Johny London Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 I've always had a slight problem with my centre line getting snagged around the nearby mushroom vent - one of these days I thought I would change it for a flying saucer, but now with solar panels very close, there's even more opportunity to get snagged (on the corners of the panels). So I'm thinking it's time I went for two centre lines. I think I heard of them both being attached to the (existing) centre fixing (with an additional thingy?), but I thought it might work better for me if one was attached to each side (edge) of the roof. I've got round roof rails too, with periodic fixings to the roof that perhaps I could use. I don't know if this is a good idea or not - has anyone tried similar? Would having the ropes at the edges tend to tip the boat a bit? I'm trying to avoid all the hassle of getting the rope snagged just when you need it in a hurry over the other side. I'm a single hander. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewbacka Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 Since putting panels on my roof I have two centre lines - one each side - from the single eye in the centre, like you I keep thinking about having a ring either side, one day I might even fit something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 (edited) Have one long centre line, but connect it in the middle. It equals two shorter centre lines or one longish one and one short one depending on your preference. Edited July 14, 2017 by Robbo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter X Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 A centre line attached at the side of the roof is no more likely to tip the boat over as far as I can see. Either way you just need to moor normally using the bow and stern lines at 45 degrees and allow a bit of slack anywhere the water level could change. The only snag I can see to attaching at the side is that the line may be more likely to end up alongside the rail getting in the way of your fingers when walking along the gunnels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmr Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 We have a trad style exhaust on the roof, back cabin chimney, and pigeon boxes as well as mushroom vents etc. We have three centre lines, one either side plus a shorter lighter one for holding the boat steady in double locks etc. It all works very well. Buying a boat second hand off owners who have put a lot of thought into boating has many advantages. I have driven a few boats with a single centre line and don't like it. ...............Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoat Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 If thinking of fitting a new mount, then is has to be very / quite substantial. My builder - one of the old school; fitted not only a half massive ring (6" in diameter) but welded it to a large plate 8" x 4" again welded all round. I can't remember, but he may have welded a plate inside. Probably overkill - but the boat surely stops quickly when the need arises.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter-Bullfinch Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 This is our arrangement using two centre lines and two cleats to help keep them away from the solar panels. For the last three years this has worked fine.....so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johny London Posted July 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 Ah - that's perfect - nice boat too! How are the cleats fixed on? As I've got tubular hand rails I might have to do something slightly different, but looks like I'm on the right track anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter-Bullfinch Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 The cleats are brass and held on with riv nuts drilled into the square section on the roof edge. I try hard to never put these cleats under huge pressure in case they should ever fail. They are there more to keep the lines in the right position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike on the Wey Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 (edited) Please forgive my pedantry, but they are fairleads. This is a cleat (picture didn't display). A cleat is what you tie on to. Edited July 14, 2017 by Mike on the Wey Picture failed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 46 minutes ago, Johny London said: I've got tubular hand rails I might have to do something slightly different, but looks like I'm on the right track anyway. WotEver had tubular hand rails. I simply tied a rope each side to the handrail. It worked for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johny London Posted July 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 I just need for them not to slide along when I pull at an angle, so if I can utilise the nearest bits (uprights?) between the rails and roof that would work a treat. Those are welded and look more substantial that the thing the centre line is currently tied to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
system 4-50 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 Tubular rails vary in strength. One of mine broke when under no strain whatever due to a defective weld. There was no way I could have anticipated the failure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnit Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 I have this arrangement 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1uk Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 6 minutes ago, linnit said: I have this arrangement What use is a centre line if it's not within reach so you can step off the stern with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johny London Posted July 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 Wow where is that? My tubular rails are quite strong I believe, but I'll try the ropes on the uprights which are 18" further back than the current centre line attachment. If it feels too unbalanced then I can get something made up Perhaps just an extra upright each side under the tubes. Will order another bit of rope to start with then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter-Bullfinch Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 (edited) That's a proper looking boat. Nice view of the Tyrley locks? Edited July 14, 2017 by Peter-Bullfinch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnit Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 30 minutes ago, adam1uk said: What use is a centre line if it's not within reach so you can step off the stern with it? None whatsoever..at 25ton I approach the bank ..step off and grab it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
system 4-50 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 1 hour ago, linnit said: I have this arrangement Now that is a beautiful picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnit Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 8 minutes ago, system 4-50 said: Now that is a beautiful picture. You can just see the balanced flue I bought from you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
system 4-50 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 1 minute ago, linnit said: You can just see the balanced flue I bought from you Old age is a terrible thing. I can't remember ever having owned a balanced flue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnit Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 7 minutes ago, system 4-50 said: Old age is a terrible thing. I can't remember ever having owned a balanced flue! It sure is!!....It was part of an Alde kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
system 4-50 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 (edited) 2 minutes ago, linnit said: It sure is!!....It was part of an Alde kit Oh, that one! Edited July 14, 2017 by system 4-50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil2 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 You should be wary of tying a rope to anything that wasn't designed for the purpose eg handrails. Plenty of bent/broken tubular handrails around to illustrate the point. Similarly I don't think fairleads are a good idea on centre lines, sooner or later they will get ripped out. Plenty of boats around with a missing fairlead to illustrate. Using a centre line to stop the boat or as a temporary mooring is actually a fairly recent practice which only became common when steel topped narrowboats became the norm. I admit I do it but I think it is a lazy way of handling a narrowboat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard10002 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 55 minutes ago, Neil2 said: Similarly I don't think fairleads are a good idea on centre lines, sooner or later they will get ripped out. Plenty of boats around with a missing fairlead to illustrate. Using a centre line to stop the boat or as a temporary mooring is actually a fairly recent practice which only became common when steel topped narrowboats became the norm. I admit I do it but I think it is a lazy way of handling a narrowboat. My fairleads are screwed into the angle iron handrails with 3 screws. Any tension is either horizontal, and/or downwards, so the forces aren't really in a direction likely to rip them out? On recent practice being lazy... there are lots of things we do these days that could be considered lazy when compared with what we used to do, like Googling, rather than nipping to the reference library, or emailing, rather than sending a letter, or using a GPS rather than using a paper based map. Ive been using centre lines on seagoing boats for decades, and it was actually considered good seamanship, rather than lazy. I agree that mooring with a roof mounted centre line for any length of time is not a good idea, as changing levels or passing boats can list the boat, possibly to dangerous angles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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