Boat Hook

A pole fitted with a hook and usually a blunt point, used to pick up or control objects just beyond reach.

A boat hook is commonly used to retrieve a mooring line, catch the ring or pick-up line of a buoy, recover a light object from the water or gently guide the boat away from a surface. Many modern versions telescope for easier stowage.

It is a reaching and handling tool rather than equipment for carrying a vessel’s mooring load. Crew should avoid putting themselves off balance or placing the hook where it could become trapped as the boat moves. When not in use, it should be secured so that it cannot roll across the deck or fall overboard.