How to Pick Up a Mooring Buoy
Grabbing a mooring buoy can be awkward, especially with a high bow, strong wind or current, or when boating alone. Following a simple routine can improve your chances of getting it right on the first try.
Step 1 — Prepare Your Approach
Have your mooring lines ready before you reach the buoy, with the lines run outside the rails and clear of anything they could snag on.
Approach the buoy slowly into the stronger force—wind or current—so you maintain steering control and can bring the boat to a controlled stop near the buoy.
Step 2 — Grab the Buoy Ring
Use a boat hook or Buoycatcher to pass your first line, or safety line, through the buoy ring and back to a cleat on the boat. Leave plenty of slack while you position the boat.
Next, pass your main mooring line through the buoy ring and secure it back to the boat. If appropriate for your setup, use additional turns or chafe protection where the line contacts the ring.
Once the main line is secure, adjust both lines as needed.
Step 3 — Check Your Mooring
Give the boat a few minutes to settle into the wind and current.
Check that both lines are secure, the boat has adequate clearance, and the lines aren't rubbing against anything that could cause chafing.
Finally, think about the approach. If something felt rushed or awkward, make a note of what you could do differently next time.
Make Mooring Pickup Easier
A traditional boat hook can work well for picking up a buoy, but threading a line through the ring can sometimes require leaning over the rail or lifting the ring toward the boat.
The Buoycatcher is designed to thread and retrieve your mooring line through the buoy ring in one smooth motion while you remain safely on deck.
