Nesting rules and courtesy

[gthh]

I started running the boat on Lake Erie (Niagara River) and finding a mooring spot on piers next to restaurants and Riverworks are near impossible. I often see boats nesting but never tied up to a boat that I did not know the owner. Any suggestions?...

 

[BigN8]

I've seen this before and what you have to consider is, what if the guy inside of you wants to leave? When I have watched this at waterside bars and restaurants there is one of 2 things present. 1) the boats know each other, 2)there is a dockside attendant that helps tie and untie boats almost like a valet guy. Usually a teenager making minimum wage and tips. Last time I was at a bar I saw this and the dock attendant helped pass lines so the inside boat could leave and retire the outside boat/s.

 

[gthh]

Thanks BigN8. I never knew if there was some universal understanding when you tie up when boats are nested that i did not know. I guess you have to belong to the same “Navy” for that privilege

 

[Gym]

Here we call it rafting up. We used to occasionally raft up with an unknown. Usually at a transient mooring ball. If someone in the middle wants out they handle the lines and fenders. A word of caution though. Do you really want to let someone you don't know and possibly has had a few drinks move your boat around? The other issue is the guy in the middle generally has to traipse across several boats to get to his. I saw a party of 4, with a dog walk across several boats to get to his. Every step they took was across seat cushions. I no longer raft up unless it's with friends.

 

[gthh]

Yep, I see were this I going. Thanks Gym and BigN8. Everyone is a bit wiser about nesting (rafting).