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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Singlehanded mooring?

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albert
Captain

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USA
262 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/13/2007 : 03:20:14

How do you moor singlehanding in a crowded mooring field?

Any special equipment needed?

Albert Iturrey
al@comhertz.com
Abacus 1984 C25 #4679

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 07:01:37

The most important tool to have is the longest telescoping boathook that you can find. I use West Marine's longest boathook, which extends to about 14 feet, as I recall. When you're standing upright, the reach down from the bow to the mooring ball "uses up" most of a boat hook's length. Also, when you approach a mooring ball singlehanded and come to a stop, you have to walk to the bow, and, if there's any wind, the bow often blows off a bit by the time you get to the bow. The extra-long boat hook enables you to reach the mooring ball or buoy, or the tether, even if you aren't as close as you'd like to be.

That particular boat hook ordinarily costs about $55.00, but last year, WM had them on sale for 1/2 off ($27.00). I had two $10.00 WM coupons, so my out-of-pocket cost was $7.00.

Edited by - on

Breezy Cat
1st Mate

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38 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 07:11:27

Two and a half ways. I am assuming you have a fibre glass wand to grab that is attached to the mooring lines.
Come to the mooring on the high side and let the wind push the bow down onto the wand walk forward and grab the wand. Use a bungee or line to keep the tiller straight.
Or run a line from the bow back to the cockpit and pick up the wand in the cockpit, tie the line to it and then pull the boat up to the mooring with that line. This line needs to run outside the stanchions.
Alt. just pick up the mooring wand from the cockpit and walk it forward.
I hope this helps.

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SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 10:29:11

"Alt. just pick up the mooring wand from the cockpit and walk it forward."
What I use, but the line to the bow would probably be an improvement.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 11:45:59

I keep my lines looped around the top of the mooring ball, ready to be picked up with my telescoping boat hook.
Mostly - I rely on my ability to judge wind and current. I motor or sail into the wind, leaving the ball a couple feet aft of the bow - by the time I walk forward, the ball is either still aft of the bow or just forward of the bow.
I've also stayed in the cockpit and picked up the mooring lines while I'm still at the tiller, depending on conditions, I will either walk forward with the mooring lines or tie off at the stern and run another line forward, then go back and untie the stern line.
I use a large shackle on a snubber line, that is attached to my bow eye - this makes for a very fast connection. I then run two mooring lines through the bow roller and make fast to bow cleats.

What does the fiberglass wand look like - and what would it be called I asked for it at WM or other boat store?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 12:27:53

While I can't speak to picking up a mooring ball in a crowded area, I can tell you what we do. We watched friends of ours trying to wrestle a mooring ball with her at the bow & him at the helm shouting at each other. We didn't want to be in that position, we wanted to still be speaking to each other after the event. One of the guys on the forum suggested picking up the ball from the cockpit where you're standing right next to each other. What we do is run a line from the bow outside of everything to the cockpit, she calls out where the ball is once it goes out of sight close to the boat and hooks it when it's in reach with our boat hook. We have a sliding mooring ball attachment thingy whose name I forget that lets us simply hook the ball, pull back on the line which wraps the line around the ring, then just pull the whole affair back into the boat. Remove the line from the hook thingy and walk it up to the bow & tie off. It's pretty easy.

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 12:29:14

The slickest maneuver I've seen is to run a line (inside/on-board of the stanchions)from the cockpit, through a pulley at the bow and back to the cockpit (outside of the stanchions). Simply pull up adjacent to the ball, clip on the said line, and pull in taught until the bow is at the ball. Finish by moving to the bow and securing the permanent mooring line.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 15:38:12

I've been mooring on a ball for 18 years in all types of weather. I've found that if I give myself a large target to grab with the boat hook it is much easier. I do this by tying the tow line from my dinghi to the end of the mooring line. This gives me about 25 feet of "target" to grab with the boat hook as I coast along side the dinghi. The advantage is that I have either the dinghi tow line or the mooring line in hand before I get to the bow. I can then move forward and secure the boat.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 16:02:37

Jerry - we tried that maneuver and find that it works quite well. But with practice, its so much simpler to do everything from the bow. fewer lines to handle being the main reason.
We've been on a mooring ball for three years and I think the only mod I will do for next spring is to attach a crutch of some kind to the mooring ball so that the mooring line is at deck height.

I like to watch my 75+ year old mooring field neighbour who singlehandedly approaches the ball head-on, then takes his time going forward to deal with the lines. He's slow, precise and I've never seen him miss. I've taken my cue from him.

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 17:25:54

Albert, Mooring to me is basically the same single or with crew. To get practice for my first time, I had a crew aboard, but I did it as if I was alone, just in case.
Don't freak out, take you time, no running. No special tools required. Check out this site:
http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/boat_mooring.php
Good luck,
Steve A

Edited by - piseas on 11/13/2007 17:31:25

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 17:38:31

I used to sail my ODay 23 out of Huntington Harbor on Long Island's North Shore. I had my boat on a mooring ball but I do not recall it being an issue how to tie up with others onboard or singlehanded sailing. I believe we had the retrieval line connected to a float with a white pole/wand and maybe a flag on top of it (can't remember if it had a flag). The wand was about 4' high or so and I would pass alongside of it and grab a hold of it. Then walked it to the bow if I did not have someone up there already to retrieve it. (Maybe I used a boat hook if I was a bit off the mark.)

