USING THE MOORING CAPTOR
Attach the free end of the Mooring Captor line to the bow cleat of the vessel, taking care to ensure that it is clear of obstructions and crew. The Mooring Captor head end of the line is run over the bow roller and the head is then inserted in the handle ensuring that the indexing lug is inserted in the handle slot. The line is tensioned so that the Mooring Captor head is retained in the handle slot. The line is held against the Mooring Captor handle.
Note the attitude of other vessels in the area and approach the mooring buoy in a similar direction with just enough speed to maintain steerage.
Steer the boat so that it will pass the mooring buoy on the preferred side of the bow and close enough so that the ring on the top of the mooring buoy will be within reach of the Mooring Captor. Use the wind and tide to bring the vessel alongside the buoy. As the boat nears the buoy select neutral so that the boat slows and as the bow of the boat passes the mooring buoy, the Mooring Captor is deployed.
The Mooring Captor is inserted in the mooring buoy ring with the spring gate uppermost and pulled upward so that the head captures the ring. The line is released as the handle is pulled towards the operator and the Mooring Captor head detaches from the handle. The line is now connected from the boat to the buoy and can now be pulled so that the permanent mooring chain or rope can be attached at your leisure. Take care to ensure that the spring gate on the Captor head is not damaged by pulling it over the bow roller.
On heavy vessels the anchor winch can be used to lift the buoy, or the boat can be motored up to the buoy to ease the strain. Once the permanent mooring chain and/or line is attached, the Mooring Captor head can be removed from the mooring ring and the Mooring Captor head can now be stowed away for future use.
The Mooring Captor also comes with a boat hook head. Because using the Mooring Captor is often a one off operation per trip, it is suggested that the boat hook head be fitted following use of the Mooring Captor head. This means that the boat hook is normally available for other needs during a cruise and only needs to be exchanged for the Mooring Captor head before picking up a mooring.
The Mooring Captor is designed to suit standard Queensland Transport mooring buoys but will be suitable for many other similar buoys. The boat hook head will assist in picking up other moorings including the awkward reef moorings at the Whitsundays and other places.
