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Who agrees, City maintained mooring fields are better than no oversight?

Beaufort South Carolina no longer a free anchor

25K views 203 replies 40 participants last post by  Multihullgirl 
#1 ·
The city will be Installing 16 professionally-managed moorings for transient boats in a 300 year old mooring field in the Beaufort River. The new moorings will replace the approximately 12 randomly placed anchoring and also will involve removal of what they call, dilapidated boats, which will "improve water quality" they say. This mooring field that has belonged to local citizens for over 300 years will be confiscated by the city as a means of revenue. Visiting sailors cruisers and yachtsmen of all type, will no longer be able to visit the city of Beaufort from the water without paying for a mooring. In years past as many as 500 to 1000 visitors come to the fine city of Beaufort South Carolina. They come for the charm of a small seaside village and the simplicity. They come because its quaint and has that non-commercial touristy cost feel of days gone by. they don't want to come were there are high cost usually associated with most waterside cities like Hilton head, Daytona, and Panama City Beach. They clam “This grant will help make our marina, and downtown Beaufort, a better choice for boaters as they travel the Intracoastal Waterway. If you have been following the new rules down in Florida then you will know how the boating community really feels about having to pay for city mandated "for your own good" improvements that the end user have to pay for.. The want an option to use your equipment and pay your fees, not a mandate. Us, sailors and cruisers are a tight-knit community and word spreads fast about marinas with good, or bad, service. It, like the parking meters in the downtown area of Beaufort, will show the City its mistakes by nickel and dime-ing the public to the point of going elsewhere, all in the name of profit generation. Great job guys. For the rest of you reading this, If you want to save the city from the hands of capitalist revenue mongers. Now is the time.
 
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#2 ·
I'm sorry to hear that. I had a nice vacation in Beaufort once. We rented one of the cabins in Hunting Island State Park and then made day trips around the area. Beautiful scenery and very friendly people.

I remember our first night, we had driven all day and were exhausted. We stopped at some little joint right by the entrance to the state park. We were famished and thirsty, but the kitchen was closed! The manager said "Oh, I can round you up a little something though." And that little something turned out to be a fish stew with fish his buddy caught that morning, salads, fresh bread, and I think some pie. He told us stories about the area while we drank and ate. That's hospitality!
 
#4 ·
I am a strong advocate of achoring rights; however, there are complex considerations. I used to enjoy anchoring in St. Augustine in the 1970's and '80's, but by the '90's I quit visiting as we cruised by because of the crowded high risk anchorage with dragging derelict boats. After the mooring field was developed I began returning to and enjoying St. Augustine. I'll agree that Beaufort, SC is not as crowded as St. Augustine just before the mooring field, but that is limited space near the dinghy landing for transient cruisers. When we anchor in Beaufort, now, we normally travel down to the cut between the two marshy shoals to the south and enter here from the south and there's also a lot of anchoring space further to the west toward the red marker. I assume that Beaufort's 16 moorings would take the best places that are closest to the dinghy dock. Some of us full time cruisers might find this worthwhile. For those that are not on the hook in one place for months at a time, there's little chance to come in an find a spot. I know that I had lost access to St. Augustine for many years because of the glut of derelict boats that never cruised and I've seen a number of these in Beaufort for many years.

So, there's my "devil's advocate" statement. Now, should the city make the mooring field larger than the need to accomodate an expected use by transient cruisers? Absolutely not! Any more moorings than needed to allow some transients to find a space is wrong! If the moorings are used for the purpose of blocking free anchoring it's an injustice! I don't think that there is a demand for more than eight to ten transient moorings. The town could consider fewer moorings with a limit of a three or four day low cost stay.
 
#5 ·
There used to be a restaurant just up the path from the marina that sold a "Bourbon Burger" ... beef marinated in bourbon with a bourbon/molasses sauce - heaven on earth ! In 2006 we went two days out of our way to get another bourbon burger ... no longer on the menu ! We haven't gone back since.

Back to the point. The entire Intra-Coastal Waterway is disappearing very quickly in fact we now call it the Intra-Condo Waterway. Enjoy what's left of it while you can.
 
