Boat-hook thready mooring-buoy thingies

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Babylon

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I've always imagined that I need one of these cunning devices, but have never quite got round to buying one, preferring to lasso the buoy at first instance. Now see that the current issue of YM has a test report on the available range of gadgets, and the lasso method - the budget option - beats the others hands-down.
 
Babylon said:
I've always imagined that I need one of these cunning devices, but have never quite got round to buying one, preferring to lasso the buoy at first instance. Now see that the current issue of YM has a test report on the available range of gadgets, and the lasso method - the budget option - beats the others hands-down.
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There's nothing so satisfying as being able to say " I told you so". :D

Personally I've used a Swiftiematic for 20 years without problem and never got round to trying to lassoo anything since the days when I played cowboys and indians in the backyard.
 
Hmmmm............. Scenario for you then:

Strong tide running & choppy, you raft up alongside a bigger yacht on a swinging mooring, how do you get your bow line through the eye on the buoy by lassoing :confused

I have a moorfast that makes it simple! :p
 
SimbaDog said:
Hmmmm............. Scenario for you then:

Strong tide running & choppy, you raft up alongside a bigger yacht on a swinging mooring, how do you get your bow line through the eye on the buoy by lassoing :confused

I have a moorfast that makes it simple! :p
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Last time I had to do that was at Dittisham a couple of years ago.

I moored up next to a man who had a Moorfast and he kindly did it for me.

And, in case he is reading this, 'Thank you Sir. I hope we did not disturb you when we left early next morning'
 
We used two devices here for years, both of which will be going with us to use on our new boat in the USA. The first is a large snaphook with line attached that fits onto a boathook (extending one if needs be) and the second is the line threader that will feed a line though the ring on a buoy or a pile mooring. We actually have two of the large snaphook devices, the spare one being used on the spring line we used to set from the centre cleat when entering a visitor berth. The hooks I'm talking about are not the twee ones, these have a big enough opening to hook onto the 'D' rails on the ends of French finger berths.

For picking up buoys we used the snaphook initially as it was more positive, then once attached we would thread a line through with the line threader, haul up to the buoy and release the snaphook.

For picking up fore/aft moorings we would pass close enough to the stern end one to thread a line through with the threader which could be adjusted by the helm to allow movement forward to the bow buoy which would be caught with the snaphook, then as before this line replaced by one threaded through with the threader at leisure.

The lassoo method works with buoys but doesn't cover the 'D' ends to French fingers or the closed cleats on some pontoons.
 
Robin said:
We used two devices here for years, both of which will be going with us to use on our new boat in the USA. The first is a large snaphook with line attached that fits onto a boathook (extending one if needs be) and the second is the line threader that will feed a line though the ring on a buoy or a pile mooring. We actually have two of the large snaphook devices, the spare one being used on the spring line we used to set from the centre cleat when entering a visitor berth. The hooks I'm talking about are not the twee ones, these have a big enough opening to hook onto the 'D' rails on the ends of French finger berths. QUOTE]

+1
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I have a bosco boathook. With the optional wire lanyard fitted it makes single handed berthing a thing of ease when aligned with my 12ft (extended) boathook. Similarly mooring to a buoy is also a simple procedure.
 
Robin said:
The hooks I'm talking about are not the twee ones, these have a big enough opening to hook onto the 'D' rails on the ends of French finger berths.
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I bought one in Guernsey a few years ago. It was very expensive (but cheaper than paying someone to repair a chip out of the bow!) and the man in the chandlery said they are called St Vaast hooks.

It doesn't get used much except when I'm single-handing.

Its disadadvantages are its weight and the time needed to 're-arm' it if you accidentally fail to clip it on first time. :o
 
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parsifal said:
I bought one in Guernsey a few years ago. It was very expensive (but cheaper than paying someone to repair a chip out of the bow!) and the man in the chandlery said they are called St Vaast hooks.

It doesn't get used much except when I'm single-handing.

Its disadadvantages are its weight and the time needed to 're-arm' it if you accidentally fail to clip it on first time. :o
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I bought ours in France where they used to be cheaper, not sure now with the exchange rate.

The one on a centre cleat spring line is useful, I used to thread it through our centre cleat and back to the cockpit so I could reach it for adjustment after SWMBO hopped off and clipped it on. Even with the big hook we found one 'D' end somewhere it wouldn't go over, but all you do is put it through and hook it back on it's own line.
 
It's a bit hard to see in this pic, but I'm sure you'll get the idea.
This was just coming up to a buoy a couple of years back.

038.jpg


A close up of the "gadget":-
WhaleHarpGun1.jpg


I find I rarely have to go around again...
 
9a6ar said:
moor hook
looks like as moorfast, but its huge difference.
The flying part is safe from falling away (it is not posible to remove it)
Working angle is adjustable and of course classy design make a difference
have a look
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ebxTQpBhgo
Click to expand...

Had something like that once. It worked brilliantly everytime I practiced with it. Never worked satisfactorily when I was trying to secure the boat.
 
9a6ar said:
moor hook
looks like as moorfast, but its huge difference.
The flying part is safe from falling away (it is not posible to remove it)
Working angle is adjustable and of course classy design make a difference

have a look

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ebxTQpBhgo
Click to expand...

First ever post (digging into an old thread) and already pushing his wares! :eek:
 
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Talbot said:
Had something like that once. It worked brilliantly everytime I practiced with it. Never worked satisfactorily when I was trying to secure the boat.
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Ditto, although not the same product to be fair.

I wasnt sure if SWMBO was going to throw it over the side, shove it somewhere painful, or ask for divorce. I think it is somewhere at the back of the shed now.
 
We bought a Moorfast towards the end of Last season as we saw one be used by another boat. We had always gone for the "along the side and reach over" method, then we got a very pretty stainless hook that bolted to a boat hook pole but that never fitted the buoy rings properly and caused an argument between me and SWMBO as to "it doesn't fit, yes it does, no it doesnt, yes it does, you are not putting on properly....etc etc... so we gave up and went back to old way before seeing the Moorfast. The Moorfast works well, but do have a practice to get the right "stabbing" technique through the buoy ring.
 
I'm all in favour of clever mooring hook thingies, as long as they are on other boats. I've spent many happy hours in places such as Fowey with a drink in my hand, watching people struggling over and over again to make them work, usually with the helmsman's raised voice providing useful advice.

People who lasso buoys might like to ask the owners of these buoys what they think of the practice.
 
johnalison said:
I'm all in favour of clever mooring hook thingies, as long as they are on other boats. I've spent many happy hours in places such as Fowey with a drink in my hand, watching people struggling over and over again to make them work, usually with the helmsman's raised voice providing useful advice.

People who lasso buoys might like to ask the owners of these buoys what they think of the practice.
Click to expand...

Given the number of times over the last twenty years the Fowey harbour patrol have watched us and very many others do it, they at least seem to have no objections.
 
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