Sleeping on a boat

bilbot79

I'm trying to get my wife comfortable with the idea of heading off for a week cruising along the canals and waterways. She is a bit creeped out about the whole security thing though. We are careful to lock the big heavy doors of our house every night so she doesn't see how a flimsy boat could be safe and secure. My Dad said to me "See boat people son, you don't get better people than boat people.."

What say ye? Is it safe sleeping on a boat? Are there secure gated jettys and are public moorings out of the question?

Steve

I've been doing it for 30 years without a problem.. its no different to sleeping in a tent or a caravan, really depends on the location.

Boater123

Been doing it for years on the canals with only one problem about 8 years ago in Naas Harbour. Kids jumping on board and throwing stones in the middle of the night. Not a fun thing to experience with a baby on board

There are a few places on the canals you just do not moor such as Athy. Hire boat companies forbid their customers from mooring there.

General rule of thumb is to moor where there are other boats. A boat on its own in a village or town tends to attract unwanted attention from the Dutch Gold and cider brigade.

When in an area you don't know just ask the lock keeper where is good and where to avoid. Great bunch of lad's that will set you right.

Mooring outside a town on the soft banks has never been a problem, and fantastic having a glass of wine on deck under the stars.

Worst comes to worst, just get a B+b for the night, but do go, the canals are one of the best things about boating in this country.

bilbot79

Thanks Guys, that's really helpful. I guess you just need to know where not to moor. I think if you were amongst other boats doing the same thing it would be like a campsite.

I would imagine you wouldn't really do it in Dublin but maybe once you get outside a bit. Any other places to avoid such as Athy? or are there any places that are ideal with lots of boats together etc?

I suppose there must be spots that boaters favour.

Boater123

bilbot79 wrote: »

Thanks Guys, that's really helpful. I guess you just need to know where not to moor. I think if you were amongst other boats doing the same thing it would be like a campsite.

It would be rare to moor beside other boats that are occupied, it wouldn't be like a campsite.

I meant moor where other boats are tied up. Where other people such as the locals are familiar with seeing boats tied up and pay the boats no real attention.

Sallins, Lowtown, Hazelhatch might have a few boats occupied, people living aboard, but no problem. You quoted your Dad as saying "See boat people son, you don't get better people than boat people.."

The canals can be so quiet, it's rare to meet another boat under way. (The most I've ever passed in the one day might be two, and in peak season). Often you feel like you're the only boat on the water. That's probably the best thing about the canals.

What kind of boat do you have?

bilbot79

Boater123 wrote: »

It would be rare to moor beside other boats that are occupied, it wouldn't be like a campsite.

I meant moor where other boats are tied up. Where other people such as the locals are familiar with seeing boats tied up and pay the boats no real attention.

Sallins, Lowtown, Hazelhatch might have a few boats occupied, people living aboard, but no problem. You quoted your Dad as saying "See boat people son, you don't get better people than boat people.."

The canals can be so quiet, it's rare to meet another boat under way. (The most I've ever passed in the one day might be two, and in peak season). Often you feel like you're the only boat on the water. That's probably the best thing about the canals.

What kind of boat do you have?

Its a birchwood 25.

Boater123

Would have considered a Birchwood 25 reasonably secure. I have one myself with a Volvo penta on a leg, but don't use it on the canals (weed). I use a NB on the canals (keel cooled/ weed hatch).

Some one got in it one Winter in Shannon Harbour, opened the rear covers but got no further. Behind the wooden cabin doors there is a metal "cross" that braces the doors. The previous owner made it or had it made. Because of it it they cant lift the top section of the door nor kick the hanging doors in.

With it in place I'm happy enough leaving it for longer periods of time unattended.

bilbot79

Must a boat always moor in order to be stationary or can you head out to the middle of a lake. I suppose not all boat would have an anchor

cricalix

Throwing something heavy over the side with a line (and chain) attached is the normal way of making a boat stay in one place. Moorings are just permanent heavy things with a permanent line (for some value of permanent). Other normal ways include beaching yourself (and working out how to get back off), or using a bilge keel vessel that can happily sit on a mud bank (but that probably won't apply in a lake). Oh, and marina pontoons, but they're just big moorings

Alternately, GPS and computer controlled thrusters, but that'll chew fuel/battery.. not to mention probably be noisy.

If you don't have something holding you in place, a boat will drift.

fergal.b

bilbot79 wrote: »

Must a boat always moor in order to be stationary or can you head out to the middle of a lake. I suppose not all boat would have an anchor

All boats should have an anchor not just for mooring more importantly for safety incase your engine failed and you found yourself drifting onto rocks, an anchor will give you time till help arrives. Drifting around in the middle of a lake at night is not a good idea for your own safety and the safety of other boaters.




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neris

Its amazing how far a boat can drift with no power in a short time. Add in stronger breeze, lee shore and a tide and you,ll be screaming for the anchor and anything else that can be attached to the boat and fecked over the side to slow her down

pH

In terms of the inland waterways (Shannon & Erne) there are a few secluded moorings which are not attached to land, normally not popular (theres's one in the north of Lough Key for example), so you'll have them to yourself or at worst joined by one other boat, but there's no access to them unless you have a boat. WI are also piloting mooring buoys in the Erne system at present, so you have a safe overnight mooring in a secluded bay by yourself, however these are few in number and limited at present to the Erne.

Anchoring overnight, is not recommended unless you absolutely know what you're doing. Setting an anchor properly is harder than in might appear, weather can change quickly and dramatically, unless you know the area, the prevailing weather and how to set an anchor it isn't something you should be doing. Anchoring (out of way of the main navigation channels!) for the day when there's people around to notice an anchor being dragged and react to it is fine though.

In general though, Waterways Ireland (and local county councils) do little to make boaters feel safe at their moorings or give them any privacy, nothing is done to prevent non boat users accessing the jetties and pontoons, in fact the opposite, many "facilities" like seats are provided overlooking moorings. If you don't like the idea of the entire world walking constantly by the place, or a gang of teenagers sitting on a bench drinking 10ft from your vessel you want to eat/sleep/relax then WI facilities are not for you.