Rafting up - boat to boat connections

[southkogs]

Hey y'all: as anybody seen/bought a way to raft up boats together out on the water? People raft up on the lakes all the time, but I've not seen anything specifically built for this purpose. Most of the time you pull alongside, toss out the fenders and tie up. Anyone seen/done anything different that they like better?

It's probably more a question of convenience (getting linked up quicker than ropes and fenders) and being friendly to wakes (having a little distance between the two boats so they don't bump around when a wake comes through).

Just looking for ideas.

 

[hostage]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

There might be though it will be costly and will most likely confuse anyone you are trying to raft with. Sometimes simpler ideas are better.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

When you're rafting up, tighter is better than looser. Use the fenders and tighten the lines. The boats will act as one when the wake comes thru.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

Whatever you do - don't drop by Party Cove looking for advice...

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

Whatever you do - don't drop by Party Cove looking for advice...

:facepalm:
Raft at thy own risk. Man up for what will happen. There's no substitute for too many bumpers.

 

[TimBobCom]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

I happened to see a raft up device advertised when I was at Lake of the Ozarks last summer. I don't remember what it was called, but it was a long cylindrical air chamber about 24" in diameter and 15 feet long that you placed between two boats and inflated. Seemed like more trouble that it would be worth for just an afternoon.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

When you're rafting up, tighter is better than looser. Use the fenders and tighten the lines. The boats will act as one when the wake comes thru.

Ditto that. We raft anywhere from 6-10 boats at a time, ranging from 19 to 38 feet in length, in less than still water.All the boats are snugged up together with swim platforms aligned to make it easy to hop from one to the next.

Adequately sized and positioned fenders, bow, stern and spring lines are the order of the day. DO NOT leave 'wiggle room' between the boats.

(and would everyone please stop referring to fenders as 'bumpers'??? :facepalm: )

My .02

 

[southkogs]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

Thanks everyone:

I don't raft up much at all, but was talking with a friend about it and looking for better ideas. I just wondered what existed already besides the tried and true - fenders, lines and good knots.

 

[shrew]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

I find the best way to raft up is with plenty of fenders and 4 lines between boats. 1 Line from bow to bow. 1 line from stern to stern. 1 spring from forward on one boat to aft on the other. 1 spring line from forward of one boat to aft of the other, so the 2 spring lines are crossed. As stated, tighter is better, and use plenty of fenders.

They do make line snubbers to reduce the abrupt jerk when boats bounce. This especially helps of one boat is much larger than the other.

The polite and most convenient way to do it is. The first boat sets the anchor. The next boat sets out lines and fenders, and approaches slowly, then ties up. The next boat coming in sets out their lines and fenders. This way, the first guy only worries about the anchor and each person coming in, is responsible for the lines and fenders. Then when you pull away, the lines and fenders remain on the boat pulling away and allow the guy who anchored to only worry about the anchor. This needs to be modifed slightly, since we tend to put out another anchor every 3rd boat.

We also find that if you're using a stern anchor as well, it is smoother if the boat with the bow anchor also has the stern anchor. Otherwise, if the bow anchor is on one and the stern on the other, it tends to 'jerk' more.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

My raft up gang uses "bungee" cords specifically designed for boating with lots of "fenders" in between. The bungees are quickly adjustable and are always pulling, keeping the boats tight together. Most boat supply stored carry them.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

My raft up gang uses "bungee" cords specifically designed for boating with lots of "fenders" in between. The bungees are quickly adjustable and are always pulling, keeping the boats tight together. Most boat supply stored carry them.

Maybe there's something about lake boating conditions that make these valuable, but I don't see it. Once the boats are snugged together properly with fenders and 'unstretchy' lines, they stay together. Shouldn't be any need to readjust. I persoanlly don't want to use lines that potentially allow the boats to move apart, then come back together. My fenders (not the lines) are the shock absorbers.

my .02

 

[rschap1]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

Seems like somebody used to advertise a telescoping pole with a suction cup on each end to seperate boats tied together. I searched a little but didn't find anything
Sorry.
Just seems like there was something in the memory bank somewheres about that.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

Seems like somebody used to advertise a telescoping pole with a suction cup on each end to seperate boats tied together. I searched a little but didn't find anything

Yikes! I kinda' see a pole through a hull with that kinda' rig. Thanks guys, keep 'em coming.

 

[rschap1]

Re: Rafting up - boat to boat connections

The ads showed the suction cups up on the sides of the gunnels and on top of the fwd decks (bows) not directly into the hullsides.
I envisioned the suction cups just letting loose and sliding or the telescoping rods just collapsing....
Never did find any info, sorry...