Springs it is.. and Oxford Blue too

Today – Moored Reach Lode, River Cam

Almost finished the roof today… just one section left.   I say almost finished, well the preparation is.. still got to do the job of putting another non slip undercoat on before the final coat of blue.  We talked and talked about what colour to do the final coat in this time.. and decided in the end to keep it as it was.  A lighter colour doesn’t hold the heat so much.. but when I finally said,”Hey if we have a light colour we will miss out on having cooked eggs for breakfast during the summer holidays when the kids throw em at us!”

We laughed and laughed… so decided to keep it good ‘ol Oxford blue..

Springs then… Well lots of comments and suggestions…

From Ron.. 

Springers is easy to describe...
They are ropes which go from the boat/target/whatever to the shore, one from the stern of the boat to the mooring pin at the bow of the boat and one from the bow of the boat to the mooring pin at the stern.
This stops the boat moving too much when tupperware tart carts blast by at speeds in excess of the speed limit, moving most of the water out of the channel.
now, of course, Sue will post and tell me that I am wrong.

Nearly right Ron

David B

I think they are more commonly known as just "springs".

Ron…

I knew them as springs as well, but I guessed that the Narrow Boat world may have invented another name for them...
I learned the name, and what they did, off a trawlerman here in sunny Weymouth.

Pat..

.. Springs is the word, E indoors as his seamanship Manual, page 147, any spring which prevents the boat from moving back (aft) is known as a back spring, and one that prevents a boat from moving forward(ahead) is known as a head spring, when a boat is secured alongside, the head and back springspreventher from urging ahead or astern at her berth, and together hey assist the breast ropes to keep her close alongside. 

So know I know its Springs, I think Ron,  it wasn’t the narrowboat world that invented that name for them but me!!

And finally….. From Tony by email, that diagram to do it the Canadian way!…

this will save the trouble of drawing.
The proper name for the type of mooring you mention is a 'Spring'. This
actual diagram is a Canadian one and is labelled incorrectly; the proper
names are 'Fore Spring' and 'Aft Spring'.  I spend 4 years at naval college
and four years at sea many years ago but do remember that!

So now it is all explained.. thanks!