TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Picking up a mooring ball

I was thinking of picking a ball from the stern and then walk the line to the front. It looks easier. Has anyone done it?

Better chance of devouring the pennant in your prop.

We had to do exactly that method several times when on one charter after the boat hook was lost overboard. If you have to do it just back up to the ball slowly from upwind, pick up the ball and let the boat slowly continue to drift back... then tie off from the front bow cleat as usual. If the wind is strong you may even be operating the boat in idle while in forward gear just to control the speed. One other option in a pinch is to go ahead and use the dingy to pick up the mooring pendant.

We have 8 or 9 bareboat charters under our belt and the only incident we have ever had was a lost boat hook. Our teen agers failed to lash it down on deck one evening, and it evidently it went overboard during a spirited sail from diamond key on Jost over to St. John.... of course the captain (me) should have noticed it wasn't really secured when we got underway.

Mandknky:
If losing a boat hook is thee worst you do.....be Very Proud. Have lost one of those too. Very easy on a monohull.
Our CAT (TMM Fleet) is equipped with 2 hooks,soI guess not too unusual.

I bet some still lose 2 hooks

Anybody ever pick one up like this? Does this work out well?

Nicely done, mate was prepared to pick up pennant and always looked in control of situation and lines.

ScurvyD - I sent you a pm

That was pretty neat, but a pre made bridal would even be easier. I used a 6" Winchard carabiner, extremely easy to hook up to pennant. I have seen Mike K pick up a ball single handed on the first pass.

I've seen charter captains do this.
They rig a long line to the stern, pull up beside the ball while at the helm, grab the ball, tie on, and walla, they're on. Then at their leisure they shorten the scope of the line.

This is how I pick up a ball every time. Works great.

My buddy, a Moorings owner used to back up to mooring balls on cats. Better with afternoon setting sun and prevailing easterly winds. He got funny looks, but it was more comfortable with cats than sittin in the hot sun.

Now with gens, AC, blenders, and front porches w speakers on newer cats, we just do it the normal way. Then move to the stern for sunset. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Just returned from a week charter on a Moorings 42.3 monohull. The boat was great and we had a wonderful week. The only problem we had was the length of the boat hook was much too short for the boat. Having to lean far over the life lines to reach the mooring pennants resulted in badly bruised ribs! Just something to consider when doing your pre-charter boat briefing.

How did you rig the bridle? The ring at the lower end of the snap hook seems small.

I use one 30' dock line which stay on my forward cleats. I don't know how to post pictures, but if you PM me your email I will send a picture.

Sail 2 Wind:

What is the working load of the carbiner you use?

I use this and an anchor chain snubber on the same bridle

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/wichard--stainless-steel-snap-hooks--P002_060_002_004

Your "Hooker" is starting too high!
Better to just sit on the deck, legs over the side and snag the line from the ball. Have a line ready and if you have enough crew, after looping the line through the eye, hand it back to your crew to tie down to a cleat.