Mooring Buoy - Line threading device

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stone beach

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Looking for recommendations for a device that can thread a line onto a mooring buoy ring, like a boat hook with a gadget on the end.

Needed to make mooring to visitor buoys less stressful.

Seen one or two on the internet, looking for advice from anyone that has actually used one..... and any sensible suggestions on the topic.
 
I have a Moorfast. In the magazine tests most of the devices work although their mechanisms vary. Very much a matter of personal preference which you choose. Best if you can, to look at them and try them out first.
 
I bought a Moorfast recently (secondhand) and I'm very pleased with how easy to use it is, especially when picking up a mooring from the cockpit.
 
I received a Moor Fast as a Christmas present last year and its helped us...we generally lasso the buoy first and then use the Moor Fast to get a line through the ring. About £35 in our local Chandlery I think, it is made of plastic but I did see a metal version at the boat show last year.
 
John 32i said:
I received a Moor Fast as a Christmas present last year and its helped us...we generally lasso the buoy first and then use the Moor Fast to get a line through the ring. About £35 in our local Chandlery I think, it is made of plastic but I did see a metal version at the boat show last year.
Click to expand...

the top heavy alloy one is Plastimo, the moorfast is superior imho
 
John 32i said:
I received a Moor Fast as a Christmas present last year and its helped us...we generally lasso the buoy first and then use the Moor Fast to get a line through the ring. About £35 in our local Chandlery I think, it is made of plastic but I did see a metal version at the boat show last year.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what we do with ours - hard to stop a 12m boat at 4 knots with a device like but a lasso will do it every time. Then with the bouy alongside we can thread it - our freeboard is too high to reach the ring even lying on the deck with arms outstretched so previously we'd have to swim or launch the dinghy.
 
RupertW said:
That's exactly what we do with ours - hard to stop a 12m boat at 4 knots with a device like but a lasso will do it every time. Then with the bouy alongside we can thread it - our freeboard is too high to reach the ring even lying on the deck with arms outstretched so previously we'd have to swim or launch the dinghy.
Click to expand...

Most people wouldn't ttry to pick up a mooring, while going at 4 knots. Suggest that you investigate other methods of slowing down. :rolleyes:
 
I've had a Handy Duck for 18 seasons - really good. It was expensive at the time and even more so now but very well made. I've recently supplemented that with a Moorfast but would generally use that for threading a mooring ring when the boat is stationary as a back up one to the Handy Duck or for threading around a wider diameter than the Handy Duck can handle.
 
For picking up a buoy singlehanded, my Handy Duck has been a boon. Just clips on, releases remotely and easily. Very strong. Lightweight fibreglass telescopic pole. Excellent product!
 
The trouble is that no two mooring buoys are the same, so it pays to have a couple of options. We have used something like a Moorfast, although ours is called a Happy Hooker, for many years but there have been times when it was not appropriate due to the size of the ring on the buoy, the way it was laid down, or various other reasons. So we also have a Handy Duck, https://www.force4.co.uk/force-4-telescopic-pole-handy-duck-hooker-including-hook.html a stronger product that is capable of being used with some force and to hold the boat until another permanent line is attached.
 
vyv_cox said:
The trouble is that no two mooring buoys are the same, so it pays to have a couple of options. We have used something like a Moorfast, although ours is called a Happy Hooker, for many years but there have been times when it was not appropriate due to the size of the ring on the buoy, the way it was laid down, or various other reasons. So we also have a Handy Duck, https://www.force4.co.uk/force-4-telescopic-pole-handy-duck-hooker-including-hook.html a stronger product that is capable of being used with some force and to hold the boat until another permanent line is attached.
Click to expand...

I have a cast SS version
 
We have a sugar scoop at the stern and find the easiest way to pick up a bouy is to take a long line from the bow and then reverse up to the bouy,thread the line and then shorten it to suit. The advantage of this is that the helm can see exactly where the bouy is and you can come up to the bouy slowly without being blown off.
 
We now have a few options.

The first choice is the Hook and Moor - superb tool provided the shackle/ hoop on top is not too large. Particularly useful where the shackle has fallen down flat, as can often lift the shackle and thread in one go. Great for securing a middle rope coming alongside a Baltic pontoon which has no cleats, just small metal rings lying flat on the quay - saved the day twice arriving singlehanded with wind blowing off and nobody around. Also use it to thread extra ropes on dinghy to secure to davits when leaving boat.
Also retained the Moorfast which had before. Rarely used as first choice, as need to be able to spear straight through the shackle. But was used once when metal too thick for Hook and Moor.
Latest addition is a Baltic hook for stern mooring buoys - been out and ready many times but never yet used.

We don’t lasso buoys
 
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