Poor rafting technique

[C2 RIBS]

I saw this earlier today in Cowes, a large rib moored alongside a smaller rib and close to us, by passing their mooring line through a plastic cleat on the tube ( the A frame and even the pontoon were in reach).
Luckily the smaller RIB crew returned shortly afterwards and moved on before the wind pulled their cleat off the tube.

[Polwart]

If you are going to have cleats on your tubes you are really "inviting" people to abuse your tubes. I've never really understood what their purpose was as everyone "in the know" seems to agree they are not suitable for securing a rib...

[Doug Stormforce]

Does not excuse someone else having such disregard for the boat they rafted to.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

Does not excuse someone else having such disregard for the boat they rafted to.

Doug I agree, but there are ejits everywhere. I can imagine the vague thought process: "oh that looks like a cleat i'll just tie on there" I don't think its mallicious, or even just plain arrogance, more a case of someone who knows no better.

So what are the cleats for?

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Polwart

If you are going to have cleats on your tubes you are really "inviting" people to abuse your tubes. I've never really understood what their purpose was as everyone "in the know" seems to agree they are not suitable for securing a rib...

Yes and no - they are ideally placed for easy one-person operation mooring up. The ultimate strength is pretty limited for long term use or rough conditions but I got my tubes fitted with them (hardly any Vipermaxes are) and I use them all the time.

I wouldn't like somebody to be rafted alongside me using them though. Not too much of a problem round here

[gotchiguy]

As Stephen says they're very useful when your alone especially if using another boats ropes or ropes from the pontoon. Wouldn't leave it a long time though.

They're also very useful as guides for the stern ropes. Sometimes the angle between the cleat on the shore or boat or whatever you're mooring to is at just the angle where it would ruin the aerial and so we run it through the handle on the tube to keep it clear. Wouldn't have that problem with an a frame though obviously.

[martini]

I get people tying off to my lifelines all the time, winds me up.

[boristhebold]

I cant see where in Cowes that was in the photo but from experience I would guess it was at Cowes Boat Haven ? They tend to try and shove all Ribs into a small area near the pontoon gandgway by the wall. When visiting once I radioed in and as soon as they knew I was a rib they tried to put in there with all the other ribs banging into each other, considering you can get quite a serge from the tides I said no thanks and insisted upon a proper pontoon mooring space as I was paying. They seem to think that Ribs are like bumper cars in that marina, even though some ribs cost a hell of a lot of hard earned money. I tend to avoid the yacht haven and if visiting go to Shephards Wharf Marina.

I have two cleats on my tubes, one each side toward the rear of the tubes but just infront of the rear seats, I don't use them for mooring as I have proper cleats on the stern either side but find them usefull for securing the mooring line which runs from rear cleat when underway just to keep it out of the way so no chance it could pop over the side and tangle in the prop. It also means the mooring line is easy to hand and I dont have to reach over the back seat to grab it.

[Ian Austin]

I can't see a problem with these cleats, i have used mine for side by side towing of yachts and powerboats.

I did see a few years back a lifting test where they lifted a rib (7mtr) using just the cleats attached to the tubes and then they added another two tons of weight, it passed the test but it did look painful to see, must say it was a comercial rib though.

[C2 RIBS]

This mooring was actually Town Quay but I deliberately took a zoomed in shot to try to not to show the larger rib but just the issue. There were four people on the RIB and to be fair the person with the mooring line seemed very inexperienced but the helm came over afterwards and tightened it on the handle. This was a very heavy RIB on a small rib and no attempt was made to be reasonable to the owner. I was about to untie and retie it as I had just recovered a pair of waterproof trousers about to be blown off, Luckily the users arrived shortly afterwards when a third rafting was about to happen putting even more strain on., I was rafted for a short time very close but moved when I saw the mooring was likley to cause a problem due to strong tides and wind increasing and the smaller RIB needed to exit.

It took three people to pull the larger RIB and the final rafted rib to the pontoon when the small rib escaped.