Mooring Buoy - Line threading device

[stone beach]

Thanks to all contributors.
Reason for my question was not much experience mooring to buoys and planning now for next years cruise.
48' new to us (power) boat this year, no problem bringing the boat up to the buoy but that was when the "fun" started!
Will do things differently next year, 3 steps I think, (normally it is just two of us onboard).
1. Try it with the buoy alongside.
2. Use one of the line threading devices, still watching videos of mentioned products.
3. Have a hook on device also rigged and ready, once secured with that if needs be we can always fish another line through at leisure.

 

[vyv_cox]

Thanks to all contributors.
Reason for my question was not much experience mooring to buoys and planning now for next years cruise.
48' new to us (power) boat this year, no problem bringing the boat up to the buoy but that was when the "fun" started!
Will do things differently next year, 3 steps I think, (normally it is just two of us onboard).
1. Try it with the buoy alongside.
2. Use one of the line threading devices, still watching videos of mentioned products.
3. Have a hook on device also rigged and ready, once secured with that if needs be we can always fish another line through at leisure.

Your No.1 makes a huge improvement. Our little motorsailer is quite high in the bows, which means it can be difficult for crew to reach the buoy and almost impossible for me to see it. Taking a line outside everything and picking the buoy up alongside the cockpit is a doddle. You could even consider approaching stern first and picking up the buoy from your stern platform.

 

[maby]

We have a Moorfast which works reasonably well, but does have a tendency to come apart - the bridge comes off but can be refitted. I do like the look of that Hook&Moor - seems a lot better built than the Moorfast.

 

[Robin]

Thanks to all contributors.
Reason for my question was not much experience mooring to buoys and planning now for next years cruise.
48' new to us (power) boat this year, no problem bringing the boat up to the buoy but that was when the "fun" started!
Will do things differently next year, 3 steps I think, (normally it is just two of us onboard).
1. Try it with the buoy alongside.
2. Use one of the line threading devices, still watching videos of mentioned products.
3. Have a hook on device also rigged and ready, once secured with that if needs be we can always fish another line through at leisure.

your numbrer3 has been our tactic for years. We have a large mouth slide off hook on a telescopic boat hook, large size fits finger pontoon end 'D's also as favoured by french. Stage 2 is thread line at leisure using what used to be call a 'happy hooker' line threader either on a separate boat hook or fitted to the same telescopic one. When threading line through we used a short length of chain too in the line to avoid chafe through on the ropebit, rigged to make a continuous loop

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have used the Bosco hook for many years . It is substantial and well engineered and has the advantage of the built in release cord.
I also have a threader device and find it really only works in calm conditions. Movement of the buoy makes it very difficult to thread.
They both work well on buoys with solid hoops. Neither work well with the rope hoops on buoys.
When it is very blowy I use a short length of chain with rope on each end to temporarily lassoo the buoy before connecting permanently.

 

[prv]

your numbrer3 has been our tactic for years. We have a large mouth slide off hook on a telescopic boat hook, large size fits finger pontoon end 'D's also as favoured by french. Stage 2 is thread line at leisure using what used to be call a 'happy hooker' line threader either on a separate boat hook or fitted to the same telescopic one. When threading line through we used a short length of chain too in the line to avoid chafe through on the ropebit, rigged to make a continuous loop

Agree with this. Assuming the buoy doesn't have a pickup pendant, I'll initially attach with our Kong mooring hook:

This is more reliable than even the best "threading" devices on the variously sized and placed rings or shackles one might come across. Once the hook is on we can transfer to the permanent arrangement at leisure - in my case I can usually reach the buoy by lying on the deck but those with higher freeboard might then need their threading tool which will work better with the shackle lifted by the hook and plenty of time to play with. Or if the ring is large, just drop the end of the permanent line down through it and pick it up on the other side with a normal boathook.

Like Robin, my permanent strop has chain spliced in the middle to avoid chafe.

Pete

 

[Robin]

Agree with this. Assuming the buoy doesn't have a pickup pendant, I'll initially attach with our Kong mooring hook:

This is more reliable than even the best "threading" devices on the variously sized and placed rings or shackles one might come across. Once the hook is on we can transfer to the permanent arrangement at leisure - in my case I can usually reach the buoy by lying on the deck but those with higher freeboard might then need their threading tool which will work better with the shackle lifted by the hook and plenty of time to play with. Or if the ring is large, just drop the end of the permanent line down through it and pick it up on the other side with a normal boathook.

Like Robin, my permanent strop has chain spliced in the middle to avoid chafe.

Pete

Now we are on a high sided mobo we have two Kong hooks on lines ready to use with telescopic boat hook to attach a mooring line or two quickly when berthing, buying time for a proper job when we can disembark safely without a parachute.