Conference unifix::sailing

    This is tough 'cause I dont think there is a fixed set of 'rules'
    on this.   Here is what I do.   
    
    1)  I anchor where I am able unless there is a State owned mooring.
        I dont know what is on the other end of a strange pennant and
        would rather not assume there is substantial ground tackle.
    
    2)  I refer to Waterways regarding local rules such as Harbor Master
        assigned private moorings (like in Vineyard Haven), guest moorings
        and anchoring restrictions. 
    
    3)  If I cannot anchor, there are no marked guest moorings, no info
        in Waterways, no Harbor Master, or anyone in a boat or marina
        to ask, and I really have to stay, I will pick up an unoccupied 
        mooring.  I would not leave the boat unattended untill I
        determined that the owner was not likely to return in my absense 
        and I felt the mooring secure.
    
    
    I do not have a mooring. If I did, and I returned to find an un-
    occupied boat attached I might raft to her trail her astern or move
    her.  I dont think I would cast her off (well maybe a power boat or 
    Buccaneer).
    
    Walt

Ah, a rather touchy subject. What is permitted/tolerated depends on the 
harbor and local custom. Borrowing a vacant mooring is a very common 
practice, but there are risks. 

If you pick up a vacant mooring, you really shouldn't leave your boat.
People do come back to their moorings after dark on occasion. If the
owner does come back, he/she has every right to ask you to leave, and
you will need somewhere to go. This can be difficult in a crowded
harbor. Some people are very intolerant of people using their moorings.
I have reason to believe that certain people will simply cast your boat
adrift if they find you on their mooring. 

Also, you really don't know the condition of the mooring. It may or may 
not in large enough or in good condition. We were once offered the use 
of a mooring (by the owner) on a windy fall day. As we were picking up 
the pennant, the shackle connecting the pennant to the mooring chain 
failed. You can imagine the consequences if this had happened if we'd 
been shore.

Finally, in some harbors (eg, Marblehead) the harbormaster has legal 
control over the use of moorings, and you cannot use a mooring without 
his permission. (The Marblehead harbormaster will likely give you 
permission, but you'd be well advised to ask.)

Our general practice is to anchor, or, if we've used a mooring, stay 
aboard. Some vacant moorings are rental moorings, by the way, and some 
nice person is most likely going to arrive with hand held out. 

Anyway, do as you would have others do to you. 

Have fun.

Alan

  At the very least you wouldn't leave the boat. And you ought
  to be ready to leave instantly. As a general rule I would never
  pick up someone's mooring unless there were some unusual
  circumstances. In this case there was someone on adjacent mooring
  who knew the mooring owner and informed me that he wouldn't be
  back for a couple of days. Also he was certain that the owner
  wouldn't mind. That, plus knowing we were sister Sabre's and
  the fog was so bad that it was unlikely the owner would be back
  early gave me the confidence to poach.
  On the other hand I would have to be in a life or death situation
  (with appropriate Mayday's broadcast) before I'd dare pick up
  someone's mooring in, say, Hadley's Harbor. Mooring owners there
  are so used to arrogant transients that they're likely to shoot
  and ask questions later.
  There's no simple answer. Several times boats with problems have
  picked up my mooring in Marion, it's very convenient on the channel,
  and that was OK. Once someone took it and went ashore. I simply radioed
  Burr and they came out and took it off. I have no idea whether
  this resulted in some cost to the trespasser but I suspect it
  did.
  John

    Slips.
    
    Since most slips come complete with a marina operator, it is usually
    possible to find someone in authority to dirct you to an available
    transient slip.   Many marinas set aside slips for transients. Some
    just rent slips temporarily empty (the seasonal renter is out
    somewhere). Some also require reservations and others (some yacht 
    clubs) dont welcome transients at all. 
    
    As a rule of thumb, you can pull into an empty slip where you see
    no dock lines. Dock lines left at a slip indicate that the boat
    that usually occupies the slip may return any time. No dock lines
    indicates the usual occupant is probably away for an extended period 
    (more than a daysail) or the slip has no permanent occupant. You
    should check in with the dock master or marina operator as soon
    as practical after tying up to make sure you are in an acceptable 
    place. 
    
    Some marinas have dock boys or a fuel/dock house that you can hail
    for directions to a vacant slip. This is particularly true in areas
    where lots of transient boats gather.  Again, Waterways can give
    you VHF hailing and/or phone numbers to call ahead. You may have
    to make reservations several days in advance in some areas, which
    is a hassle for someone who went cruising to get away from agendas,
    so it doesnt hurt to check with folks regarding specific places
    before planning on using the facilities.   

    Walt    

    On entering a harbor we will always seek out the Harbormaster
    or one of the commercial docks or yacht clubs and ask about a mooring.
    Often you won't have to tie up but can just motor slowly by the
    dock and yell back and forth. If you do tie up at a commercial dock
    to ask, it will probably be a fuel dock. (They're located to be as
    approachable as possible.) Spend as little time as you can at any
    sort of commercial dock!! The people who operate the dock make their
    living from the dock and other boats are probably looking to get
    to the fuel/water! Town docks may allow you to tie up for a period
    of time. Look for signs or ask. Again, do onto others...
    
    If you see someone on another boat(on a mooring), slow down and ask
    them where to get information about moorings, supplies, etc. People
    seem to be friendlier on the water than they are ashore. That's one of
    the nice things about cruising. 
    
    Practice your anchoring so that you feel comfortable about your ability
    to anchor. It will take a lot of pressure off the search for a mooring.
    Check charts and with the harbormaster or a marina dock person for
    anchorages in the harbor. 
     
    Calling ahead may well be the best approach to the problem. In some
    places you have to do it several days in advance! I'd say try this
    approach first. You'll be a lot more comfortable knowing there's a
    place for you in that habor. And do get a copy of WAterways, there's a
    wealth of information in it. 

In some very crowded harbors, anchoring may not be permitted by local 
regulations. Moreover, in such harbors there is probably so much junk on 
the bottom that you may never get your anchor back (there is a dock 
gangway on the bottom near our Marblehead mooring, for example).

    I *loved* the last issue of P/S where they had a block article titled
    "stay clear".   It confirmed many of my own opinions on anchoring.

    The best item by far in it was the reference to an "AAQ" being higher
    when anchoring amongst powerboats.
    
    Rick
     
    * Whats an AAQ you ask?   Read P/S and find out.

     If i saw someone cast a boat adrift, they sure would get a piece
    of my mind. Not out of concern for the person who "borrowed" the
    mooring, but for the other (innocent) owners who may be hurt by
    a drifting boat.
    
     It may not be proper etiquette to grab an open mooring, but it
    seems for less an evil than casting a boat adrift.
    
     Sorry for the outburst but i HAD to say that. Would people REALLY
    do that???