How do you grab a mooring ball? I find it difficult trip

[serpa4]

I pulled up to a mooring ball with no pendant on it. I use a Mantus marine's smallest bridal, (30-40ft/12,000lbs) which is 23ft long. I ended up backing up to the ball, but then my bridal would not reach it from the front 2 cleats. I just retied the bridal across my read deck cleat for the night, but didn't like the stern to waves and wind, but knew that night it would be very clam night.
I was thinking of getting a single 5/8 rope of about 10 feet. Attach the rope to the end of the bridal while it is still attached to the front cleats. Then walking the bridal 23ft and 10ft of line back to the rear deck for attaching to the ball and then letting it all go overboard. I'd be about 33ft off the mooring ball.
Is that too far off a ball?

What would you suggest/do?

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

33’ is too far unless you’re on a single mooring ball with no others around you. If you or your crew is having a hard time grabbing the ball, approach slowly and take the ball down the port or stbd side and grab the ball from the cockpit. Have a messenger line running outside the railings to the cockpit, once you’re attached to the ball, you can install your bridal.

 

[sabadd2003]

Try https://goldendovemarine.com/ best money
spent its a great product, locally made.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Try https://goldendovemarine.com/ best money
spent its a great product, locally made.

That's pretty slick. If I frequented mooring balls like that (without a pendant), I'll probably pull the trigger on one.

 

[Mike and Sarah]

Here is what we use. It’s like magic. You can do it all from the bow.
https://www.hookandmoor.com/

 

[Chimo]

There have been several threads on this subject. I think this one was the most recent viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16822&hilit=+Pendant .

Much depends on whether you have one or two people on board. Life gets very interesting very quickly when single handed in anything other than dead calm conditions.

 

[SJI Sailor]

+1 to catching it from the cockpit and then walking it up to the bow. We also turn on low speed mode, and be sure to navigate into (against) the current. And, to add to the devices list, we have and love this one: https://easymoor.com/

 

[serpa4]

I don't get it. The two tools, hook mechanisms mentioned pass a line through the pendant. I assume both ends of the line are tied off to cleats on the bow of the boat. So now you have two fixed ends of the line that is allowed to freely slip back and forth through the pendant eye, chafing, etc.
That isn't how you Moore is it?
I've only ever moored one time using a bridal which has an eye that attaches to the mooring and thus not sliding around.
Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

yes they dont solve your problem in one go.

I suggest you break the challenge into its component parts and solve them safely and efficiently. you dont however need to do it all immediately.

1. get to the ball with the boat somewhat stopped
2. get a rope through the ring and tied onto the boat.
3. replace the initial line with a mooring pendant should you want to.

 

[Whidbey Cruiser]

Is there a bow ladder on the C30? I have a C28 with a bow ladder and I use the ladder to get close to the ball with my skillful wife at the helm. With PFD on I feel very safe using this method.

 

[Red Raven]

In the PNW (not sure about other areas) most balls have a ring on a chain that slides through a tube in the ball. You can hook the ring with a standard boat hook from the bow and pull the ring and chain up to you in the bow of the boat to attach your line or pendant.

Regarding the open V and possible sliding or chafing, I have never had any sliding of the line occur. There are not likely any forces that would cause this unless you pull on one end of the line or the other. The boat swings around the buoy just fine. As far as chafing goes, I agree this would be a problem if this method was used for long term moorage. In that case the line should be replaced with a pendant using the method outlined above or using your tender. For overnight in a safe anchorage I have never had any chafing occur. In fact usually the line is slack and the problem becomes bumping the ball in the night and waking me up (not to mention scratching the boat)! For this reason, I prefer to anchor if there is room.

Curt

 

[Chimo]

yes they dont solve your problem in one go.

I suggest you break the challenge into its component parts and solve them safely and efficiently. you dont however need to do it all immediately.

1. get to the ball with the boat somewhat stopped
2. get a rope through the ring and tied onto the boat.
3. replace the initial line with a mooring pendant should you want to.

I fully agree with point1. I'm usually single handed so the safest and easiest spot to do this is in the cockpit. With a crew on board to drive the boat I could possibly do this at the bow. The remote for the thrusters usually easily brings me alongside. If there's even a stiff breeze I come up close with just a little headway alongside the buoy heading into the wind. Turn slightly so the wind holds the boat close to the buoy. walk to the cockpit and I then clip the locking carabiner on the pendant to the ring. No need for any other lines and no chafing of ropes on rings. Leave the boat to swing to the buoy and head up to the bow with both hands free. Adjust the pendant length and tie off to the large cleat used for anchoring. I use chafing material to stop any chafing on the anchor or other gear just as I would do if anchored.

What I find really scary is watching people grab a line through a ring from the cockpit and then try and walk it to the bow. Often it would be comical if it wasn't so unsafe. As the person moves forward the boat naturally turns beam to the buoy, that's where it's being held. Now we have someone holding a boat with a line in one hand and trying to hold hold the rails as they move forward. At many points they have to let go of the boat since they can't let go of the line. It doesn't take much of a slip for that person to miss a grab for a rail and get pulled overboard. Again, single-handed in cold water, even wearing a life jacket + handheld radio this is not a good situation.