Etiquette for Rafting Up with Other Boats

One fun part of sailing in groups is rafting together after a sail, swim or waiting for the wind to fill or any other reason one can find.  

If you are new to rafting together boats, there are a few points to be considered.  Foremost is to protect the boats.  

• It is important to have properly sized fenders.  The bigger the better.  West Marine has a chart on fender / boat length recommendation.  Boats that are found in most of our rafts will need a minimum of 8.5 to 12" diameter fenders 18-26" in length.  Remember, the only protection between the exchanging of fiberglass are the fenders.  A minimum of three fenders between boats in a good rule of thumb. The more the merrier.  Boat wake plays havoc on rafted boats and they can really get bouncing around.  
• The other necessity is proper line to tie up to the other boat.  Four lines are needed.  A bow line, two springs and a stern line.  A rule of thumb is the line should be 1/8" for every 9' of boat.  So a 25' boat should have a minimum of 3/8" line.  With proper fenders and line, you are ready to raft.  

Etiquette is to hail the anchored boat or rafted boats and ask where you should tie on (the club monitors channel 71 on the VHF).  Be patient.  If the raft is forming, give the boats that are tying on time to get secured.  Once you have been acknowledged and know where you are going to tie on, set you fenders to hang 1/2 of the way past your toe / cap rail.  Have your bow line and stern line in place (especially if you are single handing), your springs ready to attach.  Approach the raft slowly.  Pass off your bow line and then stern line.  This will allow the rafted boat to control your bow and stern and pull you along side. Watch your spreaders and settle the boat so your spreaders are either forward or aft of the rafted boats spreaders.  As you are pulled to the other boat, adjust your fenders to protect both boats, secure your bow and stern lines and set the spring lines.  Once the lines are tied and fenders adjusted, watch the boats action against each other for a few minutes and make any necessary adjustments.  It takes a few times to be comfortable rafting.  The trick is to take your time, have the proper equipment and communicate with the other boats.