[Barquito]

Other that rowing out to the mooring (which is kind-of fun), are there any downsides to keeping a boat on a mooring? Is the boat at any more risk on a mooring from storms? Is there any concern with leaving a boat on a mooring for up to weeks at a time without a visit?

 

[tommays]

I have done the mooring and slip on my J24 which has NO automatic bilge pump in several locations on Long Island and prefer the mooring as even after a monsoon its rare for more than 5 gallons of water to be in the boat .

The big down side to the mooring here is its a PITA to clean the boat BUT on the bright side it rained a LOT this year and i was able to scrub and let nature rinse the crap out of it several times a week

When i had the boat in the slip i always had to be real carefull about how the boat was tied up and protected from dock rash

 

[RealityCheck]

It really depends on the location, quality of the mooring/ slip and what your use is. It is typically easier to access a boat from the slip, but cost are typically higher.

Both have a potential for damage to elements and other boaters and simple theft. Location and security have wide variations.

I personally avoid slips when ever possible and only go into one on very rare occasions preferring mooring and anchoring when I'm to be aboard.

 

[JohnRPollard]

I would generally agree with tommays.

Keeping up with the scrubbing is inconvenient.

But if the mooring is well sheltered, the boat is probably safest from damage there. While it's good to check-up on it as often as possible, there should be no worries about leaving it for weeks at a time, either.

It is a hassle at times to have to row out and back to the boat (assuming no launch service). Not so much when you're heading out or coming back from a sail, but especially when you are visiting to work on the boat. If you only have a few hours to get a job done, it's much easier to be able to step on and off the boat at the dock.

But one nice advantage is that sometimes the mooring is a destination unto itself. If the wind is blowing stink or you just feel like staying put -- you're already there.

 

[CapnMikel]

Well, if you are confident in the mooring setup then go for the mooring. You will need a place to park & legally launch your tender from also. But if money is not the issue I'd prefer the slip. Water, electricity, security & ease of getting to her.
Besides, marina life can be fun ;D because there are always characters around.
Plus you get to know other boaters & learn from them.
edit: I say this as I'm on a mooring ball waiting to get into a marina, lol

 

[PaulinVictoria]

What are the restrictions on making your own mooring? I'm fortunate enough to live on the oceanfront and there are a few (rarely used) boats moored in the bay. It would certainly reduce my sailing budget, well OK, allow me to buy more toys, if I could moor up for free and just get a dingy to get out to her.

 

[sailortjk1]

I agree with a lot of the comments already made.<O</O
I will tell you that, just last week our area experienced Storm conditions for two days straight with sustained winds in the 40's and gusts as high as 50+ knots. (This storm has been well documented in these threads by various posters). When it was all said and done I had a Homer Simpson moment and went Doh! I could have put the boat on one of the empty moorings. I checked with the principals at the marina and they said it would have been fine to move to an empty can. As long as the mooring can is properly set and rated to the correct displacement of your vessel and if you have proper swing room along with a properly sized swivel and pendant, I always feel the boat is safer on a mooring can in extreme conditions.
And... It's always easier to get on and off a mooring when the wind is blowing like stink, especially short handed.<O</O
<O</O

If the wind is blowing stink

 

[PCP777]

I like being in a slip for a variety of reasons:

Easy to get on and off the boat for maintenance, loading heavy provisions (beer) etc.

There's a vibrant community on our docks, I know everyone around me and they help watch my boat in my absence.

In the summer I run a window AC unit through the forward hatch, I like having free water and electricity. Having a hose is great for scrubbing the boat down.

Easy access from boat to bathrooms, showers and pool as well as marina store

If I forget something in my car I don't have to row back.

More protected from waves etc. If you set the right dock lines and spring lines, you're going to be fine. This will never happen to my boat:

 

[baboon]

Mooring may have an advantage as relates to reduced damage compared to a dock, and I do like the idea of catching a can in bad weather when short handed. The biggest problem seems to be other boaters. If your neighbors are not good with the chaffing gear, or do a bad job anchoring, they can float or drag into you. This happens with some frequency durring storms when one boat may get loose and damage several others. Last time I was at a very secure park mooring a power boat anchored way to close, used almost no scope, and left his craft to camp on shore for the night. I had a pretty restless night, although in the end he did not drag.

 

[tommays]

PCP

while that sounds nice around here many a dock has floated off its pilings in a storm surge and took the boats still nicely up on the same land


The worst hit my boat ever took was on dry land in the cradle when a storm surge started floating things around the boat yard

 

[PCP777]

PCP

while that sounds nice around here many a dock has floated off its pilings in a storm surge and took the boats still nicely up on the same land

The worst hit my boat ever took was on dry land in the cradle when a storm surge started floating things around the boat yard

Yeah, I guess I speak from the perspective of a lake where we don't have storm surge.

