Knotflying has it right but the conditions for set up have to be there. I single hand 90% of the time so when we moved from the C-Dory to the higher bow on the tug I needed a solution for picking up a mooring buoy, something I do frequently in our Gulf Island parks. The solution had to be possible in windy rough conditions so picking up the buoy from the cockpit and walking it alone the side deck was out. (I saw a Camano Troll try this in Montegue harbour two weeks ago. The wife would grab the buoy with a boat hook and the husband would rush to put a line through the ring and then try to walk it forward. Of course the boat broadsided and he was forced to let go.) Likewise, driving through the side window and using the thruster remote so that I could try and grab the ring from the bow was not going to work. (I was never a 6'4" 25 year old weight lifter!)
I bought 30 ft of 1/2ins three ply nylon, same size as the anchor rode, and eyespliced one end. At the other end I spliced on a stainless steel thimble to stop chafing. Through that went a locking carabiner. That was an expensive item because I wanted one stamped and certified not wannabe from a Far East foundry. When I want to pick up a buoy I prepare by taking the eye to the cleat behind the winch and leading the line over the anchor roller and outside the rail back to the cockpit. I run up wind to the buoy and as the boat slows I can easily use the remote on the thrusters to catch the ring from the cockpit and snap to it. 30 ft is a bit long for a pendant but I can easily adjust up on the bow. In light winds I leave the anchor in place and use a split length of plastic tubing slipped over the pendant and secured to prevent any chafing. In the Montegue scenario I wanted the Rocna anchor out of the way to stop the line rubbing on it at all. I secured a spare line to the anchor, let it go a few feet and then brought it up on deck ready in case of real emergency.
The wind was still blowing hard next morning when I wanted to leave. I let the pendant out to the full length and then powered forward next to the buoy. That naturally brought the buoy up alongside the cockpit and I could just reach over and unclip.
I fully agree that a bridle is ideal and much better for reducing 'sailing' but I have had a line chafe through on the ring in the past in rough conditions. I was lucky that, as knotflying said, I had used two lines and not one but getting a second line out to the ring when the boat was off angle because it was left on one tight line through a forward chock was not easy. I feel this solution at least means that any chafing is between the steel ring on the buoy and a harder steel carabiner or that and the thimble. The situation at the bow and the chafe points there I can keep an eye on. For extra security, once I am on the mooring, I have thought about a second line through the ring tied off but left slack.
Just an idea
