How to Raft up Boats Correctly

One of the true joys of modern cruising is the ability to raft up to your friends, be it for an afternoon drink while the children have a swim or overnight for a longer social gathering.  While optional in some places and necessary in others, good rafting knowledge and technique is required for comfort and safety.

Reasons for Rafting Up

Cruising the Marlborough Sounds and D’Urville Island at the top of the South Island is a must do for every cruising boat.  The relative isolation and rugged beauty of the area is breath taking.  For those not accustomed to cruising in these southern waters, the bays can be very deep, even when very close to the shoreline.  In some cases, it is too deep to anchor, and even if you could, the swinging room needed for the necessary anchor warp would render the bay useless.  This leaves two main options; either anchoring and then stern lining into the trees or using one of the many laid moorings throughout the Sounds. This may require rafting to other boats already on the mooring and is common practice. 

Further north is a little different, the waters are shallower, bays are bigger and there are a lot more boats.  Combine these factors with the want to socialize (especially those with children onboard) and the raft ups look quite different, more commonly the boats are rafted together and swinging on anchors.  As the number of boats on the water increases each year, we are seeing more and more raft ups in these cruising grounds.

Rafting up preparation

Whether it’s rafting up on a mooring, stern lined to a bank or swinging on anchor(s), the principles of good rafting technique remain the same.  Consideration of the following key points will ensure no boat (or friendship) gets damaged from a raft up, no matter what conditions may develop:

• The weather forecast and conditions.
• How many boats will be in the raft up.
• Boat positions within the raft up. Ideally the largest boat should serve as the building block for other boats to tie up along either side.  It should be well anchored with plenty of anchor rope or chain out or well secured to a mooring.
• The combined weight of all the boats on a mooring or anchor(s).
• Is the raft to last through the night or just a few hours?
• Is stern lining to be undertaken or considered?
• Any individual boat’s needs (e.g. need to depart early).

Before joining a raft up there are two main preparations required. 

1- Fenders should be positioned on the side of your boat and ideally also on the receiving boat.  At this early stage, place two good fenders amidships, approximately 1 - 2 metres apart with an additional fender further forward and one aft.  Ensure they are positioned at a height where they extend above and below the rub strip of your boat.

2- Mooring lines of appropriate size and condition should be attached to cleats on the boat.  One on the bow and one on the stern, and two additional lines kept midships to be used as spring lines when completing the raft.  The ropes should have good shock absorption and allow some stretch.  The use of non-stretch sheets or halyards should be avoided as it can lead to a very uncomfortable and ‘jerky’ motion as the boats move around due to waves or wind.  In extreme cases they can also lead to damage to cleats and rope attachment points.  

The Rafting Up Process

The actual process to raft boats up is reasonably straight forward: -

1. Slow down when approaching or joining a raft up to avoid any potential collision.
2. Make sure all passengers keep their hands and feet in the boat while rafting up, so they don't get pinched.
3. Come abeam of the host boat and heave the bow and stern lines to the host crew. If you can't do this because of current or wind conditions then approach the bow of the host at a 45-degree angle and toss the bowline, and once it is made fast allow your boat to settle gently back and beside the host by using a combination of the wind, current and engine.  Always secure ropes onto cleats or strong points - not handrails or other accessories.

4. Run the two spring lines from the bow of one boat to the stern of the other (or utilise a midship cleat), to minimize fore and aft motion creating an “X” shape. These spring lines will keep the boats in the correct fore and aft position and should be well tensioned to minimise motion between the boats.
5. The bow and stern lines can be adjusted and kept a little looser to allow the spring lines to do much of the work and avoid a jarring motion when the bow or stern lines suddenly tighten.
6. Reposition any fenders that need moving up, down or aft or forward to create a continuous fender barrier.

When leaving a raft up, either reverse the above procedures, or ideally just release the spring lines, followed by the bow and stern lines, and allow the boat to slowly drift backwards whilst a crew member makes sure the boats remain apart.  Once clear aft, move away and tidy up.

Unfortunately, not all boat operators are considerate or experienced skippers, and some can put large wakes through anchorages and populated bays.  So, ensure the raft up is solid, well fendered and lines are tight, so the raft moves as one.

Hauraki Fender Products for Raft Ups

Hauraki Inflatable Fenders were designed especially for rafting up.  Because the fenders are inflatable, they are big enough to keep boats safely apart, and can be stored away easily once deflated. 

The range of Hauraki Fleece Fender Covers do a great job of reducing fender squeak and noise due to the movement of the boats in a raft up.   

Hauraki Fenders nylon rafting line is the ideal combination of stretch, strength and size for boats rafting together. 

If you have any questions or need some advice, please get in touch with us.