peterb
Well-Known Member
Finer points
Agree mostly with the other contributors. But just a few points to remember........
If there's any sort of tide or current running, then you must approach head to tide. This lets you keep control of the boat even when she is stopped relative to the mooring.
Remember that moorings are a bit like anchors; the scope on the cable will always be greater than the depth. That means that the mooring buoy is likely to be downtide of the "anchor", and hence, when you pull the buoy forward, initially all you are doing is pulling the spare scope up to your bow. If you wait too long, then the boat will drop back and you'll have to pull it forward again.
I've seen quite a few mooring buoys with the line taken from the top of the buoy through what appears to be a road cone. This lifts the pickup line and makes it more accessible. Far be it from me to suggest pinching one, but if you know of a convenient source............
If there is a cross wind then it's probably better (though more difficult) to pick the buoy up on the windward side. If you pick up on the leeward side then there is a possibility of the wind pushing you on to the buoy and then of the boat riding over the buoy. If you're picking up near the cockpit, then there are an awful lot of projections under the hull that can catch on the buoy or its lines. (I remember seeing a boat that had over-run its buoy and got the mooring chain caught between the skeg and the rudder. Not nice, took a lot of freeing, and best avoided.)
It's all good fun; try out the various ways and find which one works best. Time spent playing with boat handling is often more fun than just going somewhere.
Agree mostly with the other contributors. But just a few points to remember........
If there's any sort of tide or current running, then you must approach head to tide. This lets you keep control of the boat even when she is stopped relative to the mooring.
Remember that moorings are a bit like anchors; the scope on the cable will always be greater than the depth. That means that the mooring buoy is likely to be downtide of the "anchor", and hence, when you pull the buoy forward, initially all you are doing is pulling the spare scope up to your bow. If you wait too long, then the boat will drop back and you'll have to pull it forward again.
I've seen quite a few mooring buoys with the line taken from the top of the buoy through what appears to be a road cone. This lifts the pickup line and makes it more accessible. Far be it from me to suggest pinching one, but if you know of a convenient source............
If there is a cross wind then it's probably better (though more difficult) to pick the buoy up on the windward side. If you pick up on the leeward side then there is a possibility of the wind pushing you on to the buoy and then of the boat riding over the buoy. If you're picking up near the cockpit, then there are an awful lot of projections under the hull that can catch on the buoy or its lines. (I remember seeing a boat that had over-run its buoy and got the mooring chain caught between the skeg and the rudder. Not nice, took a lot of freeing, and best avoided.)
It's all good fun; try out the various ways and find which one works best. Time spent playing with boat handling is often more fun than just going somewhere.
