Mooring your boat may seem like the easiest task on Earth, when in fact it requires high level of responsibility one and attention to detail. Before you embark on a trip with your boat, you must learn many boat-related facts, but safely securing your boat to the river bank is of utmost importance.
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Tying up a boat, is one of the essential skills every owner and boat enthusiast should possess. Most boats are tied up on a mooring bollard, since it is the safest and most secure way of mooring a boat. But mooring bollards are not available at every dock, river bank, port or coast. Here are some great tips for using a mooring bollard for securing your boat.
- Look for signposted visitor mooring positions or moor your boat to a towpath if available. You need to make sure to leave room for other boats to moor near yours and that your boat will not present a hazard to other river users;
- Always use the mooring bollard available to secure your boat. Depending on your boat’s size, you may need two mooring bollards to secure your boat in front and at rear;
- Ensure an angle of 45 degrees between the bank and your boat;
- Although mooring bollards are usually not available near canal locks, inspect the area well and never tie up your boat near canal locks;
- Never stop near bends, moor your boat near turning points and always try to stay away of fishing areas;
- When your boat is tied up on a mooring bollard with quality ropes, there is no need to use an anchor, because it is the most secure way of mooring boats;
- If there is no mooring bollard you can secure your boat to, use mooring stakes, which are usually provided when you purchase or hire a boat;
- Unlike mooring bollard, the mooring stakes are being hammered in the ground and are able to safely secure boats of heavy weights. But before hammering them, make sure there are no signs of pipes and cables under the ground and that the ground is firm enough to hold the weight of your boat;
- When the mooring stake is in the ground, mark it with a fluorescent colour material to prevent people stripping it over;
- Whether using a mooring stake or mooring bollard, don’t attach the ropes too tight, because your boat needs some space to move.