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#6 ·
There will still be sufficient anchorage space on the Beaufort River, it will just be a bit longer dinghy ride. Having said that, Factory Creek has always been our preferred anchorage for decades. It is much closer to groceries, hardware, pharmacy and supplies. It's only a short walk across the bridge to downtown. Lady's Island Marina on Factory Creek is a great place with better protection and cheaper rates than downtown and they are very friendly to boats anchored out. Chuck
 
#14 ·
There will still be sufficient anchorage space on the Beaufort River,
That,s where there moving all the old worn-out boats to. So don't think you will find a spot there your next trip thru. They are taking them there and down by the battery creek by west of the dockside restaurant. you can still find a spot to anchor, Sure but not close to down tow..
Cheers
 
#7 ·
The problem is, that once the condo commandos get the mooring field idea in their head, in a particular place, we boaters are doomed.

They can go to the well over and over again, no matter how many times they lose, until they get what they want. Once they get the mooring fields in a location, it will be impossible to get rid of them, through.

And, with so many cities and counties going broke, it just makes it an easier sale for them.
 
#52 ·
And, with so many cities and counties going broke, it just makes it an easier sale for them.
That is the core of the argument, both for, and against.
the problem is, that we cruisers haven't been real good at presenting our side of the argument.
It is about the money. we need to show that we cruisers represent positive revenue- that in return for parking, we leave behind more dollars than are gained from mooring revenue.
We need stats and a spokesperson to go head to head with their stats.

Something simple to understand like "Each free mooring ball puts x dollars into the local economy every year. Each mooring ball with a price attached encourages that revenue to go elsewhere."
 
#8 ·
its all over the world...well manyparts...doing the same thing

a hotel plops up and they wont let you anchor...condos worse...morring balls are astronomical even nearby etc...

its all $$$ politics so enjoy while you can

down here the same soon they will charge 50 to anchor just like they charge $5 at therestaurant to park every day...even if you eat there etc...

its idiots with no sense of tourism that are in control so you get abuses of power...

bummer about south carolina...
 
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#9 ·
They tried that here in Washington in eagle harbor didn't work was in violation of the state department of natural resources and revised codes which are the state laws the best they were able to do was limit the anchoring out free to three days then you either go five miles or pay for their mooring for three days then move on min of five miles it did help to get rid of derelict vessels there were in the neighborhood of twenty that were deemed unsafe by the coastguard a couple off those were sailboats that had had their lead ballast removed by someone years before check into your local states laws the DNR usually has control of intertidal zones
 
#10 ·
...derelict vessels there were in the neighborhood of twenty that were deemed unsafe by the coastguard a couple off those were sailboats that had had their lead ballast removed by someone years before
Wait, what? I realize this doesn't really relate to the thread, but people take the lead keel off a boat, then re-float it?!?
 
#11 ·
Living in Savannah... I can only surmise Savannah and the county will be looking favorably at what Beaufort is doing and will undoubtly try to implement the same rules and conditions on transients coming to Savannah and charge them for moorage and anchoring... we have many anchorages along the waterways here in the multitude of coves and hammocks... won't be long... just as in Beaufort many beautiful places to sail and many cruisers come into the areas hoping to do tourism and trade... it will hurt the businesses that depend on the seasonal arrivals of these boaters. The governments have no idea of the damage till it is too late, they are trying as best they can to get revenue but not looking in the right direction.
 
#16 ·
Never found the anchorage in front of the town very pleasant. Too many boats, not enough swing room. We used to continue down the river and anchor between The South Beaufort Sandbar and the East Bank. A nice quiet spot and a short dink ride over to town. On weekends the local power boaters all hang out there (in the summer) and party. But it is sad that it's going the mooring field way.
 
