Rafting up your boat can serve two purposes – it can either provide you a docking place when the boat slips are already full or it can be seen strictly as a social activity. Either way you look at it, rafting up can be fun but keep in mind there are unwritten rules and rafting up etiquette that every boater should always follow.
Being prepared in advance for a rafting up scenario is key. Here are some tips to ensure a successful rafting up experience:
- have an anchor plus plenty of properly sized fenders and lines
- tie your fenders on properly with a clove hitch locked by a further half hitch
- put out your fenders into position ahead of time
- lines should only be made fast to the cleats in case of an emergency
- tie up to a boat that is similar in size both for ease in jumping from one boat to another and for matching up fender heights to help prevent squeezing
- go slowly into position from behind being careful to watch for other boaters and other water sport enthusiasts
- move up past the line, drop anchor, reverse, and back into position ensuring tension on the anchor line
- tie bow, stern, and spring lines onto the adjacent boat
- consider dropping a stern anchor as well for more stability and hold
- check the height of the fenders both fore and aft
- both lines and fenders should be checked regularly during the raft up to ensure tension and position
- as any good boater should, always keep an eye on the weather
- when you’re leaving the raft up, conduct one last visual check before turning over the engine; as you move to retrieve your anchor, again, watch for swimmers and other water enthusiasts
Common courtesy when rafting up can go a long way. It is suggested that you:
- when potentially joining a raft up, know that it’s acceptable to ask and be asked to join
- always asking fellow boaters before turning up your music
- respect the privacy of your neighbors
- be careful when crossing from one boat to another
- tread lightly when crossing to avoid heavy rocking
- keep your boating experience clean by ensuring no trash goes into the water including beverage containers; recycling is the key
- if you’ve gone ashore, ensure your feet/deck shoes are sand free before crossing
- charge up your boats batteries and turn the generator off
Rafting up with other boaters can last for a few hours, overnight, or can even be organized into annual rafting up events. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, a new record was set on August 14, 2010, when 1,651 boats rafted up at the ‘1st Annual Lake Cumberland Raft Up’ in Kentucky.
Sources:
World Amazing Records
Yacht and Boat/Modern Boating
SailNet.com
