Beginner with Silly Questions

[gigamanx]

Well, since this is my first post, I think I get 1 silly question, right?

I'm looking to buy a smaller sailboat (28') and all I know about boats and sailing is what I've been able to grab from youtube videos, forums, and books. Good luck to me right?

Ok, so one questions I can't seem to get answered is this. If I bought said boat, where do I put it? Can I anchor it in the bay, do I have to pay for a mooring or just stop and tie a rope to an empty post? Do I need a slip or a dock?

My location is West Palm Beach, FL. Peanut Island has sailboats sitting out in the water, I just don't know if they are technically anchored or moored AND if they are moored, do they pay? Or is there a free place to store my new purchase in the water?

Hope I'm making sense! Very nervous and excited at the same time.

[tommays]

Yes you will have to pay to keep it someplace and that and insurance should be the first thing you look into BEFORE BUYING as you may be a bit supprised about the cost

[Faster]

More local members will be able to give you specific information, but in general the boats you see "out in the bay" may be anchored or may be on moorings, the moorings may be private or may be rented.

As I understand it Florida has some sticky harbour rules here and there on anchoring and mooring, so there may well be restrictions. Even in our neck of the woods anchoring is restricted inside certain harbours.

The other option, generally more expensive and often hard to find is moorage in a marina. This option provides better protection, easier access and access to electricity and fresh water when you need it. At under 30' your odds of finding reasonable moorage is better than over 30 feet.

28 feet is a nice size for a starter - good luck.

[kredit]

I found and paid for a slip before I bought my first boat. In fact the slip was more important than any ole starter boat which are plentiful.

[chucklesR]

It's not a silly question, often storing a boat can cost more than the boat.

Each locality has rules that pertain to that locality. Federal law on anchoring and mooring basically says you can anchor anywhere you do not restrict navigation. Localities, particularly in florida, have been adding in more and more restrictions on that (limiting number of days, locations etc..)
Here is a link to start you off on your search:

BoatUS.com - Tom Neale's Cruising For You

here's the nice part of that (from Florida House Bill No. 7175, Statute 327.60 (2)
"However, local governmental authorities are prohibited from regulating the anchoring outside of such mooring fields of non-live-aboard vessels in navigation.”

Unfortunately, the only way to be sure is to ask your local water cops what the rules are, start with what ever florida calls the department of natural resources (folks with jurisdiction on the water).

Simply put, no you can't just tie off to a post someone, that post belongs to someone. If you just someone elses mooring ball they can charge you for it, and most do.

[kai34]

you also might want to check craigslist in your area for a cheap mooring rental.
-kai

[gigamanx]

Yes, mooring field. That sounds like what I see out in the water. There are a number of boats off singer island, lake worth, and over by peanut island. It always seems like the same ones are there all the time so I am assuming they are paying someone for the priviledge. The next most difficult task is where do I find the places that sell/rent the moorings? I tried online with little luck.

For the person who rented a slip...how did you go about finding one that wasn't more than your apartment rent?

[gigamanx]

Thanks so much for the helping hand Paul. Unfortunately, this system won't let me send PMs or emails until I have reached the 10 post milestone. Feel free to drop me a line

[sailingdog]

Of course, you could also look at trailerable boats, which could be stored in your driveway. 28' is starting to get to the top end limit of what is a reasonable boat to trailer though.

However, then you need to figure out where to launch and retrieve the boat. Having a boat in a slip or on a mooring makes it much easier to get away for a short afternoon sail, than would trailering—so you'd probably use the boat more if it is in a slip or on a mooring.

[LittleMissMagic]

You may want to find a local yacht club and start volunteering for regatta crew. Not only will you learn a lot about boat ownership but if you're good at making friends you might just get lucky and find someone who has dock space attached to their property that might be available for cheap.