Hooking up to a mooring

[AC2717]

Hi all,
I have boating experience with tying up to docks and running up on land but just last september my wife and I have bought our first boat. It is a 1988 Cobalt 23BR. It has a deep V hull and a lot of free board.

The association we are in has atleast a mooring for everyone. well I have never hooked up to a mooring before and could use some pointers as to what to use and how to use it.

I will not be able to reach the ring on the bow from leaning over the bow because it is too far down, but I do have a boat hook.

A suggestion has been to take a shackel and pt it on the ring and attahed it to a line and leave the line attached to the boat with another hook ro shackel on the other end to hook up to the mooring and I could pick that up with a pick up flag or the boat hook.
I dunno if I want a shackel hitting the bow constantly.
What type or what lb Test line do I use? I am down near the margate on Paugus bay
what do I use to conntect?
how much line to I use? Mooring field is set up for 27 footers, mine is the last on on the outer corner.


so what do you have for me? Thank you