This week I caught a mooring line on the propeller, which caused the engine to stop. We cleared it easily (well, my 6'3" 59-year-old guest did, in one try). While we were there, two other boats reported prop fouls, for which the Island will send a diver. You pay. Should you sever the line, pay more.
I think the foul was the result of the upgraded mooring gear, which as before connects the mooring ball/tallboy with the stern mooring line by a "spreader line", formerly called a sand line.
The old spreader line was quite long, and lay upon the bottom when a boat was moored. It was often covered in several inches of marine growth.. At some point the lines were renewed and redesigned much shorter.
Once moored , the spreader line now hangs in a relaxed arc under the hull, rather than upon the sea floor. That puts it close to the propeller. I fouled it while reversing in an attempt to shorten up.
It is now recommended that the spreader line be laid on deck, although by observation nobody knows that, or does it, because it's heavy poly line with lead weights.
5. Keep the slack Spreader Line on the boat in order to keep the line clean.
The old illustrations, which showed the spreader lying on the bottom when a boat was moored, have been replaced. The new illustration shows the new, shorter, line.
Also, some moorings are designed for 30-foot boats and some for 50-foot boats. The mooring assignment is seldom precisely matched to boat length, so the spreader line may be shorter or longer, depending.
I think the best procedure is, when departing or adjusting line tension, to lift the spreader line on deck where you can see it. Then cast it off and let it sink before putting the engine in gear.
In case it isn't obvious how this system works: you pick up the tallboy and place the hawser on the bow cleat. You then "walk" the sand line down the side of the boat, hand over hand, until you reach the stern hawser and can attach it to a stern cleat. Fine in a flat calm. With a wind from the side, it can be a mad scramble to reach the stern hawser before being blown into the boat next door.
I think the foul was the result of the upgraded mooring gear, which as before connects the mooring ball/tallboy with the stern mooring line by a "spreader line", formerly called a sand line.
The old spreader line was quite long, and lay upon the bottom when a boat was moored. It was often covered in several inches of marine growth.. At some point the lines were renewed and redesigned much shorter.
Once moored , the spreader line now hangs in a relaxed arc under the hull, rather than upon the sea floor. That puts it close to the propeller. I fouled it while reversing in an attempt to shorten up.
It is now recommended that the spreader line be laid on deck, although by observation nobody knows that, or does it, because it's heavy poly line with lead weights.
5. Keep the slack Spreader Line on the boat in order to keep the line clean.
The old illustrations, which showed the spreader lying on the bottom when a boat was moored, have been replaced. The new illustration shows the new, shorter, line.
Also, some moorings are designed for 30-foot boats and some for 50-foot boats. The mooring assignment is seldom precisely matched to boat length, so the spreader line may be shorter or longer, depending.
I think the best procedure is, when departing or adjusting line tension, to lift the spreader line on deck where you can see it. Then cast it off and let it sink before putting the engine in gear.
In case it isn't obvious how this system works: you pick up the tallboy and place the hawser on the bow cleat. You then "walk" the sand line down the side of the boat, hand over hand, until you reach the stern hawser and can attach it to a stern cleat. Fine in a flat calm. With a wind from the side, it can be a mad scramble to reach the stern hawser before being blown into the boat next door.
