Etiquette at the Docks . . . .
 

So I pull up to a fully loaded restaurant / bar on a hot Saturday afternoon.
VERY limited mooring available.
A spot appears, and is BARELY long enough to accommodate my vessel. Once in place, I have INCHES on either end. Having securely made fast to the available cleats, I am concerned that the boats to either end of me may be concerned by my proximity.
The boat behind me has plenty room ( at least a couple feet ) to move back a couple feet.
Without the skipper nearby, can I move his boat back a couple feet ? ? ? . . . as a 'buffer', so to speak ? ? ?
I did it anyways, taking great caution to adjust his fenders, and securing his boat as if it were my own.

What do you think ? . . . it was a *nice* offshore-type hull.

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in Texas we would have shot you :cool: :cool:

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do it, I do! (did) :(

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if he wasn't around to help you out... move it. As long as you tie him off properly, or as well as he did it himself.

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Seems ok to me. I've done it before.

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That would not fly with me.
Becuase of were the cleats and fenders are on my boat the stern must be tied tight to the dock or the bow could pivot and hit the dock. If you are retieing someones rig you should be responisble for what happens and are you willing to accept that?

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Ok in my book, this isn't rocket science, just be considerate and do a good job. My only concern would be if it is in an area where there is some chop and potential for damage, but in a protected area...big deal.

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Me too. Where's the beaf. As long as it was properly retied, you actually lessened the potential for damage to both boats.

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just mimic what the owner did, same spring line set up, slack in lines...

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I think this one should become a poll. I am curious too, There has been many times I go somewhere else instead of rafting to someone's boat with no one on it or moving and retying a boat where there would be plenty of room.

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I would not touch someone elses boat with out their consent and help nor would I raft off it with out the same. On the other hand when I am at the dock first I am always within eye sight of my boat because I don't want anyone to be f********n with it. You wouldn't only get shot in Texas don't try that here n Jersey. :cool:

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Tough call. You wouldn't think there would be anything wrong with it, but some people can be real touchy about that kind of stuff, remember they were there first.

I'm not saying you were wrong, but I think every effort needs to be made to locate the owner of the vessel you want to move.

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I don't see a problem with it. Sometimes it's the only option. Naturally, the one requirement is a proper tie-off. I don't have a problem with it. I've done it, and It's been done to me, it's no big deal.

FO's right though, there are some really sensitive azzholes out there. :rolleyes:

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if everyone at the dock were as serious about their boat as the guys here, then it is not a big deal.
Difficult part is you do not necessarly know who is who on the water. On the dock where I keep a slip year around people often retie or slightly move each others boat, no one thinks twice about, it, but everyone knows each other too....

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That would cover it for me...I'm not big al all on even broching someone elses boat never mind moving it at the docks without the owners consent.

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I'm not sure I would want someone else moving my boat. But, I'm real considerate about parking. I will park as far forward or back as I can in the chance another boat may need space. If a dock is 40' long and you have a 40' boat, by all means take up all the space. On the other hand if you hava a 25' boat, don't park in the center where noone else can tie up also. I have seen that happen many times and have been very tempted to move the boat myself.

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I would have to say that I would not want anyone touching my rig. When I dock I do the best job I can to tie up in the right spot so that I won't have to be moved. The only time I don't mind is when I am rafted in a long row. Then I just put out the towels on the hatch and hope for the best.

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Im on the fence..I dont care for the idea of moving someones boat . I did move someones boat once as they had completely blocked me in so I couldnt leave (his bad). If a spot can Barely accomadate my boat im moving on ..Id rather not worry about the boats smashing together while Im having a cocktail. So Id say in certain situations it may be ok but most of the time its not.

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I was tied up at a poker run on lake travis, and my boat was at the end of the tie up. The 2nd to the end guy was leaving, untied my boat and freakin drove off. My boat was left to float off. I look down from the restaurant, and thank god another boater jumped in the lake and swam over to grab my ropes. he got it back about the time it took me to run down there.

Thats the problem i would have. If i knew someone would tie it up properly, no problem, but unfortunately i dont trust anyone now.

And on top of that, i wouldnt want to be responsible for tying someone elses boat up. what if something happened to it?

