Almost lost it

[codprawn]

My RIB that is!!! 80mph winds no problem - loads of gales all through the winter and everything was fine. Went to check on the boat yesterday and the 3 mooring ropes had almost snapped - down to a few strands each!!!

Ok I know the ropes were a bit frayed but they weren't that bad. Couldn't understand it because it wasn't THAT windy - about 45mph. Turns out it was a very high tide and an unusual surge. A massive section of the coast defences and cycle track were also washed away. A few boats in the harbour snapped a few ropes - not only mine.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6398051.stm

Wish I had been there to see it!!!

Apparently these massive swells aren't that uncommon in the Burry Estuary. About 100 years ago there was terrible loss of life when about 30 sailing ships were caught out - no wind to get them out of trouble but the swell was so huge they were being smashed into the sand one minute - the next on top of a 30' wave - scary stuff!!!

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by codprawn

...Went to check on the boat yesterday and the 3 mooring ropes had almost snapped - down to a few strands each!!!...

It occurs remarkably easily, doesn't it? That's why I always recommend anchoring with full chain.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by jwalker

It occurs remarkably easily, doesn't it? That's why I always recommend anchoring with full chain.

Wasn't anchored - was moored to the pontoon!!! The harbour is normally pretty sheltered - trouble is it only has a sill rather than lock gates. Having said that the tide was so high it came over the sides of the harbour anyway.

I agree the more chain the better when anchoring but nylon rope has a load of stretch which makes a great snubber - why aren't mooring warps nylon as a matter of course?

[BogMonster]

I must admit I sleep a lot easier now mine lives behind the garage. I was originally intending to keep it in the water all summer, but hadn't been able to due to the tube problems, mooring in windy conditions onto a punctured tube not being a good idea.

I have got so used to launching and recovering each time that I don't know if I will bother next summer - I will probably just put it in when I want to use it. Mind you the slipway (such as it is - rocky beach!) is only about 10 min drive from the house, there is never anybody else using it (well there was once - once in 9 months!) and the extra time taken to launch and recover is probably saved by towing the boat straight to the petrol pump instead of faffing around with carting cans of fuel down to the boat and then going to refill them.

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Wasn't anchored - was moored to the pontoon!!!

Yeh, I did understand that.

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I have got so used to launching and recovering each time that I don't know if I will bother next summer -

I've done this for years. Plus it saves hauling all of my friggin' dive gear up a cliff from the harbour to my house. I just leave it in the boat and drag the entire mess up to the yard! My recently deceased dog liked to ride up the street on the trailer to boot!

The ramp gets busy on holiday weekends, so I just plop it in early, then go back to the house for breakfast... And "car gas" is about 10-15% less expensive than "boat gas" at the wharf...

[pathalla]

Cod most likely does not want to prematurely wear his Landy to pieces pulling his monstrous Prosport rib back and forth to the sea, quite bothersome for a chap really... May I suggest a vehicle of a slightly higher standard? Mercedes my good man, the huns may have lost the Great War, but they ARE winning the battle for market share... I shall be using German technology to transport my own nondescript rib to and fro this coming spring.. No Fords, Chevys, Landies or Hummers for me! Sieg Heil!!

[Mugshot]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I must admit I sleep a lot easier now mine lives behind the garage.
I have got so used to launching and recovering each time that I don't know if I will bother next summer - I will probably just put it in when I want to use it. Mind you the slipway (such as it is - rocky beach!) is only about 10 min drive from the house, there is never anybody else using it (well there was once - once in 9 months!) and the extra time taken to launch and recover is probably saved by towing the boat straight to the petrol pump instead of faffing around with carting cans of fuel down to the boat and then going to refill them.

I was thinking about marinas recently, a friend of mine who owns a 17ft hard boat keeps it in one of the local marinas. He has just had the berthing charges through for this year. For his size boat, the min charge is for a 6.4m, in the lower basin which would allow all states of tide access for a 12 month contract would cost him £2496. I am aware that compared to the south of England this is probably a bargain, but I'm not sure its value for money. My mate has the convenience of being able to step on and off, but as far as I can see thats about it, to be honest he doesn't even bother flushing his engine, so its not like he's using the water either.
I can launch where I want, I can look out of my window to make sure my boat is secure during a storm, I don't need to worry about people messing about with things they shouldn't, I don't have to worry about lugging all my tools down to the boat if I need to do a job etc etc.
I just wonder if your boat is under a certain size and you're able to launch and retrieve it what the point of spending all that extra money is?

[qcamel]

Plus anti foul problems and the mess made to the hull and tubes. Also being in the water all year is a hostile enviroment and will devalue the boat quicker along with increased maintanance costs.

I want the convienance of leaving it in the marina but have not been able to make it work for me yet.

[Mugshot]

Originally Posted by qcamel

Plus anti foul problems and the mess made to the hull and tubes.

Thats the other thing I was going to say forgot about that, cheers qcamel