slips, moorings, anchorages for living aboard/cruising in hawaii

North253 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-22-2009

So Ive Found a boat in hawaii that im more than likely going to buy mainly because i want a boat and the girlfriend wants to go to hawaii for an extended period, and now i need to find a mooring/slip for it for at least four months from april to july probably a little bit longer, from what i have heard and found out so far is that this can be a little bit challenging, I was wondering what wisdom or direct knowledge anybody had that could possibly help me out, Thanks.

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 02-22-2009

I'd recommend you read the Boat Inspection Trip Tips thread I started and use it to determine if the boat is worth going forward on.

Getting a slip is going to be a neat trick, as I understand they're in scarce supply there. Can you get the slip the boat is currently in, if it is in one. Also, are you looking to sail the boat back or sell it at the end of the four months. If you're looking to sail it back, is it capable of making the trip? If you're going to sell it, are you ready to absorb the costs of buying it, storing it there, using it, and then selling it, which may be fairly substantial in the current economic climate???

North253 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-22-2009

the boat isn't the issue, i hve pretty much covered my bases on that aspect. I just need to find a place to put said boat at the end of april/beginning of may. The scarciety is one problem compounded by the fact that i have to set it up from the mainland

southernwind · #4 (**permalink**) 03-03-2009

if it helps one thing i do is to look on Google earth and see the mooring fields and anchorages, find one that looks good and ask about it you will get some better answers.

i was looking around Hilo and seen some good anchorages that i was thinking about.

OrioninHawaii · #5 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009

Where in Hawaii? On Oahu which is where I live you can get a slip at KoOlina but it's pricey- it took us 5+years on a waiting list to get into Ala Wai small boat harbor.
Are you military? if so there are several inexpensive options- but again all with waiting lists if you are buying a boat in Hawaii already where is it now? There are situations where a person buys half the boat and becomes a co-owner just to keep a slip...
You can be a transient for 4 months- you need to contact the boat harbor
and see what the availability is.
This year is problematic as the transpac will be held and slips during that time (july) will be at a premium...
you are welcome to PM me and ask specifics.

OrioninHawaii · #6 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009

The problem with anchorages here is depending on the time of year they are not useable-
Radio Bay in Hilo is useable pretty much all year round but you can't stay at anchor more than 90 days-and there is still a fee- there's really no where else on the big island you can go to easily all year round- After 90 days you have to move and sailing between the islands is demanding-
There are more options on Oahu- you can use one of the mooring balls in Kaneohe Bay depending on the size of your boat you can go transient from anchorage to harbor for a few months but then what do you do?
You kind of have to have a long term plan or you will be stuck...

creedence623 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009

Try Kehi Lagoon, or La Marinana (right next door to Kehi). These are usually your bet bets unless you are a DoD ID card holder and can get into Pearl Harbor. There are also a number of balls to moor up to around Kehi. Ala Wai is not going to work out for you, and you'd be lucky to get a transient slip there, though it couldn't hurt to ask. Ko Olina is nice, but get ready to pay. If the boat is small enough, you may consider Waianai Small Boat harbor. 10 year waiting list for Haleiwa on the North Shore so I would bother with them. Finding a slip or mooring is possible, just takes a little looking into.

Lack of moorage is the biggest hurdle for potential boat buyers in Hawaii. The state is HORRIBLE at allocating their funds so they let their marina fall to pieces. Waste of a natural resource for the state, but you'll soon see why things are so mis-managed after talking to a couple DLNR folks there. Best of luck!

OrioninHawaii · #8 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009

Keehi marine center is another possibility- although it's almost as expensive as KoOlina - but supposedly they have openings-

csaintg · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011

Bump,

I would like to see an update to this thread. Has the economy affected the boat world in Hawaii as much as it has here in the mainland?

OrioninHawaii · #10 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011

Yes it has. Plus the recent tsunami destroyed many docks and damaged boats. Orion was stuck under her dock and got her stanchions bent like pretzels. Otherwise came through intact.
The earthquake came when I had just got on a plane to the mainland.
Husband had only enough time to throw the cats in the car, grab the important papers and put more lines on. We were fortunate that we had as little damage as we did. Less than $5,000.
It will be years before the docks are repaired.