It will have happened to many of you to arrive in port and have to provide autonomously for the mooring of your boat, an operation not always easy to manage, at least until now that, with the advent of Moorsimply, things could change.
The idea is very simple. The system features a mechanical arm capable of passing the two mooring and tow lines, the opening and closing of which is completely manageable with the help of a remote control. A very useful innovation indeed, which we were looking forward to testing.
MOORSIMPLY ON TEST
We tested it at the Marina di Varazze, approaching the quay with both a motor boat (Pardo 38) and a sailing boat (Grand Soleil 40), with just one person on board and no external help and…surprise, surprise…the result left us pleasantly impressed.
I choose to dock stern-to, which is the most convenient and popular mode but it has to be said that Moorsimply, depending on how it is positioned on the quay, can also be used for bow-to moorings.
As I approach my berth I operate the remote control that gives life to Moorsimply and see that the mechanical arm on the quay opens, handing me the lines needed for mooring. This means that I do not have to jump from the boat to the quay and back. I don’t even have to wait for the mooring operator: Moorsimply also zeroes the waiting time.
All I have to do is reach into the stern, reach into the device and the lines are already at hand. We can autonomously choose the order in which to prepare them. Personally, I chose to have the starboard one first, then the port one and last of all the lazy line which, equipped with a handy loop, will make it even easier to slide it to the bow.
I take the first line and tie it to the starboard bollard, which takes about 15 seconds. I take the second one, without the risk of it falling into the water, and in another 20 seconds I perform the same operation.
The only thing missing is the lazy line, which I grab by means of the ring provided and take to the bow where I turn the bollard with the last knot. Dry hands, no gloves and no worries.
That’s it, I have moored single-handedly in less than a minute.
I think that’s what Moorsimply is all about: making simple, autonomous and quick an operation that in itself is not complicated but which, if we don’t have help, can be stressful.