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Tying stern-to to shore

9K views 25 replies 14 participants last post by  sailingsimon 
#1 ·
There are many anchorages in my area where tying off to shore is beneficial. So far I have avoided doing this.
This summer I plan on heading to an area where space is limited and many anchorages recommend tying stern-to.
Any hints on how to do it so I don't look like a complete moron?
What length line(s) would you recommend to carry for this?
Thanks.
 
#2 ·
We do it quite a bit up in Desolation Sound B.C. I carry 300' of line on a garden hose reel mounted on our RADAR pole. We swing our nose in towards shore to scope out our intended tie off point and get depth readings then head back out to our anchor point. We lower our anchor and set it while backing towards our tie off point then after the anchor sets, we let out some more rode so the stern is as close as we can get to the shore line. I hop out into the dink and row ashore with the end of the line while the admiral make sure the stern line feeds out and she leaves the boat idling in reverse to keep the stern close to shore. Take a wrap around the tree then bring the bitter end back to the boat and tie if off. Adjust stern line and anchor rode to get the boat sitting where we want it. If your boat has much prop walk, you'll need to aim the stern a little off to the upside of your shore tie off point, as the boat will start to creep while you're rowing ashore to tie it off.
 
#3 ·
#4 ·
Flying- looking like a complete moron is required your first few times :)) Gives the rest of us something to watch. The only thing I would add to Ray's excellent explanation would be to pull enough line around the tree to get back to the boat, trying to row and pulling the line can be difficult.
 
#5 ·
The biggest mistake first timers make when doing this is to secure the shore line in some way - tying it off or taking several wraps around a tree or ring (we have rings mounted in the rocks in some of the more popular anchorages.)

You don't want to have to row ashore again to cast off so just take it around the anchor point and back to the boat - that way you can simply cast off & retrieve the line from the boat.
 
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#7 ·
The only thing I would add to Ray (erps) and Ron's (Faster) excellent posts is, after you get anchored, use a lead line to measure the depth under the rudder and account for any falling tide. Otherwise

 
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#8 ·
Thanks all for your excellent responses: just the stuff I was looking for!

I'll still end up looking like a moron, but that will be more a result of my choice in headgear than my nautical skills.

Jack: not much tide in the North Channel - the occassional seiche in Georgian Bay though.

Thanks again
 
#9 ·
Some great advice above. Although it wont apply to lakes you also need to watch your stern line as the tide goes out. Failure to readjust will pull you closer to shore. Note the line running to shore in Jack's picture and the slack (straight down) anchor line on the white boat on the left. If your stern line is to tight you get pulled back to the shore and end up looking like the boat on the right.
In Jack's picture it looks to me like the red boat is the one tied off and the white one dropped its hook as a safety when they rafted. I think I would have tied off the larger boat.
 
#10 ·
My years of boating along the British Columbia coast were marvellous training for our cruise through Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. By the time we left, we were well-practiced with stern ties. The difference south is that the tying is sometimes done in winds gusting from 0 to 90 knots, while veering or backing through 90º or more. Practice locally before you go.


In Sequitur we had three stern lines, two of them 100 metre poly and one 80 metre nylon webbing. In the bow we had two poly lines of 80 metres each. We never used all five at once, two being the most common and on a few occasions, as in this photo in Caleta Brecknock, four lines were used. This was mainly to tuck close-in, seeking a bit of protection from the williwaws.
 
#11 ·
When they hit 90 are they still called williwaws? :eek:

Seems like they should have their own name when they get that frisky. ;)
 
#12 ·
Sounds like you're heading for the North Channel. I worked as a charter captain for Canadian Yacht Charters there for a number of years. In most cases, 150 feet of line will suffice, and it should be floating line so that it doesn't get caught under the boat. Here's the procedure I've used at Croker Island, the smaller, shallower anchorage where med mooring is common:
come in and turn out to where you are going to anchor. Drop the hook and try to let it settle for a couple of minutes in that position without moving. You should be, if I recall correctly, about 2 - 3 boat lengths out from shore and in 20 feet of water at this point. Croker is very protected as you may know, so there's likely no wind. Start backing to shore, you will be able to actually step off to shore with your line as the rockface is that steep - but check of course to be certain. The dinghy, of course, makes much more sense ;>)
Take a single turn around one of the sturdier trees and bring the line back to your boat. Now, set your anchor by pulling yourself towards it, rather than backing away from it (for obvious reasons...) Then, tighten up the stern line. If you expect any wind, take a line from each quarter, cross them diagonally and run two lines to shore, tying them well apart. That being said, if you expect wind and Croker is busy, you should consider one of the other nearby anchorages, such as Fox.
You'll often find yourself anchoring between other boats - they'll assist you with getting your line to shore.
Enjoy. If you have other, North Channel or Georgian Bay specific questions, feel free to ask.
 
