French Boat Hook?

[NPMR]

We have a really fine boat hook. Long, tough, pitch pine with solid end. Varnishes up to become a thing of beauty. Possibly ex-RN or similar.

We've used it for about 18 years now, but it is cumbersome and heavy. The current boat has high topsides. We're moored on a swinging mooring. And Lovely, also known as SWMBO or Mrs NPMR finds it too heavy when picking up our mooring buoy and having picked it up, trying to lay the boat hook down the deck, whilst hanging on to the chain. There's been a couple of near misses for it going overboard.

We saw, somewhere in France, a different kind of boat hook to the regular ones seen in the UK. More like a Shepherd's Crook but in aluminium. It feels like it could be worth a try but I can't seem to find one in the UK and/or on the InterWorld Web Net.

Any ideas?

 

[[70521]]

This might be what you are looking for

http://www.exebuoyhook.co.uk/

I've also changed my pickup buoy to one with a big hoop on the top that makes life a lot easier.

I have a rule on my boat, the Cynical Scot does the heavy work at the point end.

 

[Poignard]

Versatile Marine make one. They call it a VersaCrook. I think they advertise on eBay.

I bought one to replace the Simpson-Lawrence BoatCrook that I lost over the side (it didn't float). The Versa Crook is supposed to float, but I haven't tried it yet.

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have been using the exebuoyhook for several years and it is excellent. Very strong. Now comes in different sizes.

 

[Minchsailor]

I've got one of those! Came with the boat. It is quite good.

And it floats, handle up (but not by very much.....).

 

[BelleSerene]

One of these? Was from a French firm. https://www.swi-tec.com/en/anlegemanover/23-mooring-buoy-retrieving-hook-8436568320281.html

Fits into their slotted boathook end. https://www.swi-tec.com/en/anlegemanover/23-mooring-buoy-retrieving-hook-8436568320281.html

It's the best boathook I've had, as the thin red line opens the strung catch and capsizes the hook to release the buoy or ring once you are secure with a permanent line, or ready to go.

 

[BelleSerene]

One of these? https://www.swi-tec.com/en/anlegemanover/23-mooring-buoy-retrieving-hook-8436568320281.html

Bought it from a French firm years ago. Best boat hook I've had as the think red line opens the sprung gate and capsizes the hook to detach it from the buoy or mooring ring, once you have a permanent line attached or are ready to go.

Attaches to their slotted boathook end also advertised there.

 

[pvb]

The current boat has high topsides. We're moored on a swinging mooring. And Lovely, also known as SWMBO or Mrs NPMR finds it too heavy when picking up our mooring buoy and having picked it up, trying to lay the boat hook down the deck, whilst hanging on to the chain.

Consider a Handy Dock - lightweight, telescopic fibreglass pole, strong, very easy to use, and easy to release. The larger size is the one to get. I've singlehanded with one for years. Used to be called "Handy Duck". See http://handydock.se/eng/

 

[Hadenough]

While you are at it why don't you get some French mooring lines? You know, the ones that when they come alongside are handed to you looking like a rats nest and are not attached to anything

 

[Poignard]

None of these gadgets is of the slightest use when you berth on a typical French catway. It will usually be shorter than your boat, do its best to tip your crew into the water, and don't expect to find a cleat at its outer end. Instead there will be a horizontal hoop of steel tubing (plastic covered, if you're lucky) of greater diameter than any of your fancy boathooks can cope with. In the meantime, while you are contemplating this interesting feature, your bow will be knocking chips out of itself on the steel angle that marks the edge of the walkway.

Bienvenue en France!

 

[[3889]]

None of these gadgets is of the slightest use when you berth on a typical French catway. It will usually be shorter than your boat, do its best to tip your crew into the water, and don't expect to find a cleat at its outer end. Instead there will be a horizontal hoop of steel tubing (plastic covered, if you're lucky) of greater diameter than any of your fancy boathooks can cope with. In the meantime, while you are contemplating this interesting feature, your bow will be knocking chips out of itself on the steel angle that marks the edge of the walkway.

Bienvenue en France!

All true, barring the chipped bow which is down to boat handling, but somehow those difficiencies are easy to overlook when you pay 25% of UK berthing fees and dine on moules and tartare rather than burgers and pizza.

 

[Poignard]

All true, barring the chipped bow which is down to boat handling, but somehow those difficiencies are easy to overlook when you pay 25% of UK berthing fees and dine on moules and tartare rather than burgers and pizza.

And some of the money saved can be spent on a small grapnel to drop through the hoop. If attached to a line led via a snatch block amidships to a sheet winch, it keeps your bow off the walkway and, with forward gear engaged and the tiller towards the catway, you have all the time in the world to step ashore and attach the other lines.

Another technique I have seen used in France is to have a bow fender rigged and motor gently up to the walkway. Leaving forward gear engaged and the tiller towards the catway, the boat stays where it is. I bought a bow fender last autumn and tried this. It works perfectly, especially when single-handing but I haven't used it as often as I'd like because there always seems to be some charming French people rushing up to help!

 

[Aja]

We have a really fine boat hook. Long, tough, pitch pine with solid end. Varnishes up to become a thing of beauty. Possibly ex-RN or similar.

We've used it for about 18 years now, but it is cumbersome and heavy. The current boat has high topsides. We're moored on a swinging mooring. And Lovely, also known as SWMBO or Mrs NPMR finds it too heavy when picking up our mooring buoy and having picked it up, trying to lay the boat hook down the deck, whilst hanging on to the chain. There's been a couple of near misses for it going overboard.

We saw, somewhere in France, a different kind of boat hook to the regular ones seen in the UK. More like a Shepherd's Crook but in aluminium. It feels like it could be worth a try but I can't seem to find one in the UK and/or on the InterWorld Web Net.

Any ideas?

Swap places.

Regards
Donald

 

[dunedin]

Swap places

Top answer for the OP’s issue.

If that is not possible, perhaps rethink to avoid the need to lift the heavy chain. Perhaps instead add an eye to the buoy and either put a spring clip on initially, or use a HookandMoor pole to thread a line through. Then lift the chain at leisure later.

 

[Poignard]

Anyway, these mamby-pamby plastic ended boathooks are no good when pushing off from modern plastic boats. They just slide off. Get yourself a big heavy one with a good sharp galvanised iron spike that will really dig into the gelcoat.

 

[BelleSerene]

Another technique I have seen used in France is to have a bow fender rigged and motor gently up to the walkway. Leaving forward gear engaged and the tiller towards the catway, the boat stays where it is. I bought a bow fender last autumn and tried this. It works perfectly, especially when single-handing but I haven't used it as often as I'd like because there always seems to be some charming French people rushing up to help!

Not just boats, either. I park my car like that. Just aim at the garage wall and leave first gear engaged. Comes in handy in those pesky traffic queues, too: the car, how did you say, the car stays where it is. And conveniently, when the car in front starts moving, mine mirrors its progress like magic. Sometimes I can even get out for a fag or a chat and safely rejoin it further down the traffic jam.

There must be some reason this hasn’t caught on, but I can’t think what it would be?

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

I got mine from Quay West Chandlers in Poole.
Pete is very helpful and by far the best chandler in Poole.
01202 732233

 

[Neeves]

Why not instal a pick up line.

Have a line sufficiently strong attached to current mooring and to a pole with float and weight at base. Pole floats and stands vertically, bow person simply picks up pole (judiciously chosen to be the right height) and secures yacht with pick line. Other person then saunters up deck and hauls in heavy chain. You can make the pole at home, polystyrene float (300mm diam), bit of conduit (3m) and roofing lead wrapped round base of pole.

Jonathan