Mooring hooks

N

npf1

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 Oct 2004
Messages
2,303
Location
Oxfordshire
Visit site
The debate the other week reminded me to go and buy one. I plumped for this one here , the Got-It, and received it today. It's even bigger, stronger and better quality than I thought from the pics on the website. I'm most impressed. Great service too. Looking forward to using it in anger.
 
What's it made of?

Do the makers quote a Safe Working Load?


I have a Handy Duck, works well but the gape of the hook can be too tight, unless I rig a strop on the buoy.
 
There is one type with a very wide mouth, even goes over pontoon finger ends like in France, also can be boat hook fixed with quick release. Gael Force sell them for about £35 but we bought one in France for under £30. The working load shouldn't be any problem as this is a temporary conection only to assist easy pick up, assumed not a 30kts!
 
HereHere's what the guy said about strenght etc:

"The hook will fit comfortably around a scaffold pole which is around 1.5 inches in diameter. In fact, the hook was designed specifically to fit around scaffold poles in Cherbourg marina. At a push, the hook could actually fit around a mooring that is 2 inches in diameter. It has been tested to be able to pull 750kg without distortion so, for example, with the aid of a winch, it can be quite easily used to lift very heavy buoys from the water."
 
I'm still up for a 4.99 cheapie - but thats my problem - always plumping for the cheap end of markets !

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
So can I bid 4-98 ???? Actually I may go for the expensive one at 8 quid ... haven't decided yet.

As to load capability - my idea is to be able to catch a mooring point temp. without need to swing on it .... so plastic is fine for me. I could even break the wallet open for 2 !!
 
I use one of these .
You only get the spring shackle and carrier for the price (8.50€), but you can screw/rivet the carrier to your existing boat-hook so you don't need to carry something extra...
The idea is that the shackle comes away from the boat-hook and closes on the mooring ring, cleat, whatever, leaving the boat-hook free for other tasks... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)
Works fine except maybe on a swinging mooring where it's possible that the spring can open with a side load.

-steve-
 
Just measured Handy Duck, gape is 1 inch, and for anything smaller than that it is first rate, otherwise not. Handy duck seems to be made of some sort of resin and is rated for permanent mooring, although I only trust it to take a backup line.

I can run a line aft from the stemhead, and pick up a buoy from the cockpit, and the hook has a trigger, to enable it to spill.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The debate the other week reminded me to go and buy one. I plumped for this one here , the Got-It, and received it today.

[/ QUOTE ]Looks good but for the price I still think the Bosco boat hook would be my choice as it comes complete with a telescopic pole and can be released remotely. By the time one adds on the cost of line and pole you will be near enough the same cost as a Bosco boat hook . All IMHO of course
 
2 versions of Handy Duck...

There are 2 types of Handy Duck, with jaw widths of 22 or 33mm. I've used the bigger one for a couple of years, and it works very well and seems to be strongly engineered (it's rated for up to 1500kg load). Nice thing about it is that you can release it easily even when it's under tension.
 
We have a Bosco too, I fell for the sales patter at SBS. However it doesn't get used over the simpler versions we have or the line threader, for the simple reason that a) there are lots of cleats too big for it's jaw opening (you need the extra wire loop for these but that doesn't work on closed 'D' finger pontoon ends) and b) sometimes when releasing it can swing back and ding the grp!

Our armoury in regular use is the line threader, a standard boathook line hook and a big version of the same. The threader is used for lines that might need instant release (like the stern buoy/pile in a fore/aft mooring) or for feeding a line through after it is 'hooked' . The regular size slide off hook works fine on buoy rings and the bigyun does the job on finger pontoon ends, usually not on the boathook just clipped on by hand for the first line on.
 
I'll bring a couple of mooring hooks on the Yarmouth trip and you can give them a go.

I think, that like most things, they've all got plusses and minuses depending on your mooring requirements.

Personally I like the Bosco hook as it stays on the boat hook until it clips on to the mooring cleat and the wire loop gives it a bit more flexibility on what it can pick up. But when picking up my own mooring I still rely on a fixed length of rope, hooked to a shackle half way along the toe rail, with the loop held open by threading the rope through a piece of hosepipe because I know that that will stop me hitting the bow on the pontoon.
 
Just before we meet - I have a date with Marine Super Store ........... and also the barge at Hamble ! I'm thinking top pick up a cheapie - blimey at a fiver or so - worth the trial ... and barge is for trying to find a mount for outboard on my avon !

I have 2 nice wood boat-hooks on board + a tatty one - so have plenty of "tools" to fit them to ... !!
 
last few times I've been in the Barge, they have asked prices for used stuff that have been more than the new prices. Barking! It's happenned three times so I won't be going again.
 
Barge ....

I know .... I have left there laughing sometimes !

But at moment can't find one ... so when all else fails - it's pay Foulkes prices !!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top