#13 ·
...so I don't look like a complete moron?
Bit too late for this eh Taffy? :D

Good points above. One thing I'd add is that when selecting your spot, try and select one where the wind will be at your bow. The anchorages often have spots available on more than one side, and if you don't have a side wind trying to muck things up while you're going ashore in your dinghy, so much the better.

An anchor that SETS quickly is important. I was doing this in Canada with a Fortress and trying to nurse those flukes into the bottom while backing up towards a close shore isn't fun. Having an anchor that sets right where you drop it is never more important than when stern tying.

One thing I've never figured out.... Why does everyone use poly-line? Personally I think it's because you need a lot of it and people are cheap. I bent over and bought nylon 3 strand for my stern line. Why? Because to me, it's a mooring line. If it parts, the consequences are often dire, so why cheap line? I've been in situations where the wind shifted and it's beam on with both the bow/anchor line and the stern line under quite a bit of force and there might be a nice looking rock or cliff next to you.

Speaking of all that, a leadline is an important tool to have. It's nice to anchor the bow with lots of extra scope so you can snug up on it (and get further away from shore) if you find out it's shallow. I usually secure the boat's stern line first then check for shallows and adjust accordingly.

I'll also give you some tips for how to entertain the anchorage:

1: Don't make your tender accessible before anchoring. It's no fun if you've got it down off the davits, stern line in the boat, and it's nicely tied alongside where it's painter won't foul the prop BEFORE anchoring the bow. Then you can easily get in and go ashore. No fun for us.

2: Don't flake out your stern line in the boat or have it on a well greased stern pulpit spool. It's much more fun to watch someone try and row while struggling against a big pile of line that is acting like a dog's leash.

3: Don't use Keen or Teva sandals with good grip. You'll be much more entertaining with your sea-boots or rubber deck shoes and you climb up weed and mollusk covered wet rocks. Same for gloves, the spectators like to see real blood.

4: Make sure that your bow and stern lines are BAR TIGHT. That way you'll be sure to be entertaining when the tide goes up or down. If you leave a little slack fore and aft you'll be no fun to watch at all.

5: (my favorite) Don't have an easy way set up to secure your dingy to shore while you're climbing around with the stern line looking to rope a tree. It's so much more fun to hear the cries of the newly stranded yachtie with the stern line in hand staring at his newly freed tender as it sails off without him.

MedSailor

PS Don't ask me how I know all the tricks to being the entertainment for the anchorage....:eek:
 
#14 ·
Sounds like med sailor has a peculiar degree of expertise in this area, much the way from the sound of it to how I got mine....
the reason for using poly line in the area the OP is asking about is because it floats and won't interfere with the dinghy, you can use it to pull yourself the few feet to shore, and because it isn't critical in most anchorages here - the protection is very good. Oh, and it's much cheaper ;>)
There is no tide, so slightly slack lines are fine up here. With a tide...not so much.
 
#15 ·
I had a poly line part during a night of heavy gusts in Laura Cove one night. I switched over to sampson line that all our commercial guys use for crab pots and longlines. It's pretty tuff, not so susceptible to UV damage and it's reasonably priced.
 
#20 · (Edited)
That's the stuff I've been eyeballing for my next stern line but the stuff posted by JohnEisberg looks promising. Hey John, does that stuff accept knots or is it self untying like polypro?

Does either line stand up to UV?

The webbing setups on spools look nice as a different option but are PRICEY and webbing won't stand up to any chafe at all.

MedSailor
 
#19 ·
#22 ·
Here's what we did the first time, and it worked great.

Came into the small anchorage. Floated around in the middle for a bit. Pointed all over and looked confused. Started for a space next to a boat much, much nicer then ours that had a guy in the cockpit. He hoped in his dingy and came rushing out to lend us a friendly hand. :)

After getting a little help the first time, it all made much more sense the second time. Apparently it showed too, cause everyone just watched, with boat hooks in hand rather then rushing out to help. :) (And we did it without a hitch the second time.)

I also then found it to be a great way to meet people, heading out to help the confused looking ones that is...
 
#24 ·
I've seen webbing set up a nasty, noisy oscillation in a crosswind, it must have been horribly loud on the boat.. it woke me up in the anchorage.
 
#26 ·
This Stern tie reel holds 400' of 3/8" Samson double braided float line and just hangs off of the push pit. I think it is the neatest reel on the market anyways. Also, I was told that you just need to put some twists in the webbing stern ties so that they do not whistle at anchor, but they don't hold enough line to go to shore and back.
 

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