Mates, what’s the general consensus on this topic? If after doing a day sail, I come across a mooring ball and there’s no boat attached to it – can I tie up for the night or a couple of hours? I understand that this is private property – hence this question. If anyone has a mooring arrangement and comes across a situation like this what would be your first response?
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MOORING BALL
How can u be sure that this other person who owns this mooring ball is not out for a longer day sail than you or perhaps an evening sail or a nite sail.I would be prepared to move if you use someone elses mooring.Unless it is designated for the nite as reserved or perhaps 1st come 1st serve.
How can u be sure that this other person who owns this mooring ball is not out for a longer day sail than you or perhaps an evening sail or a nite sail.I would be prepared to move if you use someone elses mooring.Unless it is designated for the nite as reserved or perhaps 1st come 1st serve.
Picking up unoccupied moorings
I think it depends on the reasonable and customary practices in the area. In our area there are private moorings that are strictly recreational. The common practice is to tie up at unoccupied moorings and move if owner comes. No one gets upset. You never leave the boat unattended in such a situation. In mooring areas that are permanent "home ports" you would never pick up a mooring, except in out of season situations. You can always get on the radio and ask what the practice is.
I think it depends on the reasonable and customary practices in the area. In our area there are private moorings that are strictly recreational. The common practice is to tie up at unoccupied moorings and move if owner comes. No one gets upset. You never leave the boat unattended in such a situation. In mooring areas that are permanent "home ports" you would never pick up a mooring, except in out of season situations. You can always get on the radio and ask what the practice is.
And the answer is:
NO! You cannot use someone else's mooring without their prior permission. You cannot park your boat in some one's empty slip without their permission. If you have a problem understanding this, try turning it around and trying it on for size: you return to YOUR mooring/slip after a long sail. Oooops, someone is already in it.... How would you feel or react? This is a no brainer.
NO! You cannot use someone else's mooring without their prior permission. You cannot park your boat in some one's empty slip without their permission. If you have a problem understanding this, try turning it around and trying it on for size: you return to YOUR mooring/slip after a long sail. Oooops, someone is already in it.... How would you feel or react? This is a no brainer.
Understood
guys - i understand the situation and don't have any intentions of leaving the boat, considering that I dont have a dingy - I'm more curious to find out if it's ok for me to tie up to a ball and stay with the boat - either for a couple of hours or over night. I absolutly will not leave the boat and would off course vacate if the owner comes back.
guys - i understand the situation and don't have any intentions of leaving the boat, considering that I dont have a dingy - I'm more curious to find out if it's ok for me to tie up to a ball and stay with the boat - either for a couple of hours or over night. I absolutly will not leave the boat and would off course vacate if the owner comes back.
What is it about....
about the word "NO" that you don't understand? Can I sleep in your bed if you aren't in it and I promise to move if you come home and find me there?
about the word "NO" that you don't understand? Can I sleep in your bed if you aren't in it and I promise to move if you come home and find me there?
local custom
Its a local thing Pete. Here in NE, you can park, but you don't ask questions and move when someone else shows up and says "mine". No one is offended.
Its a local thing Pete. Here in NE, you can park, but you don't ask questions and move when someone else shows up and says "mine". No one is offended.
Agreed
on Long Island and in Connecticut it is perfectly OK to use an empty mooring, generally one with a lot of weed on the pendant that doesn't appear to be used often. If the owner shows up, you vacate promptly and exchange cheerful words. It IS the local custom, and preferable to those who rudely say, "What part of..." Read Bailey's "The coast of summer", it will educate you into sailing with manners. Vent over. ;}
on Long Island and in Connecticut it is perfectly OK to use an empty mooring, generally one with a lot of weed on the pendant that doesn't appear to be used often. If the owner shows up, you vacate promptly and exchange cheerful words. It IS the local custom, and preferable to those who rudely say, "What part of..." Read Bailey's "The coast of summer", it will educate you into sailing with manners. Vent over. ;}
one thing we've learned
apparently, you need to watch your P's and Q's in the Ches. I think the best idea is to ask around the area in which you are considering such. Also consider, if you own a mooring and had to come in for an emergency, or just had a crappy day, how hospitable would you be to someone on your spot? this should be honorable and gentlemanly, drop anchor until your familiar.
apparently, you need to watch your P's and Q's in the Ches. I think the best idea is to ask around the area in which you are considering such. Also consider, if you own a mooring and had to come in for an emergency, or just had a crappy day, how hospitable would you be to someone on your spot? this should be honorable and gentlemanly, drop anchor until your familiar.
are you serious?
