Tidal wharf-docklines

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20 ft tidal range-high tide.

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Same dock-low tide
Allowance in dock line length & position must be made for tidal fall.
Suggest check with locals.

[JPA Cate]

Definitely fender board territory, when/if the incoming tide tries to put you on the pier.

We don't tie up like the boat in the pic, though. We use long springs to keep the boat in the same position relative to the wharf (she can't move forward or aft). We use (in addition to the long stretchy springs) 3 dock lines, forward bow cleat to dock, midships cleat to dock, and aft cleat to dock. Usually, can use he midships line to haul her alongside for getting aboard. Y'all 're lucky you've got floating pontoons to tie up at. Fixed places at low tide require all sorts of weird adjustments if you want to leave the boat.

Ann

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Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Definitely fender board territory, when/if the incoming tide tries to put you on the pier.

We don't tie up like the boat in the pic, though. We use long springs to keep the boat in the same position relative to the wharf (she can't move forward or aft). We use (in addition to the long stretchy springs) 3 dock lines, forward bow cleat to dock, midships cleat to dock, and aft cleat to dock. Usually, can use he midships line to haul her alongside for getting aboard. Y'all 're lucky you've got floating pontoons to tie up at. Fixed places at low tide require all sorts of weird adjustments if you want to leave the boat.

Ann

Yes Ann. I posted this for a chuckle.We have the highest tides in the world in Fundy -up to 55ft/16mtr- & have to do things differently.
This is my home harbour & I have lived here most of my 76yrs.
Visitors are often shocked to see the commercial fleet blown away from the fixed wharf at hi tide,but it is the common thing to do because of the extreme tidal range.
The range locally is 20ft/6mtrs & goes from hi to lo in 6hrs. That is a rate of change of 3ft/1 mtr per hour. If you used breast or midship lines,you would have to adjust them several times per hr.
The local solution has always been to run long (60ft/20mtr) bow & stern lines to points well ahead & behind boat. These then act as springs ,keeping boat near centered on wharf ladder. The boat may drift away from wharf near hi tide,if wind is strong & off the wharf. This causes no serious problem,but looks funny.Also,if it is blowing hard,nobody is going anywhere anyway.
Tying a tight midship/breast line to the dock,or worse,the dock ladder,is not recommended.Eventually,you will forget it,or be late tending it,and damage will be done to boat/wharf.If you do have to tie in for a minute while you load/unload,etc,use 1/4" line that will part easily & use only slip knots so it can be untied under strain.

If you are aboard and want to go ashore when tide is up,idle ahead til boat is against dock/ladder,shut down & bail out.
If you come back at hi tide,pull boat in with bow line.If it is blowing hard off wharf,get help from a local dock walker,or drop the standing part of bow line over someones ball hitch & tow her in.

The floating docks are a recent godsend,especially for 30ftrs & under,but there are not enough of them yet.

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Some pics of my current berth among the big boys.

[JPA Cate]

Neat. Thanks for sharing the pics, and the explanation for the fore and aft springs. That totally makes good sense.

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Some more pics of my home harbour




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