Berthing single handed at a finger pontoon?

[dom]

No, no. That won't do at all. Its jaw opening is nowhere near wide enough to fit over the tubing I'm talking about.

Good point, those horizontal bars wrapped around around skinny and sometimes half-sunk french pontoons are certainly a challenge. The French seem to try and lasso the entire end of the pontoon, but that doesn't always work. Then again the French have a better store of soft expletives if it all goes wrong!

 

[Poignard]

Good point, those horizontal bars wrapped around around skinny and sometimes half-sunk french pontoons are certainly a challenge. The French seem to try and lasso the entire end of the pontoon, but that doesn't always work. Then again the French have a better store of soft expletives if it all goes wrong!

... and a lot of dented bows!

 

[davidej]

No, no. That won't do at all. Its jaw opening is nowhere near wide enough to fit over the tubing I'm talking about.

I can't remember the name of the gadget I have but, at the end of an extendable pole, is a U-shaped plastic bit (about 10cm wide and long) with a sort of plastic piece hinged across the top that you tie the mooring line to. You plunge the U into the tube at the end of the finger berth, the cross bit hinges out of the way, you pull it back and, hey presto, the mooring line is threaded through.

I has got me out of trouble many times - and, of course, picks up buoys which have no warps attached, its main purpose.

Edit Its called Moor fast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOJ-jLTdPh0