GazzaUK
New member
In light of a conversation the other day.....
You're single handed and need to pick up a mooring buoy..
How would you go about it?
You're single handed and need to pick up a mooring buoy..
How would you go about it?
Quick mooring question....
- Thread starter GazzaUK
- Start date
jimi
Well-known member
what kind and size of boat do you have? Is there any tidal flow?
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Put it alongside the cockpit.
jamesjermain
Active member
Under power I just work out an approach course which balances wind and tide, bring the bow alongside the bow with a small amount of residual forward motion, engine in neutral, walk towards the bow with the boat hook, pick up lines and attach.
claymore
Well-known member
Well - if LJSadler reads this, no doubt I'll be on the receiving end of another load of abuse BUT - the Claymore Failsafe Method is to tie a line off at the bow - though the stemhead, along the length of the boat and back though a stern fairlead and tie off at the cleat. Leave enugh slack so that as you come alongside the bouy you can throw the line over it and then you are temporarily moored. Slight touch of reverse will ensure that the boat drifts back until the mooring is just ahead of you and this makes a relatively simple job of fastening mooring lines or going round in the dinghy if the bow is too high and you can't reach that far down. You just need to watch that the line doesn't slip off from under the bouy at this point.
Works every time.
Works every time.
Aja
Well-known member
Picture in my mind......
Now wouldn't that be embarrassing. You nip into the dinghy to pick up the junk, and the rope attaching Claymore slips off.....
.... and all singlehanded.
The CFM (Aja Industires Ltd Pat Pend.) does seem to be a good system though....
Donald
Now wouldn't that be embarrassing. You nip into the dinghy to pick up the junk, and the rope attaching Claymore slips off.....
.... and all singlehanded.
The CFM (Aja Industires Ltd Pat Pend.) does seem to be a good system though....
Donald
claymore
Well-known member
Re: Picture in my mind......
Hmm
Naturally it only happens amongst crowded moorings in 19+knots of breeze.
Hmm
Naturally it only happens amongst crowded moorings in 19+knots of breeze.
wooslehunter
Active member
JJ's method is seconded. Works for me 95% of the time. The other 5% when it's blowing some, I resort to Claymore's method & then get the chain on asap. The problem with JJ's method for me in a blow is that by the time I've got to the bow (it's only 26' away!) & picked up the bouy, the bow's started to blow off the wind. I guess something to try may be a line with a big carabiner. Pick up the chain & clip on immediately. Now you're safe & can get the chain loop on at leasure.
To work out the approach, look at the other boats. If there aren't any then guess if tide or wind will dominate. You can always try again if you get in wrong.
No. 1 tip though is prepare & take your time. Come back if you need to.
To work out the approach, look at the other boats. If there aren't any then guess if tide or wind will dominate. You can always try again if you get in wrong.
No. 1 tip though is prepare & take your time. Come back if you need to.
capt_courageous
New member
A line led back just as Claymore describes. Dave - I used a Star Hook ( snap link ) instead of a loop for the temporary pick up.
ChrisE
Active member
I have a big snap shackle attached to the mooring line below the mooring buoy and a line running down the side of boat a la claymore. Bring buoy next to cockpit, grab buoy, clip shackle onto line et viola attached. Need to put a bit of reverse on in strong winds to avoid being pinned across the wind but otherwise troublefree.
stevebrassett
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
I guess something to try may be a line with a big carabiner. Pick up the chain & clip on immediately. Now you're safe & can get the chain loop on at leasure.
[/ QUOTE ]
This is what I do. I use a spring hook, rather than a karabiner, but the principle's the same. Tie off at the bow and lead the rope and hook down the outside back to the cockpit. Bring the mooring buoy alongside the cockpit and clip the hook onto the pickup buoy or a loop on the main buoy. Let go. Wander up to the bows and sort things out properly.
I guess something to try may be a line with a big carabiner. Pick up the chain & clip on immediately. Now you're safe & can get the chain loop on at leasure.
[/ QUOTE ]
This is what I do. I use a spring hook, rather than a karabiner, but the principle's the same. Tie off at the bow and lead the rope and hook down the outside back to the cockpit. Bring the mooring buoy alongside the cockpit and clip the hook onto the pickup buoy or a loop on the main buoy. Let go. Wander up to the bows and sort things out properly.
jamesjermain
Active member
In really strong winds I have resorted to a number of methods, one of which was approaching stern first up wind until the buoy nudged the bathing platform when it was a doddle to slip a line through the ring.
When conditions are difficult so much depends on the type of boat (long keel, short keel, high windage, low windage, deep forefoot, shallow... ) and the exact conditions of wind, tide, wave and space round the mooring.
When conditions are difficult so much depends on the type of boat (long keel, short keel, high windage, low windage, deep forefoot, shallow... ) and the exact conditions of wind, tide, wave and space round the mooring.
claymore
Well-known member
On reflection - perhaps that should be Le Claymore, rather than La.....
Poignard
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
Put it alongside the cockpit.
[/ QUOTE ]
Amen to that! Lowest freeboard plus rudder and engine controls to hand if you miss the buoy and need to go round again.
Put it alongside the cockpit.
[/ QUOTE ]
Amen to that! Lowest freeboard plus rudder and engine controls to hand if you miss the buoy and need to go round again.
penultimate
New member
Is bringing the bow alongside the bow the multihull version of a squint?
jamesjermain
Active member
Only after too much rum punch.
ChrisE
Active member
Girl's blouse is feminine so La is correct...
capt_courageous
New member
Hi Steve
That is just what I did. The star hook on a stick gives that extra reach.
That is just what I did. The star hook on a stick gives that extra reach.
Achillesheel
Well-known member
At the risk of drifting this thread, a large commercial ship was moored at the weekend to the big yellow mooring buoy in the middle of the channel up Carrick Roads, Falmouth.
As we went past, SWMBO asked how they get the mooring lines onto the huge shackle on top of the buoy. Its probably 30 feet down from the bow of the ship.
I wasn't able to answer her question, but I bet someone on here can.
As we went past, SWMBO asked how they get the mooring lines onto the huge shackle on top of the buoy. Its probably 30 feet down from the bow of the ship.
I wasn't able to answer her question, but I bet someone on here can.
jamesjermain
Active member
Launch a boat.