Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

[rfdfirecaptain]

I just read the thread on how to position boats when rafting and that brings to mind something that I?ve always wanted to know. Before traveling the Dismal Swamp I read that boats tend to raft up at the welcome center for the night. Sure enough when I arrived all the mooring spaces were taken and additional boats were stacked beside the moored boats like cord wood. So before I decide to follow instructions on rafting can someone just give me a little bit of rafting etiquette advice?

1. How do I get permission to tie off to someone?s boat? someone that I don?t even know?

2. What if they say ?no??

3. Once rafted up, how does one ask permission to come ashore? Do you just hop from boat to boat until you get to the dock?

4. How do I get out of the "sandwich" if I am ready to leave before the outside boat is ready?

I like the idea of rafting at places like the Dismal Welcome Center, but I just get knots in my stomach thinking about actually doing it. Yeah you guessed? I was too embarassed to stop and ask, so we pressed on and almost wound up spending the night tied off to a dolphin at the Lock.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

Here on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in South Florida, we have tons of restaurants where boats dock. Some are very busy and rafting is the norm. If there are dock hands, they will organize rafting. If not, by all means ask first. Most people are OK with it, but the occassional boater will say no.

In your case where overnight is needed (I think that is what you implied) things may be different, yet more critical since it could mean you have to anchor out.

But, don't hesitate to ask. Most boaters are very helpful.

Once rafted, it is expected you will be walking across other boats. Just be respectful of the person's boat when doing so.

When a sandwiched boat needs to leave, the boaters on each side will help with lines to let the boat out and retie the raft up. It just part of rafting.

Don't worry about it so much and enjoy meeting the new people you raft up with.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

Here on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in South Florida, we have tons of restaurants where boats dock. Some are very busy and rafting is the norm. If there are dock hands, they will organize rafting. If not, by all means ask first. Most people are OK with it, but the occassional boater will say no.

In your case where overnight is needed (I think that is what you implied) things may be different, yet more critical since it could mean you have to anchor out.

But, don't hesitate to ask. Most boaters are very helpful.

Once rafted, it is expected you will be walking across other boats. Just be respectful of the person's boat when doing so.

When a sandwiched boat needs to leave, the boaters on each side will help with lines to let the boat out and retie the raft up. It just part of rafting.

Don't worry about it so much and enjoy meeting the new people you raft up with.

Exactly.

Then, when someone gets good and drunk, they will make a lure comment about one of the women.
Then come the dirty looks, the attitude, the rude comments, the drunk gets sick and pukes in your boat.
Thats when the punches start flying, and soon after that, someone's boat gets damaged and the cops get called.

Its all quite entertaining, from about 100 yards away.

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

Exactly.

Then, when someone gets good and drunk, they will make a lure comment about one of the women.
Then come the dirty looks, the attitude, the rude comments, the drunk gets sick and pukes in your boat.
Thats when the punches start flying, and soon after that, someone's boat gets damaged and the cops get called.


Its all quite entertaining, from about 100 yards away.

100 yards is a bit too far, 40 is about right!! I only raft with very close friends, with very nice boats. Less chance for problems.

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

WOW! Both perspectives are along the lines of what I expected to hear. I didn't want to assume anything and I am not surprised to hear polar opposite views. I appreciate your honesty.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

captain, some people are better at it than others. Some people are snobs about their boats. Some people don't care. Most people are in the middle. You have to determine that for yourself when you get there.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

My impressiin from your original post is you were asking about rafting at a dock, where people will be getting off their boats. Out on the water, anchoring out, there is normally no need to raft up. In that case 40 yards seems like a fairly good number. However, it depends on the length of your boat and how much anchor line you have out. Be far enough away to allow for the swing.

Back to rafting at a dock, call the dock management and ask them for their policies.

I have found adult boaters to be mostly responsible and helpful. However, I do not attribute those qualities to boats overloaded with 20 somethings.

 

[shrew]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

first, it depends on where the boats are rafted up. If it is a public mooring, then verify with the harbor master what the rules are. some places the harbor master places you, in others it's first come first serve and in the case of rafting, some places expect that a mooring be shared up to "X" number of boats. If it's a marina, usually the marina dockmaster arranges whom gets tied to whom. Again, check with the dock master. If people are anchored, then those are usually private parties. You can certainly approach those folks. For moorings and marina space the raft boats, it is typically expected and folks usually can't say no (unless maybe they are waiting for another boat to arrive).

As far as crossing boats.

1) Ask politely if you can cross first. Or at least politely inform then.
2) Don't jump from boat to boat. Try to transition gracefully to reduce rocking the boats.
3) Remove your shoes before stepping onto someone else's boat.
4) Try to cross from swim platform to swim platform. (Though when asking, you might want to ask where they prefer you cross).
5) Be polite and move on. Not everyone wants guests. (Though many are very friendly, so don't turn down a drink if offered either).

