Mooring Mast Buoys

[Sailavie1]

Has anyone used these as an aid to pick up mooring lines? They appear to be a good alternative to using a pole. I usually sail alone and am looking for techniques that make hooking up to the mooring ball easier. Thanks

 

[navigator97]

We have one for our Mooring Pendant Line and I usually use it to pickup Mooring Pendant, if I can reach it. The Admiral only uses the Boat Hook to pick it up. Make sure that the mast is long enough to reach it.

 

[Spindrift NH]

We've been using one for years. I wouldn't have a mooring without one. Not only does it make it easy to pick up your mooring lines but when single handed it is real easy to see where the mooring is when it gets close to the boat. I just steer until the top of the pick-up buoy touches the bow of the boat, run up and grab the pick-up, and attach the pendant to a cleat. Well worth the money.

 

[Maine Sail]

I'm a boat hook guy personally but the pick masts work.

They also often need to get disconnected when securing the boat. Cheap ones have fiberglass whips that load your hands with shards of fiberglass after a season or so, avoid those... Hamilton marine sells a version that is "splinterless"..

I like my boat hook because no matter where I go I can grab a mooring. The boat hook also allows a couple of misses where you can re-try. Once the pick up has passed by you need another run at it..

I shot this video of my neighbor, who is a single mom, making picking up a mooring effortless. She runs here 36' boat by herself with her 6 year old daughter and picks up moorings in all conditions using a boat hook..

 

[isaksp00]

I used one for a few seasons; its line chafed through a few times, though I found it on shore all but the last time (obviously). It is handy, but I might replace the line with a stainless rope if I bought a replacement.