Unless it's an emergency absolutely not. Anyways why would you tie up to a mooring that you are unsure of what condition the ground tackle is in. As a certified mooring inspector in a place where mooring inspection is optional in 1/2 the bay I would NEVER tie up to someone else mooring, you have no idea what condition of the rig!! Good luck when your in a good blow and your chain lets go in the middle of the night. Stick to an anchor!
Unless it's an emergency absolutely not. Anyways why would you tie up to a mooring that you are unsure of what condition the ground tackle is in. As a certified mooring inspector in a place where mooring inspection is optional in 1/2 the bay I would NEVER tie up to someone else mooring, you have no idea what condition of the rig!! Good luck when your in a good blow and your chain lets go in the middle of the night. Stick to an anchor!
Respect private property....or else we will be
like Mexico. If a stranger moves into your house when you are not there becomes very difficult to evict him. I agree with Dave, Pete, and Warren. Wait till the homeless create a new custom that if they move into your house when you are on vacation...its okay. abe
like Mexico. If a stranger moves into your house when you are not there becomes very difficult to evict him. I agree with Dave, Pete, and Warren. Wait till the homeless create a new custom that if they move into your house when you are on vacation...its okay. abe
OTOH,
Not all moorings are legal in the first place, so an owner can't necessarily claim any greater right than a squatter. So some of you can get off your high horse. It depends on the circumstances, locality, etc. In Beaufort, NC there are moorings which are illegal, but the city hasn't done anything about them. The owner can't really claim any greater rights than a squatter. Of course I wouldn't argue the point from an end of their shotgun either. Ironically, I learned this while tied off to one in a skiff one summer eating a sandwich. Owner came up and told me the story and that he had a 350 block at the bottom of the chain. I offered to move, but as he drove off he said to enjoy my lunch. Which I did. We also have one up the Rhode River on the Ches Bay that's illegally set - PER MD DNR. Various folks use it, never even heard that there's an owner. Unfortunately, we've had a few abandoned boats tied off to it too. Ever tried to get rid of an abandoned boat tied off in a river - it ain't easy! But, as Dave says, it's not generally accepted here on the Ches. Of couse, attitude and money rule around here anyway. Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now....
Not all moorings are legal in the first place, so an owner can't necessarily claim any greater right than a squatter. So some of you can get off your high horse. It depends on the circumstances, locality, etc. In Beaufort, NC there are moorings which are illegal, but the city hasn't done anything about them. The owner can't really claim any greater rights than a squatter. Of course I wouldn't argue the point from an end of their shotgun either. Ironically, I learned this while tied off to one in a skiff one summer eating a sandwich. Owner came up and told me the story and that he had a 350 block at the bottom of the chain. I offered to move, but as he drove off he said to enjoy my lunch. Which I did. We also have one up the Rhode River on the Ches Bay that's illegally set - PER MD DNR. Various folks use it, never even heard that there's an owner. Unfortunately, we've had a few abandoned boats tied off to it too. Ever tried to get rid of an abandoned boat tied off in a river - it ain't easy! But, as Dave says, it's not generally accepted here on the Ches. Of couse, attitude and money rule around here anyway. Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now....
differant sizes of moorings
. I liked the empty bed senerio. that was really good. At the yacht club I was with in the 70s the mushroom anchors were of several differant sizes (weights). What would you do if you are a 15,000lb boat on a 10,000 lb anchor? you'll drag it from where it was placed. Are you ready to reset it? I don;t think so. Stay away and drop anchor,two if need be. but don't do it.And I'mfrom Connecticut and been in boating all my life. Keep it up, Ctskip
. I liked the empty bed senerio. that was really good. At the yacht club I was with in the 70s the mushroom anchors were of several differant sizes (weights). What would you do if you are a 15,000lb boat on a 10,000 lb anchor? you'll drag it from where it was placed. Are you ready to reset it? I don;t think so. Stay away and drop anchor,two if need be. but don't do it.And I'mfrom Connecticut and been in boating all my life. Keep it up, Ctskip
Public Moorings at Annapolis
The only place I know of where I'd feel comfortable taking a mooring is in the mooring basin off 'ego alley' in Annapolis as it is managed by the Harbormaster for transients. I can't imagine taking someone's private mooring except in an emergency - even then, that's why you have anchor(s) aboard. Of course I've also come back into our marina and seen folks tied up in someone elses slip using the owner's dock lines. I can't imagine a knowlegable boater doing either without the owner's permission.
