Securing to pontoons
Once all the main pontoons have been installed, the swell which tracks along the Harbour Breakwater and bounces off the Stena wharf will continue to be a problem in gale conditions. All berth-holders and visitors are urged to secure their vessels properly, using large diameter, abrasion resistant, ropes. A tour around the marina continues to uncover vessels secured with too few, too light, warps - and an increasing number of those secured with too many warps.
On the finger pontoons, springs and breasts at (approximately)
right angles to the pontoon are still, as they have always been, the most
effective way to keep a boat snug in its berth, whatever the conditions.
Longer yachts which overhang the pontoon may need to fasten their warps to
quarter cleats or winches instead of stern cleats in order to maintain the
correct angle of pull. A bow line led to the walkway is useful, as is a mid-cleat
line to the adjoining boat - with the owner's permission!
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Apartments are --- GO !
Berth extensions
The summer of 2006 saw an additional pier added to the marina, with pontoons designed by Ed Hughes (MD) and built by the marina staff. Made primarily from concrete, the piers feature steel inserts to support the berthing finger and are proving to be hugely strong and stable.
Ed Hughes, explained “Concrete is very poor in torsion and has to be made exceptionally thick to support berthing fingers. By using steel inserts with fibre glass planking to carry the fingers and a ‘waffle’ design for the concrete sections, we can cut weight by a huge amount and cost by half – or more”.
Buoyancy is provided by encapsulated polystyrene blocks which
are light, resilient to shock loads, totally waterproof and easy to construct.
The new pier has substantially reduced the extent of the reflected wave from
the Stena wharf and boats on the earlier pontoons should have a much quieter
2005/6 winter.
