Mooring rope angle

[David Mack]

11 hours ago, IanD said:

 

There are plenty of people along here (GU Paddington Arm) who use mooring spikes with ropes at almost 90 degrees to the bank and leave the boat. Every time a widebeam/working boat has been along I see them drifted out right across the canal with a hole in the bank where their mooring spikes used to be...

Exactly!. On the Paddington Arm last week...

 

8 hours ago, DandV said:

Even limited vertical movement must be considered in mooring line arrangements as the forces constraining vertical movement rapidly become considerable trying to either hold boat up, or hold it down.

Which is clearly not apparent to those people who insist on tying a centre line from the roof tight down to a mooring ring/bollard/armco, then wonder why their boat rocks violently when a boat passes.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

9 hours ago, Tony1 said:

 

Well you are in luck young sir.

Just last year I qualified as a narrowboat hydrodynamics engineer (specialising in mooring) from the University of the Whitchurch Arm.

I can tell you quite categorically that if you tie your ropes at anything other than a 45 degree angle, a pack of flying monkeys will attack you during the night.

Cynics will say its not really a CRT issue, but you'd think they would at least keep an eye on the flying blighters.

And what is my license money really going towards, if not the monkeys?

We need answers.

It isn't CaRT's fault. They used to spray the towpath twice a year with flying monkeycide to stop them interfering with boaters mooring lines. That was until the active chemical in the spray was banned. Larger raptors, like golden and white tailed eagles are a natural predator that would keep the flying monkey population in check. Although they are now more common in Scotland, there aren't yet enough in England and Wales to stop flying monkeys being a pest on the canals here.

 

Until then, Fly my pretties!

[Mike Todd]

Unscientifically, it seems to me that ropes outward encourage greater git gaps . . . 

[Tony1]

40 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

It isn't CaRT's fault. They used to spray the towpath twice a year with flying monkeycide to stop them interfering with boaters mooring lines. That was until the active chemical in the spray was banned. Larger raptors, like golden and white tailed eagles are a natural predator that would keep the flying monkey population in check. Although they are now more common in Scotland, there aren't yet enough in England and Wales to stop flying monkeys being a pest on the canals here.

 

Until then, Fly my pretties!

 

Since Morlocks share 98% if their DNA with the simian aerobaticus,  I would have expected you to take a more sympathetic attitude to your winged cousins. 

I am hoping to lash a brace of them to the bow cleat (I mean monkeys, not morlocks) and use them to clear the towpath of anglers during those periods of severe infestations (I mean the infestations of anglers, of course- not monkeys). 

I've no doubt morlocks would be highly effective at angler-cide, but they have a reputation for turning on their owners. The whole thing always ends in a bloodbath. Awful things, really.

Present company excepted, etc etc. 

 

 

Edited May 25, 2023 by Tony1

[Jen-in-Wellies]

5 minutes ago, Tony1 said:

 

Since Morlocks share 98% if their DNA with the simian aerobaticus,  I would have expected you to take a more sympathetic attitude to your winged cousins. 

I am hoping to lash a brace of them to the bow cleat (I mean monkeys, not morlocks) and use them to clear the towpath of anglers during those periods of severe infestations (I mean the infestations of anglers, of course- not monkeys). 

I've no doubt morlocks would be highly effective at angler-cide, but they have a reputation for turning on their owners. The whole thing always ends in a bloodbath. Awful things, really.

Present company excepted, etc etc. 

 

 

We aren't fussy eaters. Flying monkeys, eloi, anglers, they are all fine with enough ketchup.

[agg221]

10 hours ago, Captain Pegg said:

I've never found mooring on a canal to be a subject that needs too much analysis.

 

I often moor in the fashion @Arthur Marshall describes simply because I have a preference for mooring to the very solid objects the navigation authority provides for the purpose and it so happens the normal spacing of these compared to my boat length results in that being the most practical way of so doing.

 

It's a potential trip hazard if those lines come back at angle sufficent to run across where you will naturally walk or step for access to and from the boat. They generally don't in my case because the end up fairly square. I use big rope fenders to cushion the boat against the side. These are a necessity for a boat with low freeboard to prevent the gunwales from going beneath walings.

 

If I use piling hooks I'll attempt to get them at 45 degrees but I don't fuss too much about it. I've never used goat chains.

 

The main thing is to get the lines nice and tight - ideally doubled up for ease of untying - and simply secured to the dolly/stud/cleat.

 

I've gone over to goat chains and go-kart tyre fenders. The fenders are lighter and easier to position than an equivalent diameter rope fender and on the Shroppie the thickness helps (particularly when the side of your boat really isn't straight at all!) They also dry much faster so I don't end up with soggy fender marks all over my roof - personal preference as I accept that on the downside they do not add to the traditional aesthetic of the boat.

 

For reasons I can't explain, I regularly forgot to collect piling hooks after use. I never forget a mooring spike or a goat chain. The chains also have the advantage of naturally packing small in whatever space is available in the locker whereas the pins had to be positioned. Just ended up suiting us better.

 

Like you, the general preference is to moor to the most solid thing CRT has provided for the purpose, so we will compromise on positioning. I haven't yet got my 12V jackhammer to install mooring pins at convenient points in the Shroppie shelf.

 

Alec

Edited May 25, 2023 by agg221

[Alan de Enfield]

10 hours ago, Paul C said:

Springer line, just to try out if a springer line made a worthwhile difference - it didn't, so was not used again.

 

If it didn't, then you didn't do it properly.