#17 ·
The first time Nancie and I stopped in Beaufort, SC was in the summer of 1972. Nobody was anchored out and there were no moorings. There were a few of us tied to a face dock and the dockmasters office was the cinder block building that is now the men's shower. The rate was either five or ten cents per foot/day and that was the common fee from the Chesapeake to Florida. There's more people everrywhere and the costs have risen with inflation. Some places are so expensive and crowded that we will not return, like Nantucket!, but we will likely continue stopping at Beaufort, SC. We've anchored in Factory Creek, the marshes to the south, by the dinghy dock and stayed at the Downtown Marina to use their free courtesy car for a grocery run. Maybe we'll have an option for a mooring in the future. ....'maybe we'll just buy more groceries in Georgetown or Charleston.
 
#18 ·
Is the town dock there still $1 a foot or less? If so, I suppose the moorings will be cheap $5-10 a night. They were already charging for use of the town facilities. In that case It shouldn't be the end of the world (but it is still not my preference). If they try to charge $20 a night and raise the marina rates . . . well, good luck to them. Does anyone know how far you'd need to go for the next practical anchorage?
 
#20 ·
I agree with you completely, but.....

If you want to save the city from the hands of capitalist revenue mongers.
You mean socialist revenue mongers? Capitailism and revenue mongers don't genrally go hand in hand. I don'y know of to many wall streeters that enjoy paying taxes.

For those that would like to REALLY make thier voices heard..... write a letter, e-mail or phone to below.

City Council - City of Beaufort, South Carolina
 
#22 ·
I agree with you completely, but.....

You mean socialist revenue mongers? Capitailism and revenue mongers don't genrally go hand in hand. I don'y know of to many wall streeters that enjoy paying taxes.

For those that would like to REALLY make thier voices heard..... write a letter, e-mail or phone to below.

City Council - City of Beaufort, South Carolina
Good luck with that - please post all replies from the cityofbeaufort.org/citycouncil here, just for laughs.
The City of Beaufort is imposing a tax on sailors mooring in their city. They are calling it a "fee" because they cannot tax those without property or income in Beaufort.
Because we have no property or income in Beaufort we have no voice in the matter. Us sailors are what Beaufort or any city would embrace - a "mark - a stooge - a fool" to be taken for all they can get before you pass their borders. Call or write the city council all you want, they will not answer because your interests do not align with theirs.
Beaufort is following the quick money - the absolute definition of capitalism.
 
#24 · (Edited)
"ALEC" doesn't only focus on gun laws and minimum wages. Florida, and now Beaufort, wants to have people with money to spend stop, and perhaps spend more in town than people who don't. It's capitalism. If you don't like it, vote against it when you get the chance. As posted above, however, it's difficult to vote against if you don't live there. It's like the hotel room taxes that are used in many cities to pay for sports stadiums. The people who need hotel rooms aren't voters in those cities. Taxation without representation... where have I heard THAT before?
 
#27 ·
"ALEC" doesn't only focus on gun laws and minimum wages. Florida, and now Beaufort, wants to have people with money to spend stop, and perhaps spend more in town than people who don't. It's capitalism. If you don't like it, vote against it when you get the chance.
Great point, but most have no idea what/who ALEC is or what it means to our lives as citizens or sailors ----
 
#26 ·
"ALEC" doesn't only focus on gun laws and minimum wages. Florida, and now Beaufort, wants to have people with money to spend stop, and perhaps spend more in town than people who don't. It's capitalism. If you don't like it, vote against it when you get the chance. As posted above, however, it's difficult to vote against if you don't live there. It's like the hotel room taxes that are used in many cities to pay for sports stadiums. The people who need hotel rooms aren't voters in those cities. Taxation without representation... where have I heard THAT before?
That's called the redistribution of wealth.

Unfortunately your right. If your local why would you care? Doesn't effect your bottom line; for now. If you own a boat your rich right? What's a few dollars here and there?

This is Capitalism at it's finest........
Free Overnight RV Camping / Walmart Overnight Camping

Camping at walmart; what does this do for their bottom line?
 
#30 ·
In many people's mind, a boat seems to be considered more of a luxury item and believed that more $$ should be spent as part of this ownership through extra fees, taxes, etc. But at the same time, someone has to pay for some of the services that boaters take advantage of. Unless you live somewhere long enough to be involved with the local politics, cruisers are not going to have any say in the matter. So long as the facilities that are available are taken care of, a modest fee may not be too bad.
So true.

