How not to pick up a mooring buoy

[john_morris_uk]

It's what I do when it is blowing.
In light weather I just stop the boat with the buoy at the bow and amble forward with a boat hook to pick up the strop.

You don't have to tie knots, just pass the bitter end of the line through either the eye on top the buoy or the eye in the end of the strop.
You do have to get the line to a cleat before lots of load comes on it, so maybe the karabiner is a nicer variation, particularly for a heavier boat.

Reversing up might be easier, but as the boat swings into wind isn't it all likely to be a bit violent as the line takes the load?

Like all these things, different boats, different characteristics and loads. In anything over 15 -20 knots there is no way I can take the load that comes onto the bow of our boat when taking up the mooring. In fact when I've been single handed and picked the line up and been in the process of passing it round the forestay etc, on occasions the boat has started to swing in the tide and wind and before I could get a turn round a cleat I've had to let go. (And I am 6'3" and did a LOT of gym work when I was younger and up to only a couple of years ago!)

I think that the Carabiner idea is ok if the mooring buoy has a ring I could reach. The other problem is our freeboard at the bow is too much for me to reach the top of most mooring buoys. (When we pick up a buoy with two of us, one lies on the deck midships where the freeboard JUST allows you to thread the line from the bow through the ring on the top of the buoy.)

The answer to your 'isn't it going to be violent?' question is that our boat weighs 12 tonnes and doesn't swing violently… In fact it doesn't do anything particularly violently.

 

[LadyInBed]

Reversing up might be easier

Not with a center cockpit

 

[john_morris_uk]

Not with a center cockpit

That's funny because it was me that suggested it as a way I am forced to do things sometimes and we've got a centre cockpit!

 

[Sybarite]

That's funny because it was me that suggested it as a way I am forced to do things sometimes and we've got a centre cockpit!

What about a small loop on the end of the mooring line which you push through the buoy's hoop with the boat hook and then pick the loop up on the other side with the boathook?

 

[LadyInBed]

That's funny because it was me that suggested it as a way I am forced to do things sometimes and we've got a centre cockpit!

I envy you, my aft end is cluttered with mizzen sheet, fenders, outboard, dan buoy and is as almost as high above the water as the bow!

 

[john_morris_uk]

I envy you, my aft end is cluttered with mizzen sheet, fenders, outboard, dan buoy and is as almost as high above the water as the bow!

We have a dinghy on davits, dan buoy, wind generator and various electronics so I appreciate the problems. I put the buoy on the quarter...

The real advantage is that yachts tend to weather-cock with their bow downwind so you don't have the problem of the bow blowing violently(?) away from the buoy.

 

[richgiddens]

Please don't tell them that. It is MUCH more entertaining watching the charter boats try to pick up mooring buoys.

However every now and then there is an exception and a charter boat really cocks up the anchor maneuver.

Speaking as one of those much maligned charterers, probably as entertaining as your spelling

 

[TQA]

Speaking as one of those much maligned charterers, probably as entertaining as your spelling

I is an enginneeer nd using smeat wit predicitve text means that if you can understand anything what I write it is a major bonus.

BTW premium spot for watching the charter boat numpties on mooring pick up frolics has to be the Saints off Guadeloupe. You have to use the supplied moorings but they do not warn you that although there is a convenient ring on the top of the ball it is impossible for the average person to lift the ball out of the water high enough to pass a rope. Crew who have snagged the ball can be seen heaving manfully, then desperately, while another crew member hangs off the side with a rope end. Often finally having to let go of the boathook or be dragged overboard. All this with much shouting engine revving and interesting hand signals.

Multiple passes before hookup, people in the water, with a line, boats with the ball caught on their rudder and my personal best was a crew meltdown of epic proportions which entertained the entire bay finally involving hotel rooms and a delivery crew to retrieve the boat.

Local divers operate a nice sideline in recycled boathooks.

 

[lw395]

.....
Local divers operate a nice sideline in recycled boathooks.

Only a real optimist would have a non-floating boat hook!

 

[SeamanStaines]

We have the same model catamaran. The mistake was before the start of the clip in that the easiest way to pick up a mooring bouy is at the stern and then walk the line up the side. If its really hot then stay moored stern on for a nice cooling draft

 

[cliff]

Unless you get particularly excited by stripey knickers worn under short summer dresses I don't see anything in that section to get worked up about.

Watch it on you tube fullscreen - looks like unkempt muff to me - could do with a trim.

 

[Tomahawk]

We have the same model catamaran. The mistake was before the start of the clip in that the easiest way to pick up a mooring bouy is at the stern and then walk the line up the side. If its really hot then stay moored stern on for a nice cooling draft

Propellor
mooring line
interface
No beer!!

The prop tips are only about 4 inches from the sides of the hull... any mistake and you have a wrap

 

[Kermit]

All this talk reminds me of watching a guy called Johny Alcorn at TYC picking up his mooring.

He'd come in, usually under sail, and casually walk forward timing his arrival at the bow to coincide with the bows arrival at the buoy.

He'd pick up the buoy and secure the Alacrity.

All done with absolute calm and precision. it was a joy to see and I never tired of watching him do it.

Sadly, I was never able to emulate him when picking up my own mooring.

 

[Leighb]

Watch it on you tube fullscreen - looks like unkempt muff to me - could do with a trim.

Specsavers ??

 

[cliff]

Specsavers ??

Don't think so - I go to a proper opthalmic surgery to have eyes tested and prescription lenses made due to other problems with the old MK1 eyeballs.
Maybe I need a higher resolution screen........

 

[TQA]

Only a real optimist would have a non-floating boat hook!

Well the ones supplied on some charter boats don't float. Also the dinghy painters are super slippery polypropylene rope without a spliced loop at the end.

Hmm wonder why?

 

[janeK]

Why not when approaching a buoy, the helmsman looks at the background/land and use whatever as a transit for the approach to the buoy, then the person on the bow, (if that's where they will pick up from rather than mid ships or stern and then dropping back) on the final approach just states distance from the buoy using fingers as an indicator of feet? also as stated indicating right or left if wind or tide affects approach?
good that the man (usually taller than the Mrs) was on the bow in Newtown creek. I have observed many times the male skipper shouting at the shorter partner on the bow who has missed the pick up being unable to reach.