Burning Question | Are public mooring buoys safe?
Apr 29 2011 in Burning questions by Marty McOmber
We wrote a story this week about the large number of mooring buoys that have disappeared from Blake Island recently. Although the cause of the problem isn’t known, it does raise an interesting question — just how safe are public mooring buoys?
Tell us what you think in the poll below. Then share why you feel the way you do about public mooring buoys in the comments sections below.
Scott said on June 8, 2011
Last year at Skagit Is., I tied up to one of two bouys, went down below to cook lunch and nap. About an hour later I woke to ‘thumping’ that was not the typical bumping into the bouy that occurs with my vessel. So I go investigate: the bouy is below the waterline with just the pointy top banging on my hull! I immediately started the motor and went over to the other buoy which was fine. I suspect (like the person above) that the anchoring chain was wrapped around something submerged. Within an hour, the bout was completely submerged, also not a good thing if someone came cruising through and were to hit it, could easily penetrate a hull.
Tumbleweed said on June 7, 2011
I was on a buoy off the west side of Blake last weekend. It held all night through shifting but light winds. The next morning as we were about ready to leave anyway we found ourselves slowly drifting through a fleet of anchored boats. My boat weighs only 6000 lbs and is well within what you’d hope one of the buoys could hold. I suspect a cable gave way since we couldn’t possibly drag either of the concrete blocks they use in light conditions like that. I’ll continue to use the buoys when available but I’ll be setting the anchor alarm! I hope the state will inspect these once in a while and likewise I hope the big boats stay off of them at all times per the buoy instructions.
Jack Tar said on May 3, 2011
The disappearing buoys are brought to you by the Department of Natural Resources. They have been removing none documented buoys in several location including Burton / quartermaster Harbor.
DNR has lost over 50 million dollars in funds during budget re alignments from the fed. In an effort to recoup their loss I think they expect people to file for legal buoys and pay a yearly fee.
John P. Reed, Sr. said on May 2, 2011
I Know what my ground tackle is and I have seen two mooring buoys on the beach, one of which had a boat attached at the time. If for some reason I have to tie to a buoy I put a REAL strong pull on it and set my GPS anchor alarm.
Linda said on May 2, 2011
Probably have been too trusting. Believed buoys were regularly checked and ‘guaranteed.’ What is going on in this world!! Is nothing for sure for us poor naive folks?
Andre said on May 2, 2011
I used to think they were safe.. Now, not so much anymore. I’ll still always tie to them because it’s easier then anchoring, but – if I’m going to sleep on one, I’ll set the anchor alarm on the GPS overnight just as I would if I were anchoring.
Tim Flanagan said on April 30, 2011
For my little C-Dory, mooring buoys are almost totally safe. BUT, I had a scary experience at a mooring buoy three years ago that opened my eyes to the various ways they can fall short. Here’s an excerpt from my report on the incident:
We took a cruise up to Port Townsend last weekend, and it was decided that my younger daughter and I would stay out at Fort Worden State Park, tied up to one of the mooring buoys. These mooring buoys have a reputation for being less than comfortable due to their exposed location just inside Point Wilson. But the weather report was favorable, and there was a big fishing derby going on, which was going to make the wharf near the boat ramp a madhouse at about sunrise, so we decided to tie up to a mooring buoy and stay out of the way. Specifically, we decided to tie up to the buoy farthest from the wharf.
We made up to the mooring buoy just fine at about 21:30 Saturday evening. Low tide, a -1.1, had been at 18:15. This is important, because at 02:30 Sunday morning, when I awoke to take a look around, the mooring buoy was gone!
To read the entire post, go here: http://www.navagear.com/2008/02/24/cruising-wiki-shoot-out-1/
Mike said on April 29, 2011
It’s impossible to know.
I’d much rather trust in my own ground tackle especially if I’m stopping overnight.
But that becomes a problem if someone has laid mooring chains all over the sea bed.
Rob Morton said on April 29, 2011
We sometimes anchor out and sometimes pickup a mooring. It often depends on the holding ground. At Jones Island I’ll take a mooring anytime over anchoring. Spencer spit with good holding I’ll anchor. You like to think the moorings are inspected and that the rating for the size of boat has some cushion. This will make you think about it more, probably at 3:00 AM when the wind kicks up.
Rob
Chickenbone said on April 29, 2011
I prefer to anchor on my own gear. And almost always do.
Public buoys are installed by people that don’t know you or your boat. They most likely do want to know or care either.