Edited by - OLarryR on 11/13/2007 17:42:17

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 17:54:30

Larry, exactly, tie off rope on bow cleat and walk rope back to stern and tie off there was well. Might want gloves as rope can be muddy. Sorry I am a neat freak.

Steve A

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 22:06:52

That fiberglass wand thingie is generally referred to as a pick-up buoy. Defender has 'em--oddly, West doesn't seem to.

I like the rig Jerlim saw. But practice with nothing but a boat hook is a good idea for being prepared to pick up a mooring in a different harbor.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 11/13/2007 22:22:22

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 22:28:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by piseas
 Might want gloves as rope can be muddy.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">What--and get my gloves slimy?? (My hands rinse off easier!)

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2007 : 23:30:31

Thanx for the info on the pick-up thingy. I've been edumacated.

Interesting mooring info on the Catalina Island site. I wonder what kind of issues there are when the weather gets rough with the boats trying to hunt and point to the wind.

The illustration shows the mooring line attached under the mooring ball ... this is how I attach mine. Most of the other boats in my mooring field have theirs tied off to the loop/handle on top of the mooring ball. I also use a snubber line, which in my experience puts less strain on both the mooring ball and the bow eye of the boat.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2007 : 09:16:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Interesting mooring info on the Catalina Island site. I wonder what kind of issues there are when the weather gets rough with the boats trying to hunt and point to the wind.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

All moorings at Catalina Island have lines that are secured at both ends. You use the pennant to pick up the line and secure it fore and aft. You take up enough slack to prevent the vessel from searching with the wind or current.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2007 : 09:36:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stampeder
 Most of the other boats in my mooring field have theirs tied off to the loop/handle on top of the mooring ball.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Generally speaking, they shouldn't. The pennant should be made to the chain below the ball with a reinforced eye-splice and shackle. Yours is correct.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2007 : 13:10:58

I'm curious. If everyone in this discussion is using a mooring ball what do you do with your means of transport out to the boat - a dinghie of some type? Where do you attach the dinghie painter when you leave the mooring? My method accounts for the fact that I row out to my mooring, have to leave my dinghie there when I sail away, and have to deal with it when I return. By attaching the dinghie painter to the mooring line - I use a bridal on mine, I have one long line to snag with the boat hook. The long line allows plenty of time to capture before I either pass by the ball or am forced off by wind and wave. Like everything in sailing though, a system - any practical system, timing, and practice always lead to success.

I also note in Stampeder's photo that everyone in the field moors to the bow eye. I have never done this, preferring to tie off using the cleats instead. I have done this for 18+ years on a large lake in some very nasty conditions, without a failure. In my opinion, the reach down to the eye would not be practical except on the calmest of days or in a well protected harbor.

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2007 : 14:44:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by piseas
 Might want gloves as rope can be muddy.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">What--and get my gloves slimy?? (My hands rinse off easier!)

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Dave, that's twice now in 2 days that you have quoted me. That is the greatest form of flattery. Thanks. That means a lot coming from an old satly dog like you.
Steve A
BTW, There ARE a few good politicians. I appreciate you putting me in that category.

Edited by - piseas on 11/14/2007 14:46:51

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2007 : 14:55:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by piseas
 That means a lot coming from an old satly dog like you.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Hey, what's this "old" stuff?? Step outside and I'll show you "old"...

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2007 : 17:46:39

I row out to my mooring ball - about 100 yards, or as we say here, 100 Meters.
I almost always tow my Zodiac because I have a dog that needs shore leave from time to time. The only time I leave the Zodiac at the ball is for racing.

I do have to lie down on the deck to attach to the bow eye, and it can be a pain, but it is the best most secure method, and I use a large snap shackle that makes it very quick. I also run two mooring lines from the top of the mooring ball to the two bow deck cleats. We're on a very windy lake, and we have an excess of lunatics...excuse me, powerboaters who like to use the mooring field as a slalom course.
During a typical afternoon, winds can reach 30 knots on a regular basis. We're very close to the Banff Corridor, where the cold mountain air meets the warm prairie air.

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2007 : 19:56:04

We've been on a mooring for 8 yrs (1 of those on a Hazlett). Row out about 100m and tie the dink to the top loop of the ball. A pick-up buoy makes pennant retrieval relatively easy, although I admit our mooring is reasonably protected under most conditions. Like Al Eckart, we run the pennant over the bow roller and secure the eye splice onto a bow chock using a 3/16" line to ensure it cannot come off accidentally. If exceptionally heavy winds are predicted, I add a short line to the pennant to act as a bridle. When wear or age require I make up a new pennant, I will probably make a formal bridle.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2007 : 20:30:34

When I had my boat on a mooring, the marina would have a motorboat they operated to drop people off at their boat and pick them up. If you got back to your mooring very late or wanted to go sailing very early, then you would use one of their dinghys and row. I don't think I ever had to use the dinghy...the water service boat operated during many hours of the day and evening.

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