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KK
United Kingdom
25 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Aug 2016 : 21:21:52
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| Went through a stop lock with our Norman 20, with a side wind, and we were bounced horrifically from side to side (fenders down) plus a couple of long bridges where the same thing happened. So....should the fenders only be used when mooring (as I was told 40 years ago!!) or are inflated fenders not a good idea anyway? We're looking to try rope fenders (home made and very impressive - I didn't make them, btw) mid-ships and towards the rear, with inflatable fenders on the bow. Any other comments experience gratefully received! The thought of crossing something like the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct fills me with great trepidation - feel as if we might bounce over the lower side of it! |
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cliveshep
Thailand
1324 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2016 : 05:44:29
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If you were told 40 years ago that fenders are only for mooring it is probabnly too late to sue the person for duff info and the damage following it has caused you.
Fenders have but one function - to cushion impacts against your (or another's) hull due to inability to manouvre away safely. That inability might be inexperience, yours or another's, malfunction of the vessel and it's equipment at an inopportune moment, or indeed anything that sets your vessel into something unyeilding enough that the impact will cause damage.
Having got that off my chest - fenders in a lock are an essential and if you bounce then you are hitting too hard and need to ask yourself if the reason is other than a cross wind or current, i.e. too close or too slow for steerage or too fast? After all, your vessel doesn't steer itelf - you steer it. Sometimes you just have to come in fast and stop hard to defeat cross-winds. Same applies for bridge holes, line up and go fast at it to retain course and steerage.
Some of the bridges on the Broads like Potter Heigham are located where there is a notorious crosswind hazard on the downstream side, go fast or provide endless amusement for moored craft, like wise Osney on the Thames and of course most canal bridges.
However - if you take your narrow beam cruiser on narrow canals you'll need those small diameter rope or plastic sausages because there won't be room for nice big inflatable ones so hauling in by ropes might be the safer option for a GRP boat susceptible to damage.
I guess it is safer to haul anyway, canals were not built for plastic boats but tough old wood and steel ones that didn't mind constant scaping. A good reaon to sail on broad canals and rivers and the sea but that was my preference anyway.
We've all done it and the bigger the boat the more scope for bouncing but bouncing is better than crashing and inflated fenders do cushion more than rope fenders which if they pick up tar or slime act like paint rollers apart from allowing more shocks to pass into the hull due to their lack of compressibility.
On my previous boats I have always used inflatable fenders and been glad of them, the only exception was on trawlers when old truck tyres were used but that was because the heavier ships would have burst Anchor inflatable fenders.
Don't worry about the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - unless your boat can levitate it isn't going over the side, I've done that one several times in my younger years - with plastic ball fenders and had no problems even in high winds. If you really think you'll have problems your crew an walk alongside assisting helm.
Finally living the dream!
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KK
United Kingdom
25 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2016 : 16:16:03
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40 years ago I was very young and hiring boats, so whatever damage might have happened (I have no horrible recollections of any!) it wasn't my boat. Now, it *is* our boat and therefore we have more care of it. So far we've travelled fenders down but the bouncing in the old stop lock was quite a shock. Entered it at a steadyish pace, very rapidly slowed down to try to alleviate the bounce, but to no avail. I doubt we would ever hit anything at speed as we're on the canals and taking it steady. Yes, there's still some learning to be done on our part but we were coping pretty well entering and leaving locks by the time we'd done 6 or 7. Next trip coming up. |
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cliveshep
Thailand
1324 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2016 : 02:06:12
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I have to saty that if it is a stop lock or bridge-hole slowing down will exacerbate tendencies to bounce off the sides whereas if there is no need to actually stop speeding up gives you more steerage control and the boat tends to hold a straight course.
I only ever hired a boat once which was because I could only sleep 6 or 7 on the Ocean and we were "doing" the Broads with another family including kids we hired a 10-berth 48 footer. The man in the other family - sadly now dead - asserted he had previously owned a cruiser kept afloat in a harbour in Ireland.
After we hit the pontoons and moorings several times we came to an understanding - he and the kids could steer all they wanted on the wide open bits and I would be the one to bring us alongside in all cases. Running down the Bure on the ebb and picking up a mooring at the yacht station just above the last bridge - the one you cannot get under unless it is nearly low water - and having given strict instructions to the deck crew on how to make fast in a hurry proved the value of that decision.
We watched others helplessly drift past with wails of terror only to crash into the bridge broadside whilst we sat smugly secure and didn't need the services of the council employee on station to try and avert the disasters!
It's all down to experience and practice! I've sailed everything from dinghys to trawlers over 50 odd years of boating!
Finally living the dream!
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Fenders