The only place I know of where I'd feel comfortable taking a mooring is in the mooring basin off 'ego alley' in Annapolis as it is managed by the Harbormaster for transients. I can't imagine taking someone's private mooring except in an emergency - even then, that's why you have anchor(s) aboard. Of course I've also come back into our marina and seen folks tied up in someone elses slip using the owner's dock lines. I can't imagine a knowlegable boater doing either without the owner's permission.
Someone in my slip
Not once but twice this has happened in two different marina's here on the south shore of Long Island the first time was in early spring and I was the only boat in the marina I went for a sail one nice spring Sunday only to return and find some dickhead decided to use my slip and all my dock lines and go to the restaurant nearby, now there were plenty of other slips but get this he had no dock lines?*o and I thinking I have a new neighbor as I was approching my slip and not ready with extra lines on a very windy day, It was his luck that he had a little boy with him and I kept my big mouth and italian temper at bay that day!*x Then last summer we were sailing in the bay when there were all these large boats having a race there had to be 30+ heading west towards my marina, but when I got in these guys were in every empty available slip they could find including mine and again at the local restaurant, now I've got to find a place for my 32 footer, then go find this A--hole thats in my slip again using my dock lines, I thought of just letting his boat loose but looked around and saw 30+ of his friends and did'nt, but lost my italian temper when he showed up.*grr Soooo Tony there's your answer to that question
Not once but twice this has happened in two different marina's here on the south shore of Long Island the first time was in early spring and I was the only boat in the marina I went for a sail one nice spring Sunday only to return and find some dickhead decided to use my slip and all my dock lines and go to the restaurant nearby, now there were plenty of other slips but get this he had no dock lines?*o and I thinking I have a new neighbor as I was approching my slip and not ready with extra lines on a very windy day, It was his luck that he had a little boy with him and I kept my big mouth and italian temper at bay that day!*x Then last summer we were sailing in the bay when there were all these large boats having a race there had to be 30+ heading west towards my marina, but when I got in these guys were in every empty available slip they could find including mine and again at the local restaurant, now I've got to find a place for my 32 footer, then go find this A--hole thats in my slip again using my dock lines, I thought of just letting his boat loose but looked around and saw 30+ of his friends and did'nt, but lost my italian temper when he showed up.*grr Soooo Tony there's your answer to that question
Interesting Responses
Very interesting comments, I really like the one using the bed as an example. Having said that we maintain, legally - named and numbered, a mooring in our harbor in addition to our slip. It is a pain when returning on a Sunday afternoon and finding someone on our mooring. More often then not we pull up along side, explain that the mooring belongs to us and people normally get off promptly but it always takes some period of time as they need to clean up what they are doing, start the engine then throw my mooring lines into the water istead of placing them over our pick up stick. In one case there was a large cabin cruiser on the mooring with three women and six children. All the men were out on a small ski boat having a great time. Need I say that no one left on the boat could move it, so here we have six kids on the fore deck screaming for dad to come back and move the boat. Unfortubnately dad and the other men were too pre-ocupied to pay attention until I pulled my boat over to them when someone finally fell and they stopped. Moral of the story, if you pick up someones mooring be prepared to move immediately when the owner arrives and leave everything the way it is supposed to be, better yet stay off what is not yours, use your anchor, I know it can be a chore but that is what it is there for. And for friends of the owner, you too should ask before using it, don't assume it is ok because you are a friend of the owner, maybe I don't want company that day! My two cents. Bob Keller sv Kathryn, Stamford, Ct
Very interesting comments, I really like the one using the bed as an example. Having said that we maintain, legally - named and numbered, a mooring in our harbor in addition to our slip. It is a pain when returning on a Sunday afternoon and finding someone on our mooring. More often then not we pull up along side, explain that the mooring belongs to us and people normally get off promptly but it always takes some period of time as they need to clean up what they are doing, start the engine then throw my mooring lines into the water istead of placing them over our pick up stick. In one case there was a large cabin cruiser on the mooring with three women and six children. All the men were out on a small ski boat having a great time. Need I say that no one left on the boat could move it, so here we have six kids on the fore deck screaming for dad to come back and move the boat. Unfortubnately dad and the other men were too pre-ocupied to pay attention until I pulled my boat over to them when someone finally fell and they stopped. Moral of the story, if you pick up someones mooring be prepared to move immediately when the owner arrives and leave everything the way it is supposed to be, better yet stay off what is not yours, use your anchor, I know it can be a chore but that is what it is there for. And for friends of the owner, you too should ask before using it, don't assume it is ok because you are a friend of the owner, maybe I don't want company that day! My two cents. Bob Keller sv Kathryn, Stamford, Ct
If you think
You can use someone's mooring or slip because he isn't tied up to it or in it, then that kind of "reasoning" (smile)could also be used by such people to mean you could also use his boat if it were tied up to the mooring/slip and the owner wasn't on it or using it at the time. Is this a great country or what? It's stuff like this that makes me think that boater's really ought to have to pass some kind of test prior to being allowed to operate a boat (and park it in my empty slip). Tony: Tell us you were just having some fun with us here.
