Mainsheet cover rafting up

[Jim Hardesty]

Just got spring 2025 issue of Mainsheet Magazine. The cover has 2 boats rafted up bow to stern with 2 bow anchors set.  I've never done that or have ever seen it done.  I can see an advantage of not swinging but it looks so unconventional.  Does anyone here do this?  How does it work?  How much do you trust the set-up, would you overnight?  How do you set it up?
Don't know that I'd ever raft up that way but I'm curious,
Jim

[waughoo]

I'd say it is a slightly unconventional execution, but it isn't any different that a stern anchor or a stern tie arrangement.  Stern anchors are often deployed when the swell doesnt match the prevailing wind to hold the boat head into the swell.  Here in the PNW, stern tie is used to avoid pulling the anchor off a short shelf or in a tight anchorage to allow more boats in. 

[Noah]

I "cruise" with a bunch of friends from my yacht club. They mostly have big Beneteaus and big power boats and they LOVE to do their raft-ups. They are quite good at it too. But I have never seen them pointing in opposite directions. They usually drop bow anchors every few boats and the wing/outside boats also drop stern anchors.
I am anti-social :-) and anchor solo a few hundred feet away from them.

[Ron Hill]

Jim : I believe that the 2 boats are temporally rafted together - will probably untie, and drift apart for the evening!!

A thought