Mooring a boat refers to securing it to a fixed object, such as a mooring buoy, dock, quay, wharf, jetty, or pier, rather than dropping an anchor to secure it anywhere. Mooring is done by lassoing, tethering, tying, or otherwise securing the boat to the fixed object. To moor a boat at a mooring buoy out in open water, you need something to grab hold of the buoy with, such as a boat hook or a line. You can either lasso the buoy with your line and pull your boat towards it to further secure it or use a boat hook to reach out and grab the buoy.
Mooring a boat requires different equipment than docking. You will need at least three basic elements: a mooring anchor, a mooring chain, and a mooring buoy. The buoy keeps the chain floating and gives you a space where you can make a connection. Mooring in a tight space amongst many other boaters can be intimidating for many new boaters.
In summary, mooring a boat involves securing it to a fixed object using a mooring anchor, chain, and buoy, while docking involves securing it to a dock or pier.