I had a conversation yesterday with a co-worker about the similarities and differences between RVing and cruising. They seem to get away with more, at times. A $80k Rv Rig (Truck & Trailer) is viewed as "Average american" and can slip place to place without have to re-register everytime they stop in a new state. Yet we stop in Florida for 3 months(?) and they want us to register and pay taxes.
Public perception of boaters i guess. I know i get called rich at work. Yet my boss has a week old $60k RV and he is a "redneck hillbilly" they say. Hmmm...

So long as the facilities that are available are taken care of, a modest fee may not be too bad.
$25 is better than $80 at the dock; and, waterfront real estate is VERY expensive. So i guess we get a bargain. It's just the nickel and dimeing that goes on. No money for them if you are securely anchored.
It's just another avenue for municpalities to generate "revenue" (taxes) and the harbor master gets to hire another worker. So actually they will most likely lose money. So.... the locals lose again.
 
#33 ·
#37 ·
$163K for 16 moorings. It's hard to know how many will be occupied at the proposed daily rate, but if you just figure that all of them will be 100% occupied at the proposed high end monthly rate of $250 / mo, that's $48000/yr in revenues. Operating costs are low but > 0. That's not a great ROI.

HOWEVER, if you only consider the $33K that Griffith ponied up, and assume a 50/50 revenue split with the city, the deal looks much better from his perspective. Heck, even at a 30/70 split it's a good deal.

This is not socialism, this is "crony capitalism" to use the kindest epithet. It's capitalists using the power of the state to transfer taxpayer wealth to fund their business, and then using the power of the state to enforce their monopoly.
 
#38 ·
I agree with you Jon, "BUT"
A key difference is that I’m a fulltime resident here in Beaufort. I pay tax here, State, county and city. I have to pay to park downtown, what next will the city have a walking tax for foot traffic in the city limits? I have only been sailing for 4 years now. I had rather anchor out over a paid slip. The ICW should not be fare game for any city or county to levy tax in the name of whatever they want to in the betterment of the community. Bill the viewer of the great esthetic view our sailboats give, Hell you don’t tax the painter you charge the art center participant, right? Do you really think all sailors are rich? Most of us gave up the rat race in life to get away from this kind on force. Most of us spent all of our money on the vessel and good ground tackle so we could anchor out and hold well to the bottom as we go to town and spend our money in your towns. Early estimates I read in the Beaufort Gazette were as much as $200 a week. The average “hook sailors” annual budget is only $15 to $18,000 a year. You put another $2500.00? Add 10% to your budget all at once. Can you still have the car payment? The trip to the mountains? The river is not the city of Beaufort, its ours.
Oh ! my Dinghy is a 8 foot rowing boat not an SUV. We are of humble means. So to anchor 1 1/2 to 2 miles away is just not quite fair. It would be good exercise...

LT
 
#39 ·
For me this just became a place I'm MORE likely to make a planned stop at since I would feel there is more chance of finding a safe spot once I arrive. I have a bigger anchor and like to use it, but not in the middle of a pack of unknowns in tight conditions.
 
#41 ·
2009, barefoot landing, bridge closed high winds,$75for overnight,no facilities, police inquiry.
Off the list.
2011,St.Augustine, FL. installed mooring fields virtually eliminating anchoring.
Off the list.
2012-mooring field Florida test areas.
Off the list.
2014- Beaufort, SC. installs mooring.
Off the list.
Glad I got the chance to visit those places b4 the current changes.
I'm glad I now have the experience,and knowledge to bypass these places and stop elsewhere or better yet go coastal.
These changes will continue to impact the way sailors traveling the east coast address their options of where and when they stop,and for what duration.
it's really nothing new,been going on forever.
now the fun will be finding the new spots!
 
#43 · (Edited)
I've learned. Just sail as fast as you can for the Bahamas. Florida and some of these other states, are making $300 for six months look like the bargain of the century. :D

Going where you're not wanted, has never been as much fun as going somewhere that you are wanted.
 
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