 

("Spring", not "Springer" lines)

[Jen-in-Wellies]

6 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

("Spring", not "Springer" lines)

Unless they were purchased from Springer in Market Harborough. 😀

[Alan de Enfield]

Just now, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Unless they were purchased from Springer in Market Harborough. 😀

 

 

Apologies - I was not aware that Sam produced / sold  "Springer lines", but it is an obvious product line extension when you think about it.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Apologies - I was not aware that Sam produced / sold  "Springer lines", but it is an obvious product line extension when you think about it.

Originally made from hemp fibres reclaimed from the sealing gaskets in old gasometers.

[agg221]

1 minute ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Originally made from hemp fibres reclaimed from the sealing gaskets in old gasometers.

Hopefully with added asbestos?

 

Alec

[Jen-in-Wellies]

2 minutes ago, agg221 said:

Hopefully with added asbestos?

 

Alec

I've never heard of a springer line catching fire, so probably.

[Tony1]

49 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

We aren't fussy eaters. Flying monkeys, eloi, anglers, they are all fine with enough ketchup.

 

Much as I'd like to the see the population thinned out, I can't get on board with the idea of eating anglers.

Most of the specimens I've seen are spectacularly unappealing. 

 

And I know its not politically correct, but I do like to know when a morlock moors nearby. 

I'm normally the tastiest boater in the vicinity, and so one does feel a certain vulnerability. 

 

[IanD]

2 minutes ago, Tony1 said:

 

Much as I'd like to the see the population thinned out, I can't get on board with the idea of eating anglers.

Most of the specimens I've seen are spectacularly unappealing. 

 

And I know its not politically correct, but I do like to know when a morlock moors nearby. 

I'm normally the tastiest boater in the vicinity, and so one does feel a certain vulnerability. 

 

 

The tasty-to-Morlocks Eloi are happy carefree people who eat fruit and bask in the sun, so you're probably safe... 😉

[Jen-in-Wellies]

12 minutes ago, Tony1 said:

Much as I'd like to the see the population thinned out, I can't get on board with the idea of eating anglers.

Most of the specimens I've seen are spectacularly unappealing. 

Must admit, they do need extra ketchup. Definitely a third choice, after eloi and flying monkeys.

[MtB]

1 hour ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

I've never heard of a springer line catching fire, so probably.

 

 

I suspect they would burn rather quietly once set on light, so you probably wouldn't have...

 

 

 

[David Mack]

1 hour ago, Mike Todd said:

Unscientifically, it seems to me that ropes outward encourage greater git gaps . . . 

Because some people seem to regard crossing mooring ropes as a sign of the devil?

[Paul C]

1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

If it didn't, then you didn't do it properly.

 

("Spring", not "Springer" lines)

 

It didn't help because it wasn't needed - the boat didn't move noticeably even with just the 2 lines.

[Tony1]

3 hours ago, IanD said:

 

The tasty-to-Morlocks Eloi are happy carefree people who eat fruit and bask in the sun, so you're probably safe... 😉

 

I never expose myself to the sun, so I'm probably not vitamin D flavoured (as per the normal eloi types). 

But with morlocks, I feel like you never really know.  Awful people.

Present company excepted, etc. 

 

[Hudds Lad]

3 hours ago, David Mack said:

Because some people seem to regard crossing mooring ropes as a sign of the devil?

I'm quite fond of the stares through the window you get when you use the same ring, on second thoughts maybe it's my appearance and not the ring sharing  

[Paul C]

Was ring-sharing banned in Covid times?

[Tony1]

15 minutes ago, Hudds Lad said:

I'm quite fond of the stares through the window you get when you use the same ring, on second thoughts maybe it's my appearance and not the ring sharing  

 

Sometimes appearances can be awful, but not even your own fault.

I remember climbing a lock ladder in cheshire on a cold, wet muddy winter day, carrying the centre line up in one hand.

The rope was full of mud and slapped me in the face as I went up, leaving my face liberally splattered with mud. 

There was a couple enjoying a few romantic moments on a bench at the lock side, and the woman gave a yelp as my muddied face suddenly rose up from the lock a few feet away. 

I got out of the lock and stood for a moment, pondering the right words for this rather awkward moment.

The couple looked alarmed at the sight of my mud splattered wellies and clothes, and my face looked like I'd just lost a mud wrestling final. 

"I'm sorry" was all I could manage to say, before starting on the paddles. 

 

 

[Hudds Lad]

1 hour ago, Paul C said:

Was ring-sharing banned in Covid times?

Not if you were the then PM  

 

26 minutes ago, Tony1 said:

 

Sometimes appearances can be awful, but not even your own fault.

I remember climbing a lock ladder in cheshire on a cold, wet muddy winter day, carrying the centre line up in one hand.

The rope was full of mud and slapped me in the face as I went up, leaving my face liberally splattered with mud. 

There was a couple enjoying a few romantic moments on a bench at the lock side, and the woman gave a yelp as my muddied face suddenly rose up from the lock a few feet away. 

I got out of the lock and stood for a moment, pondering the right words for this rather awkward moment.

The couple looked alarmed at the sight of my mud splattered wellies and clothes, and my face looked like I'd just lost a mud wrestling final. 

"I'm sorry" was all I could manage to say, before starting on the paddles. 

 

 

You should have just held your arms straight out and staggered towards them, grunting "BRAINS!"

 

I'm quite clean, just a bit hirsute and clad in jeans and various band shirts, but i'm pleasant enough and house trained  

[ditchcrawler]

6 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

I've never heard of a springer line catching fire, so probably.

You have never seen one pulled in front of an Eberspaecher exhaust then, they burn the same as any other, obviously skimped on the asbestos 

[howardang]

7 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

.

 

("Spring", not "Springer" lines)

 

Well said!
Leave springer lines to our American cousins.

 

Howard