I'm sure all you salty types have worked this out AGES ago. We've been bumping the buoy on one side (the side I sleep of course).

After much futile fender activity I worked out why. With the tiller locked dead centre and the boom (with massive sail cover) fixed on 1 side to allow access, the boat is sailing up to the buoy.

Boom centered and no bumping. Will I be able ti doze without that knocking?

For some reason, our sail cover is so large I'm thinking of using it instead of a third reef!

Still learning - slowly

Bristol

Hey, been there done that! My boat sails around regardless so I simply pull the mooring pennant tight (as in no slack) and cleat it off, no bumps in the night and a relaxing sleep.

I don't think this is the reason. Those big courtesy moorings are notorious for keeping everyone awake!
Ive found my anchor to be far better but def keen on trying uncle bobs method. Ive tried many tiller combos but the bouy always seems to settle for a time right near my head. It goes in a cycle

Arranging 4 fenders around the buoy horizontally about a foot above the water does work but is a faff to set up. And there's a good chance of sailing off without your fenders!

I've seen people put an inflated tyre around the mooring.

The problem usually happens when you have wind against tide. Sometimes pulling the buoy close, or partly up out of the water, helps. Otherwise, try this:
1. Try to sleep.
2. When you get woken up, move the rudder to a different position.
3. Go to step 1.

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Toph said...
I've seen people put an inflated tyre around the mooring.

Brilliant.

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QLDCruiser said...
The problem usually happens when you have wind against tide. Sometimes pulling the buoy close, or partly up out of the water, helps. Otherwise, try this:
1. Try to sleep.
2. When you get woken up, move the rudder to a different position.
3. Go to step 1.

Been there done that! !!!! No sleep!!!

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Sectorsteve said...

QLDCruiser said...
The problem usually happens when you have wind against tide. Sometimes pulling the buoy close, or partly up out of the water, helps. Otherwise, try this:
1. Try to sleep.
2. When you get woken up, move the rudder to a different position.
3. Go to step 1.

Been there done that! !!!! No sleep!!!

Funny as though cause thats exactly how it is!

Happens all the time in the Whitsundays. I just would pull the rope all the way onboard till the buoy was tight under the bow. Maybe only safe in good weather.

Im taking a motorcycle tube !

Bucket on rope off stern or sea anchor.

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Ramona said...
Bucket on rope off stern or sea anchor.

This is good stuff!

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Toph said...
I've seen people put an inflated tyre around the mooring.

On the few occasions I have used a mooring I have brought it over the bow and secured it. No bumping.

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Bundeenaboy said..
On the few occasions I have used a mooring I have brought it over the bow and secured it. No bumping.

The buoys mentioned here are the large ones with chain usually to a swivel under the buoy and a rope riser off a swivel at the top to the vessel. They are very heavy to raise clear of the water! I have one in my front yard at the moment if any one needs one. Probably weighs 25 kilos with out the hardware and is about 80cm across by 60cm deep. Free to a good home.

The ones at Jibbon don't usually bang Bundeenaboy. I have had this trouble also on the bigger bouys Ramona is talking about and I moore on them the same as you discibe. They have even scratched my new paint work.

anchoring sails look like they may work, anyone tried one?

Im so glad to read this.... I thought it only happened to us. Last time it happened I remember being up at midnight trying to rig up something with boat hook to fend it off which didnt work and had to go to bed thinking *^%*&^ %&^!!

The big round concrete ones with yellow plastic wrapping (no rope, just a shackle) at Horseshoe Bay at South-west Rocks are nasty for this. Thought it'd wear thru the hull all the banging.

Also, whats the proper technique to attach to these?

That's got you! Tonight at Jerusalem Bay, Cowan Creek.

How about a ring made of one of these:
www.kmart.com.au/product/pool-noodle---assorted/948329

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QLDCruiser said..
How about a ring made of one of these:
www.kmart.com.au/product/pool-noodle---assorted/948329

I think you are on to something there. You could make up a short curved length of conduit to use as a joiner, and that will give you a ring. Low cost, easy to stow.

I've only used the ones in the Whitsundays, and I'm glad I'm not the only person who was kept awake. I ended up lashing the RIB between buoy and bow.

If we go back there, I'll try to create some sort of springy bowsprit (really heavy 'glass sail batten, perhaps??) or temporary bowsprit with heavy duty bungy hanging off it to pull the buoy forward.