Anyone use the MoorFast system

[pau1gray]

Just looking at buying a moorfast system.

Any thoughts from the panel of experts? Anybody have one already and can't live without it etc etc?

 

[mobeydick]

I have one and generally works fine. very handy for high-topside boats. Not infalible - the dongle bit fell off (and was not tied on properly) and got lost, but manufaturer replaced it without quibble. You have to be careful not to twist it, but providing you can get an angle on the ring (or whatever) it works. The little plastic 'lip' on one side also hels to lift up a ring which is laying down.

I'd say worth the price

 

[rickp]

Agreed, our bows are quite high - and we (well the crew /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif) find the moorfast quite handy when picking up buoys and the like.

Rick

 

[eastcoastbernie]

Hmm, I have found the Moorfast of limited value. It's great for picking up stationary things when short-handed, but my experience has been that when you jab at a swinging mooring, the swinging mooring moves away and makes it impossible to get a grip. Probably depends on what sort of moorings you have near you. The ones on the East Coast rivers tend to be a bit on the light side. I also lost the end when practising in the marina,(I was astonished to discover that the end did not float!) but the manufacturers replaced it for me. The manufacturers also told me I need to practise my technique. In the meantime, I've gone back to using the boathook.

 

[Salty John]

I declare a commercial interest, but you may want to look at our Mooringmate system. Different principle, it puts a 14mm line and very strong mooring hook onto the mooring ring within very little fuss.

 

[FullCircle]

I have one, but wouldn't have given more than the fiver I paid for it. Limited use IMHO, and SWMBO already broke the handle because she didn't release it quick enough as we ran over the mooring.

 

[pvb]

Also consider the Handy Duck...

Before buying, you should take a look at the ludicrously-named Handy Duck. I've had one for a few seasons, and really wouldn't be without it. Very easy to use, remarkably strong, instant attachment, remote release.

 

[Emjaytoo]

It rather depends on what you want to do. We have a moorfast (two infact) and they are great for picking up a mooring. More specifically, they are very good if you need to feed a mooring line (or similar) through something and back on board.

We also use one of these

Grab Hook

We have it secured to a midships cleat, you lean over the side, grad a pontoon cleat and it doesn't matter what the wind or the tide are doing, you engage "idle ahead" and the boat sits perfectly snug to the pontoon, whilst you calmly get off and secure bow and stern lines (and springs!). A marvelous bit of kit.

 

[gjeffery]

Grab Hook looks interesting. Good price, and appears top have a wide gape. It would be interesting to know if the makers indicate a safe working load, and how wide the gape is.

I have a Handy Duck. Works well but gape is small. Also wary of loading a plastic hook.

 

[pvb]

2 versions of Handy Duck...

[ QUOTE ]
I have a Handy Duck. Works well but gape is small. Also wary of loading a plastic hook.

[/ QUOTE ] There are 2 versions of Handy Duck - 22mm or 33mm jaw width. I have the 33mm version and it's fine for most uses. As for strength, the plastic is reinforced and rated for 1500kg load! But the great advantage is the ability to remotely release it under load.

 

[Benbow]

[ QUOTE ]
SWMBO already broke the handle because she didn't release it quick enough as we ran over the mooring.

[/ QUOTE ]


Who broke it ?!

Dare I suggest that the person on the helm may have been more responsible?

 

[capt_courageous]

Hi
The Grab Hook looks like a modern version of the Star Hook we bought many years ago and still use - wonderful thing. I guess the gape will be 3 to 4 inches

 

[npf1]

If you need a really strong grab hook type of thing, have a look at the Got-It here: http://www.windward-tack.co.uk/ I bought one at the beginning of the season and have been mightily impressed having used it about five or six times now. It's way stronger than all of the others I've seen. BTW - I'm not connected with the company.

I do like the idea of a line threader but haven't found a good one yet. The Moorfast always looks like a toy to me!!!

 

[capt_courageous]

Sir
Your suggestion undermines the whole basis on which all serious Scuttlebutters operate. It is never our fault. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[FullCircle]

<Who broke it ?!

Dare I suggest that the person on the helm may have been more responsible? >

You may suggest it, and it may have some basis in fact, but contributory to this was SWMBOs inability to release the Moorfast from the ring, or her willingness to let it go and lose it, so she levered it over the bowroller. We were in a bit of tide with a cross wind, so I cant hold it on the button forever.
Perhaps you have some magical positioning device that works in all events?

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have a similar threader to the Moorfast but it only cost £7.50 & I attached it to a decorators pole from B&Q.I agree that it only works on relatively still water when picking up buoys.I have a Bosco hook which is much better & can be released remotely.

 

[Brian_B]

We use our's to secure to mooring buoys in harbours within a daysail of Plymouth.
It works very well. We usually pick up using the lasso method then use the moorfast to secure to the buoy.

 

[Talbot]

I had a similar system to the moorfast, and it worked every time I tested it, but never worked when we needed it.

We now have http://www.boscoboathook.co.uk/mooring/ and not only does this work every time, it has the ability to release the hook if you get it wrong., and it also has a tool which enables connection to a cleat easily.

My one quibble is that the hook can only cope with about a 1.5" bar (havent found anything bigger than that yet!)

 

[npf1]

Talbot - the one I mention pretty big and I think it would do more than 1.5". I'll measure it at the weekend if I'm down at the boat.

 

[npf1]

Talbot- Just found an email with the info:

"Hi, thanks for your interest in the Got-It mooring hook. The hook will fit comfortably around a scaffold pole which is around 1.5 inches in diameter. In fact, the hook was designed specifically to fit around scaffold poles in Cherbourg marina. At a push, the hook could actually fit around a mooring that is 2 inches in diameter. It has been tested to be able to pull 750kg without distortion so, for example, with the aid of a winch, it can be quite easily used to lift very heavy buoys from the water."