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Long Island Boat Party: Rafting up 101

Strong's Marine
Strong's Marine
Long Island Boat Party - Strong's Marine

Join us on Sunday, August 6th at 12pm at the Cove off Robins Island in the Peconic Bay and raft up with us for an afternoon of fun! Joining Strong's Marine is wake surf pro, Bryan Holland, from Cobalt Boats who will be offering surf boat demos!

Boating is often used as a way to entertain, whether your cooking on board, enjoying a cocktail, or cruising with some friends around Long Island. There are many ways to entertain, but a common way is to raft up with other boaters! Learn about some safety tips when rafting up before heading to our raft up in the Peconic Bay. 

Tips for Rafting up with Another Boat when joining a Long Island Boat Party
 
Slow Down -  When approaching another boat, slow down to avoid collisions and damages. Take into account the wind, sea conditions and the activity of the boat you are approaching. 
 
Look out for Swimmers - Work with your friends and fellow boaters to make sure that swimmers are away from the approaching vessel. Making sure all people are safe is a top priority. 
 
Hand and Feet Inside the Boat - Make sure all passengers keep their hands, feet and even personal items away from the edge of the boat. Peoples hands and feet could get pinched with another boat if they are hanging over the side. 
 
Deploy Fenders - Make sure fenders are deployed when approaching the boat you are going to raft up to. This will help with any potential damage if a collision is more forceful than anticipated. 
 
Secure Your Position - Secure the vessel safely. Instead of using rail stations, handrails and other accessories that are unreliable, use the cleats.  Once secure, make sure all lines tied between the other boats are tight to minimize the amount of motion. 

 

How to Safely Start a Raft up

If you are starting the raft up party there are a couple aspects to consider:

  1. Make a Solid Foundation - The largest and or heaviest boat should be the vessel that drops its anchor. This allows you to build a strong foundation when connecting multiple boats.  Once that boat owner secures the anchor, then other boats can join alongside.
  2. Alternate Sides When Joining - When joining the raft up make sure that boats alternate each side, so the vessel holding anchor is at the center of the group. Then the boat is less likely to swing due to the tension on the lines. 

We look forward to seeing you out on the water! If you can not make it, we hope these tips help you put together your own raft up safely this summer. 

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