Mooring Hook

[fritzdfk]

What do you think of these? It is made by Wichard. Do you use one? There are other types. I am mostly inquiring about the hook itself, strength and reliability wise, and not the attachment to the boathook, though that would be a plus. My boat is a small trawler about 5000 lbs and I am installing a mooring. An easy way to connect would be great.

[CaptTom]

They work great. It takes a bit of practice but you'll quickly get the hang of it.

The problem is removing it when you're done. You have to be able to reach it to release it. Not easy if you have high freeboard, and you'll probably be up on the bow where it's the highest. In calm weather with minimal current you may be able to pull the mooring ball up high enough with a boat hook, but that'll be dicey in wind or current, especially if the mooring chain is weighed down by marine growth.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

They work great. It takes a bit of practice but you'll quickly get the hang of it.

The problem is removing it when you're done. You have to be able to reach it to release it. Not easy if you have high freeboard, and you'll probably be up on the bow where it's the highest. In calm weather with minimal current you may be able to pull the mooring ball up high enough with a boat hook, but that'll be dicey in wind or current, especially if the mooring chain is weighed down by marine growth.

If I were to use one of these, I'd only consider it temporary. Easy to get your initial hookup... but then via dinghy or otherwise I'd make a more secure attachment and recover the hook back on board.

Another approach is to use a device called a "Happy Hooker" IIRC. This clever thing actually passes a line through an eye on the mooring and allows you to return it to the bow. Never used one myself,but others swear that they actually work! No special hook is needed, and you cast off as normal when leaving.

But learning the skills to reach and engage a mooring without doo-dads is what you really need to develop... just in case you drop your doo-dad overboard someday!

Jim

[Mike OReilly]

I have a similar doodad (technical term, no doubt ) which I use when grabbing a mooring ring. It’s not exactly the same as the one shown, but close enough. I’ve used it perhaps a dozen or so times over the past decades, and it has always worked well, and makes the job of snagging the ball easier.

As Jim says though, it is only intended as the initial hook. A proper mooring line (or two) then needs to be secured. The doodad just provides the easy first connection so you can then secure the proper lines.

[Montanan]

Happy Hooker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=Z3AMzZNSsJs

[SV Tru]

And another mooring doodad...
"Hook and Moor" by Robship
https://youtu.be/7EAwDS9i9p0

[CaptTom]

For those who don't like to sit through videos just to see a product:

https://www.amazon.com/HOOK-MOOR-BOA.../dp/B00B8F32JW

https://www.amazon.com/Panther-85-B2.../dp/B00CKFUIY6

Or, if you like to spend several hundred extra to get a solid stainless version:

https://www.amazon.com/Panther-85-B2.../dp/B00CKFULBQ

[Mike OReilly]

OK, since we’re sharing, here’s my doodad. Works well. Not exactly essential equipment, but makes snagging a low-lying mooring ball or hook a lot easier.

https://www.amazon.com/C-SHERMAN-JOH.../dp/B000FOYDHC

[Peeew]

I have one of the hooks that you pictured. I sail solo a lot and figure it is good to lead a line from the hook to the bow roller and then lead it aft along the deck to a winch. The idea was to come alongside the mooring ball and hook it, then when drifting back to winch up near the ball so I could fit a proper line. The one time I tried it the hook was not big enough to grab the eye or the line on a large mooring ball. So I went around and did the normal boat hook grab. I still plan on trying it again soon.

[a64pilot]

I have a hook and moor.
It’s an outstanding, really strong pole, but as I almost never take a ball, I don’t think we have used it for it’s intended purpose more than once.
It does work, and it’s almost like magic to see it work, very clever thing.

[Tayana42]

I have the Hook and Moor and I recommend it. Many of the better mooring fields such as at Catalina Island have floats and wands attached to the mooring line so you don’t need a hook. But many places such as Newport Beach do not have pick up wands. Some moorings have just the ring on top and the Hook and Moor works great. I pull a thin line through the ring with the Hook and Moor then use that line to pull a heavier line through the ring.

[Woodland Hills]

So why not just throw your anchor bridle over the mooring ball to hold you in place while you thread the rode into the ring? My chain hook is heavy enough to flip easily over the ball and sink on the far side, that holds us in place in front of the mooring ball while I use the boathook to slip the mooring pennant into the ring. Once that’s done I just release one end of the bridle and pull it onboard.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

OK, since we’re sharing, here’s my doodad. Works well. Not exactly essential equipment, but makes snagging a low-lying mooring ball or hook a lot easier.

https://www.amazon.com/C-SHERMAN-JOH.../dp/B000FOYDHC

I've seen those, but I have to admit I don't see how the release works. So you pull the ring, and...

Wouldn't that just jam the ring of the mooring buoy against the pivoting closure? Is that closure piece spring-loaded? What keeps it from releasing on its own when the line slacks off?

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

I've seen those, but I have to admit I don't see how the release works. So you pull the ring, and...

Wouldn't that just jam the ring of the mooring buoy against the pivoting closure? Is that closure piece spring-loaded? What keeps it from releasing on its own when the line slacks off?

Yes, the closing piece is spring-loaded. The spring is sufficiently stiff to keep the gate closed, but when loaded it swings either way to snap on or snap off. So to release you just pull the white loop away from the closing piece (to the left in this picture). I do this with my boat hook.

It’s quite easy, and has never failed me. Although as I say, I’ve only actually used in perhaps a dozen times. Most of the time I anchor.

[Rapanui]

A second for the Hook and Moor. Incredibly well made and very strong and extend a long way. As well as buoy rings they work on fixed and floppy rings on shore and pontoon. Depending on the orientation of the ring you can operate by pushing or pulling.