If you're in the middle of a raft and need to depart, the best thing to do is notify the baots on both sides what day and time you plan on leaving. Remind them well ahead of time too. We usually tie long lines to the boat on one side and tie or hold them on the boat of the other side. the lines will run across your boat. The you get untied and slip out. Then the lines are used to pull the outside boats(s0 together in the raft again.

 

[salty87]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

i first imagined a drunken raftup in the middle of the lake...stay far away! this situation sounds much better.

lots of communication...if possible. no shoes tip-toeing across the platform.

also have plenty of fenders. more then necessary as someone always doesn't have enough. make sure you get them back!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

1. Zoom up drunk and stay that way all day.
2. Throw somebody the 1/4" dollar-store clothesline you use for tying up.
3. Intead of fenders, pack some PFD's between your boat and the one next to you because "the danged kids don't need 'em- they swim good."
4. Around lunchtime, say to the guy next to you, "Dang! Forgot the cooler. Whatcha eating?"
5. If one of the boats has a cabin, yell out "Hey, kids. Bathroom! C'mon!"

Always makes me laugh when the folks I've rafted up with before pretend not to hear me callin'. They're such kidders!

 

[Ryanlewis2010]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

I have found adult boaters to be mostly responsible and helpful. However, I do not attribute those qualities to boats overloaded with 20 somethings.

HEY i kinda find that very not so insulting but insulting but seeing how im not 20 yet and im very respectful of every one around me and hey I dont have friends (well that would go boating with me) so lol btw hows the boat goin?

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

HEY i kinda find that very not so insulting but insulting but seeing how im not 20 yet and im very respectful of every one around me and hey I dont have friends (well that would go boating with me) so lol btw hows the boat goin?

What ??? no comprendo.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

If I remeber correctly the Dismal Swamp Canal is pretty straight and narrow around the welcome center. Very few places besides the docks there to spend the night on a bigger boat. The only other option is to tie off parrelel to the canal, to trees along the bank ( and possibly getting rocked by large passing vessels ) or to back into one of the smaller offshoot canals, but i'm no expert. I would think most of the folks you'd meet along that stretch of the ICW would be very friendly, ( folks you would enjoy meeting ) , and would welcome another boating enthusiast to the raft. I would not expect alot of hellraisers, it's pretty desolate and quiet. Nothing but miles and miles of SWAMP forest and canals.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

HEY i kinda find that very not so insulting but insulting but seeing how im not 20 yet and im very respectful of every one around me and hey I dont have friends (well that would go boating with me) so lol btw hows the boat goin?

That's why I qualified my statement with "overloaded with". Kinda indicates a strong possibility of a drunken party. It was mostly a comment to roscoe's post about the drunken boaters.

Making slow but steady progress on the project. You've probably seen on the thread that we have had a ton of rain here in South Florida for the last month. All day again today. Probably tomorrow too. Hard to get any work done.

Have any of the ab

 

[roscoe]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

Rafting up.

Overflow docking, "filling the yacht club beyond capacity." The horseshoe was already full. as well as any available slips and moorings, so they tie up on the outside. South Shore YC, Milwaukee, for the Queens Cup race.

never a problem in the YC, but too many disrespectful people in a raft up out on the water.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

roscoe,

Picture 1 - This is not a raft up. It's a total party, 98% teens and 20 somethings If you weren't into the party, you wouldn't be there. In fact, based upon your posts, I can bet you wouldn't be there.

In the Keys, we have the Columbus Day Regatta, 3000-4000 boats for the weekend. The inner core looks like Picture 1, surrounded by a huge ring of 2 to 10 boat raft ups. A bit calmer, but still some craziness. Again, if someone is not ready for that atmosphere, they don't go.

Where I live, we have Lake Boca (a small area of the ICW at Boca Inlet, no wake zone, 2 to 12' depth, beautiful water, sandy bottom) and on weekends, it will have several hundred boats, many of which form raft ups. Most seem to be friends or friends of friends. Some are a bit crazy, but separated by water. Most are just great.

I'm sorry you have such a negative attitude about your fellow boaters. I for one enjoy meeting new boaters and always give them the benefit of the doubt. If they turn out to be s@#$, then the never see my fenders again.

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

I would think that many boats would scare the fish away.

 

[salty87]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

I would think that many boats would scare the fish away.

nah, lots of snapper. def. catch and release.

 

[Trooper583]

Re: Can someone explain Rafting "Etiquette" 101 please?

If there are already a lot of folks rafted up at the dock, they are in the same situation you are. They will probably be good to go with it. I would pick my neighbor carefully though...