On the east coast we never had problems in slips with any of my dad's boats on Long island Sound. People talk about dock damage but if you tie your boat up properly with good lines that should really never happen.

I still vote, 100% dock/slip.

 

[fordo]

I have a mooring and I like it for the quiet and privacy it provides. Obviously, a slip is more convenient for access to land, supplies, electricity, showers, etc. but it is nice to have cocktails and dinner and sleep on the boat without your neighbor's music, halyard slap, air conditioner etc. You pays your money and takes your choice...

 

[sailortjk1]

if you tie your boat up properly with good lines that should really never happen.

Stuff does happen, even when all precautions are taken, it is possible.<O</O
Like I said, the storms that passed through our area last week have been well reported. Our marina is just inside the main channel that leads to the lake. From my slip to the lake is probably about a 1/4 mile. The channel is open to the West, we had 15 foot seas rolling right down the main channel and all that energy was dispersed in the little lake.<O</O
The marina staff was walking the docks for two days straight.<O</O
My boat was tied with 12 lines in 14 different places.<O</O
When I drove up to check on things, the boat was just barley staying off the dock and the center pilling, we were lucky. I snugged things up and said a prayer to St. Elmo.
Lines stretch, and fray.<O</O
Lots of dock lines snapped, it does happen.<O</O
The point being, on a can, there is nothing to hit in extreme conditions.
<O></O>

 

[PCP777]

Stuff does happen, even when all precautions are taken, it is possible.<O</O
Like I said, the storms that passed through our area last week have been well reported. Our marina is just inside the main channel that leads to the lake. From my slip to the lake is probably about a 1/4 mile. The channel is open to the West, we had 15 foot seas rolling right down the main channel and all that energy was dispersed in the little lake.<O</O
The marina staff was walking the docks for two days straight.<O</O
My boat was tied with 12 lines in 14 different places.<O</O
When I drove up to check on things, the boat was just barley staying off the dock and the center pilling, we were lucky. I snugged things up and said a prayer to St. Elmo.
Lines stretch, and fray.<O</O
Lots of dock lines snapped, it does happen.<O</O
The point being, on a can, there is nothing to hit in extreme conditions.
<O></O>

Wow, that sounds like a monster storm.

Maybe nothing for you to hit, but if the mooring fails or some else fails and runs into you....

Still probably pretty rare.

I like the convenience of a dock. I'm not even sure if there are any moorings on our lake.

 

[sailortjk1]

Maybe nothing for you to hit, but if the mooring fails or some else fails and runs into you....

I agree, there is still that possiblity.
and yes, this was an extreme example, but the first thought that came to mind was I would be better off further up the lake at anchor in a bay, than the next thought was.. there are empty mooring cans off our docks, I should have moved the boat to one of those.

BTW, PCP for a more detailed look at what I am referring to, go here...http://www.sailnet.com/forums/general-discussion-sailing-related/58622-lake-michigan-storm.html

 

[tommays]

Go figure just got home and theirs a high wind advisory 50 MPH tomorrow

 

[Barquito]

Thanks for the input everyone. I think my cheap-ness will overcome my lazy-ness, and I will go for a mooring next year rather than a slip.

 

[johnshasteen]

Down here on the beautiful Texas Gulf Coast, there very few moorings - most boats are in marinas in slips. The slips come two ways, floating docks or fixed piers. After a few hurricanes, most of the marinas with floating docks, increased the height of their bollards to keep them put in a 15-20 foot storm tide. If you are in a fixed pier slip, you can add tide risers to the bollards for a few bucks and a Saturday afternoon.
In the heat of the summer, it's nice to be in a slip with the 12K BTU AC cranking.

 

[scottyt]

my storm thought with a mooring is if a boat does break loose and hit ya, it will typically rub then pass by. in a slip if a boat comes and hits ya normally it stays in your slip with you and beats ya up.

 

[Omatako]

We had our boat in a marina - it cost us $750 a month. We now have a swing mooring up the coast that costs us $65 a month.

Our travel time there is little different to what it was getting to the marina. We have to dingy out to the boat so our planning has to be better because we can't duck back and forth.

But as another post said, sometimes the mooring is a destination in itself. We have had occasions where we went to the boat to sleep over Friday night and go sailing the next morning. The weather turned nasty so we just stayed on our mooring which is in a delightful bay with good protection and great local fishing.

This is where we are.

I have no problems with our new choice.