Tying up your boat securely

Some people may have heard about the recent story of the boat from built on TVs Grand Designs that slipped it's mooring (pictured)... it ran adrift and ended up washed ashore? What a catastrophe, let's hope for them they had good quality boat insurance cover! We thought we'd help you avoid the inconvenience by giving you some boat tying advice.

• Leave a little slack in your ropes (this allows for water height changes)
• Know how to tie a knot (those inexperienced should practice a few times to get the hang of it!)
• Knock mooring pins in three quarters and mark with a light coloured plastic bag or cloth
• Tie ropes at a 45 degree angle from your boat
• In flowing rivers tie-up upstream first
• FIx the middle of the boat also when leaving the mooring for a long period
• Use professionally built moorings, mooring rings/ posts wherever possible
• Don't moor on tight bends or in places unsighted until at short distance
• Display 'please pass slowly signs' if mooring in areas where vessels may be tempted to go past rapidly
• Fix fenders, boat rub rails and hull/ keel protectors

Reviewed: 05/12/2011

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