melt the little white rub rail gizmo..... and it stinks too.

SO... I have come up with my stupid man fix for that :thup :thup :teeth ....and on my window I have a big yellow dot sticker just in line and above the heater exhaust... and it still amazes me how just that little dot comes into view when pulling along side a dock, another boat... and the such.

Crazy...but some folks ask when they get in the boat a while.... what is that yellow dot for??? and then.... I have helpers helping me help the folks helping me hit the docks.... as to be welcomed instead of burning down the dock. And...it helps when folks help you deploy fenders too....if rope and dot line up....BAD....unless you have the AC running.

Life is good on a warm boat on a cold day... and no burning smells.

Byrdman
 
Not only stove exhaust, but watch out for generator exhaust. Many gensets have the exhaust on the side. Raft on the other side.

I personally perfer to raft for party time, then spend the night on my own ground tackle. If the bigger boat has very good anchoring gear then it should be safe. But having to move off, and set a hook when it is blowing 35, and the seas have risen to 4 feet can get very exciting fast.
 
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