San Diego : Med mooring assist?

outdooress · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010

I need some help finding someone with something, and I thought this forum might be able to point me in the right direction... In a couple weeks I am going on Charter in Croatia. My vessel is a 50' monohull with a bow thruster. What I am trying to do is find a boat that has a bow thruster and a captain that would take me out and show me the nuances of using one doing a Mediterranean mooring, in San Diego or in the vicinity of SoCal.

I called Seaforth Marine and the member price to accomplish that is $500 for 2 hours, which is way out of my budget! Do you know anyone who might be able to accommodate my request? Of course I am willing to pay for time/expertise/gas etc. The boat does not have to a 50-footer, just something with a bow thruster, really.

I am a very experienced bareboat charter captain (plus a USCG Captain), but it has been about 10 years since I have been in the Med and had to perform this maneuver (and never with a bow thruster) in a tiny European harbor with dignity intact

and I would like to practice.

Suggestions?

LittleWingCA · #2 (**permalink**) 07-31-2010

You might want to call the Island Packet dealer in San Diego. They have a few 35+ boats with bow thrusters and may be willing to "demo" a boat to you and show you how great they are to have. Worth a try.

SVAuspicious · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2010

If you did it before without a bow thruster what is the issue? Ignore the silly thing and just stuff the boat in.

sigmasailor · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVAuspicious

If you did it before without a bow thruster what is the issue? Ignore the silly thing and just stuff the boat in.

Agreed, you don't need a bow thruster for med mooring.
You have to able to decide when to drop your anchor (maybe you have to carry out some practice runs the first couple of times; you're not the only one. It's just a matter of slowly backing in, dropping the anchor at the right time, let go of the chain matching the speed of going backwards, set your anchor just before you hit the dock and make fast. Adjust chain to be able to comfortably leave the boat. If the anchor doesn't hold (that does happen) redo from start with some more chain. Keep enough speed going backwards to control you boat, too slow is no go as is too fast. Just slow enough to feel that the boat is still responding to the rudder is good.
The real challenge is the untangling of anchors you will catch when leaving the next morning.

outdooress · #5 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010

Thanks for all the advice! It went very smoothly, more so than I anticipated. And FYI for those traveling to Croatia and is concerned about the same in the future: They use lazy lines at nearly every town quay or marina -- much easier than anchoring or later un-tangling. Timing, as with any line in the water, is key to no foul the prop.

fair winds...

CapitainMike · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by outdooress

I need some help finding someone with something, and I thought this forum might be able to point me in the right direction... In a couple weeks I am going on Charter in Croatia. My vessel is a 50' monohull with a bow thruster. What I am trying to do is find a boat that has a bow thruster and a captain that would take me out and show me the nuances of using one doing a Mediterranean mooring, in San Diego or in the vicinity of SoCal.

I called Seaforth Marine and the member price to accomplish that is $500 for 2 hours, which is way out of my budget! Do you know anyone who might be able to accommodate my request? Of course I am willing to pay for time/expertise/gas etc. The boat does not have to a 50-footer, just something with a bow thruster, really.

I am a very experienced bareboat charter captain (plus a USCG Captain), but it has been about 10 years since I have been in the Med and had to perform this maneuver (and never with a bow thruster) in a tiny European harbor with dignity intact

and I would like to practice.

Suggestions?

Mooring stern to appears to be a Mediterranean thing, so that you can sit and watch the world go by.

More and more people are going in bow first its easier, faster and voyeurs cannot peer into your saloon.

You look less of a twit if you foul up the mooring stern to.

But winter time is different moor stern to the quay.

sigmasailor · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

We've done the med mooring thing numerous times. If you do it the classical way (use your main anchor) you don't need a bow truster. The hard part is judging when to let go the anchor; when done correct you do not need to worry about your bow since the anchor will keep it in place. If you do it fast enough you do not need much reverse (avoiding prop walk) and brake the boat while setting the anchor. Try to keep enough momentum and speed to keep in control. Very often we did a reverse med moor. Even easier since controlling the boat forward with an anchor on the back makes it that much easier.

Eric

Hmm, said that before a year ago......