You can use someone's mooring or slip because he isn't tied up to it or in it, then that kind of "reasoning" (smile)could also be used by such people to mean you could also use his boat if it were tied up to the mooring/slip and the owner wasn't on it or using it at the time. Is this a great country or what? It's stuff like this that makes me think that boater's really ought to have to pass some kind of test prior to being allowed to operate a boat (and park it in my empty slip). Tony: Tell us you were just having some fun with us here.
wioth that all said...........
wow...........what ever happened to the "corinthian spirit??" sailboats sticking together?? etc.etc.etc.?? First.....if anyone is transiting the Hudson river and needs a mooring at the Chelsea Yacht Club, fell free to use mine if my boat is not there.............. now....we all know that space is becoming harder and harder to find. Marina's are taking up room, the "good" holding ground is being covered by town and private moorings and the only anchorages are in deep, poor holding areas that roll at night and take 20 minutes by dink to get ashore. Those of you who feel so strongly about this, I WILL NEVER TAKE a mooring without asking (but still feel free to use mine), but for those kind people who feel that kindness is worth something, thank you. I have 2 quick stories. 1. Me and my better half were in New London CT. getting ready to hop over to Block Island the next day. we woke up and couldn't see 5 feet in front of us. we left anyways, but about an hour later decided the prudent thing to do was wait for the fog to lift. We made for Stonington. Upon coming across the first empty mooring ball we could find, we took it. About 1/2 hour later the owner came in on their boat and rafted up to us. He understood the weather and said we could stay there until the fog lifted. 2. While heading up the Hudson I had some engine trouble (well more like the motor died in the middle of a huge storm), I saild over to a private club and unable to hail anyone, I grabbed an empty mooring. When the rain stopped, I dinked ashore and was told by the owner that I could leave my boat there until I fix it the next day. These are 2 reasons why I will allow someone else to use my mooring. Life is to nuts to go crazy over someone tied up to your mooring. Do not take a private mooring just to "save money". Do not take a private mooring go leave your boat and have dinner.Be polite,stay on your boat,and if the owners come back and want you to move, do so immediately. IF you find someone on your mooring, and you want them off, stay calm and ask them to move off. I'm sure there is an acceptable reason 9 out of 10 times for them being there. Happy sailing, Mike C. O'28 "Da Capo"
wow...........what ever happened to the "corinthian spirit??" sailboats sticking together?? etc.etc.etc.?? First.....if anyone is transiting the Hudson river and needs a mooring at the Chelsea Yacht Club, fell free to use mine if my boat is not there.............. now....we all know that space is becoming harder and harder to find. Marina's are taking up room, the "good" holding ground is being covered by town and private moorings and the only anchorages are in deep, poor holding areas that roll at night and take 20 minutes by dink to get ashore. Those of you who feel so strongly about this, I WILL NEVER TAKE a mooring without asking (but still feel free to use mine), but for those kind people who feel that kindness is worth something, thank you. I have 2 quick stories. 1. Me and my better half were in New London CT. getting ready to hop over to Block Island the next day. we woke up and couldn't see 5 feet in front of us. we left anyways, but about an hour later decided the prudent thing to do was wait for the fog to lift. We made for Stonington. Upon coming across the first empty mooring ball we could find, we took it. About 1/2 hour later the owner came in on their boat and rafted up to us. He understood the weather and said we could stay there until the fog lifted. 2. While heading up the Hudson I had some engine trouble (well more like the motor died in the middle of a huge storm), I saild over to a private club and unable to hail anyone, I grabbed an empty mooring. When the rain stopped, I dinked ashore and was told by the owner that I could leave my boat there until I fix it the next day. These are 2 reasons why I will allow someone else to use my mooring. Life is to nuts to go crazy over someone tied up to your mooring. Do not take a private mooring just to "save money". Do not take a private mooring go leave your boat and have dinner.Be polite,stay on your boat,and if the owners come back and want you to move, do so immediately. IF you find someone on your mooring, and you want them off, stay calm and ask them to move off. I'm sure there is an acceptable reason 9 out of 10 times for them being there. Happy sailing, Mike C. O'28 "Da Capo"
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