| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Deano |
Posted - 02 Jul 2012 : 20:57:23
A few weeks ago I (my crew actually, but I was on the helm!) smashed my trusty hardwood shafted, chrome tipped boat hook into two pieces. He blamed me of course!! Muttering something about me driving over the buoy he had just hooked???!!! We were in the North Sea (almost) and there was a bit of a chop running as we were trying to pick up the buoy and in my defence I couldn't actually see anything at the time. He lost the good bit with the chrome point on the end, but returned to the cockpit with 3 foot of hardwood, lightly splintered at one end.
Anyhow, whatever the reason I am in the market for a new boat hook, OR AM I???
I don't ever remember using the previous hook for anything much. It was too long to stow anywhere sensible. Maybe on the deck next to the handrails, but what if someone grabbed it instead of the rail?? Sploosh!!! And it left mucky marks when it rained.
Do you need a boathook? Do you ACTUALLY use it? What for?? How is it stored safely but ready to hand should an actual boathook emergency develop. Oh, how I would regret not been able to deploy it, should the need ever occur.
I know you can get those flashy aluminium telescopic ones, I had one once on a previous boat and the only time I remember using it was to push off from a bank, whereupon it just telescoped in on it's self.... I let it go with the boat!!!
But if I don't get one, what will I pick up the buoy with next time we are coastal in the Wash??? Should I buy a replacement end for the 3 foot pole, it would stow nicely, handle easily and be just the right length to reach over the bow to pick up a buoy, using it as an arm extension rather than a billiard cue flappy pole thing.
What do you think?
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 30 "Silver Gem"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| IanM |
Posted - 03 Jul 2012 : 06:50:53
Ours has been on the roof continuously for about 4 years. It has been removed on about half a dozen occasions which fall into three scenarios:
1. We needed to paint the roof.
2. We needed to paint the boat hook.
3. A few weeks ago when a boat was struggling to close a lock gate because something was fouling it. In this latter scenario we took the boat hook to the gate and very quickly found that it was not long enough to reach the offending obstruction. So it went back on the roof.
I also keep a battered aluminium boat hook just inside the cabin door. The idea is that it's easy to grab in an emergency but it's main function seems to be to get tangled up in the other stuff that hangs near it, like ropes, coats etc.
Maybe a boat hook is a bit like those scatter cushions you have on your sofa at home, you know, the ones that you move out of the way before you sit down.
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| adi-n-chez |
Posted - 02 Jul 2012 : 22:55:22
Dean
I find our boat hook useful when single handing, or when sharing a deep lock to hold on to the sides.
Like Trev says - You will only need one if you haven't got it - I missed ours when we lent it to Dad for a weeks Trip (He borrowed it for around six months IIRC until I replaced his hardwood shaft that had seen better days with some nice ally pole I err 'found' at work!)
Ours is Telescopic , as long as its locked out it seems ok - It worked well as an emergency brake over May BH as we 'won a tree' that stopped the motor dead, leaving me heading towards the trees on the farside , without it there may have been a nasty crunch on the pilings !
Mine is on the roof, extended & within reach from the helm.
Adi
Sewer Tubes ? I'd rather have a D**ncr*ft (Only Kidding) |
| trevork |
Posted - 02 Jul 2012 : 22:37:07
I suspect you will only really need a boat hook when you don't have one! |
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