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This wouldn't fly with me I dont wont ANYBODY moving my boat unless I'm there.You wouldn't go in somebodys car and move it if you couldn't get into a parking spot would you.

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I Would Rather Have Someone Tie Mine Off Or Move It Because What I Tied Was Probably Wrong Anyway....i Just Need To Get Inside To Have A Drink

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If it was a "nice offshore" boat up in the LBC or Los Al Harbor, be careful! I have seen some brothers up there with ears full of ice that adore their fast Fountains. These guys impose gangsta-style ora and would not think twice about roughing you up for touching their boat.

You never know who is watching your actions, even with good intentions could be misconstrued as a violation.

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No prob.....

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I wouldnt think twice about moving your boat if there was plenty of room to do it. :evilb:

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Yeah, I got into the space OK, but honest to God there was 2" fore, and 2" aft. I had my heaviest crew member sit with me on the gunwhale while I tied off my midship cleat, so when we stood up the line snugged like a banjo string.

Actually all I did was spring his midship line aft, like a spring line. Didn't touch his bow or stern line. It gave me about a foot of clearance.
If it was an immaculate 46 Skater or OL with matching fenders and docklines, I wouldn't have touched it, cause those are often the wicked anal types. But then again, that kinda guy is watching his boat so hard his eyeballs dry out.
I guess if you do it, you ARE chancing a "Type-A" confrontation.

I don't want anybody dickin around with my docklines - but I'm not gonna run down the float and pitch a fit. . . . I'll go help, if only to make sure it's done right.

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:D

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Choosing to move someone's docklines is "like a box of chocolates" . . . .


Forrest Gump ( 1994 )

Re: Etiquette at the Docks . . . .
 

Very simple.

Don't touch my boat and I won't touch yours. If there is not enough room at the dock, don't even think about moving my boat to get yours in.

Very simple. :drink:

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You better think about more then twice before you go moving my boat! :mad:

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Can see both sides which made me think of this:

Would you move a Fat Boy in front of a restaurant to get your bike in?

How about a Porsche if you could put in neutral and move for the owner so you could park nearby?

Why would you mess with something that is potentially worth more than both a bike and car combined?

I would hope the owner would assist you in getting to the dock but I wouldn't screw with a guys boat unless it is a poker run situation where every inch makes a difference and everyone is there together for the event.

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No way. If it's that tight time to find another spot.

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Ive retied a couple of old POS boats so they WONT hit mine.......if a guy had his 25' boat in the middle of a 40' dock I would move it.......in your situation I might just mill about for awhile......usaually in a few minutes somebody comes down and leaves.......on a few occasions i have rafted off a big cruiser (only if there is someone on board to ask)........ around here if people see you cant find a spot they will usaually call out and ask you if you want to raft off......having a hot woman with a nice rack doing the asking doesnt hurt either......... :D :drink:

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i agree, im not crazy about someone messing with the rig.. if i know the guy no prob, but a stranger... its a touchy situation.....

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If it was Stecz Cafe I would just untie it and push it out in the bay, anybody elses sled I wouldn't touch and I really wouldn't be comfortable with someone touching my pos. Why not drop your buddy off at the dock and have him go looking for the owner so they can come down and assist. Most guys unless they are total jerks would come and help out or move a little bit so you could get in.

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much love, much love..... :evilb: :evilb:

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You know better..... :D I'd treat yours like my own. :drink:

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Hell, I had just driven 50 miles in a 32'er over fast-moving, tight-spaced 6+ sets ( complete with some ugly holes ). I was tired, hungry, thirsty. . . . moving a guy's boat back a foot so I can get some lunch and a drink seemed like a REALLY acceptable risk at the time.

So yeah, if somebody wants to come storming down the float waving his arms and making a spectacle, I was good for that too.

I looked over the boat I chose to move before I did it. It was a Pantera, It looked like a "boaters boat", not a "pimp" boat. . . . so I made the call, come what may. . .

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I totally agree. Don't touch.
Now if some inconsiderate person tied up after I did blocking me in, then I'd have to move thiers. But I would treat thier property just as I treat my own.

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:D :D :D :D How do you know me? :D :D :D :D

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Where the he!! were the dock boys and/or restaurant management? They would be the people that I would involve. They can move the other boat if they want (after all - it's their dock), and any resulting headaches are theirs.