Anchoring versus visitor moorings

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Highland laddie

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I am putting together a case on behalf of the mooring association for visitor moorings in an attractive West coast Loch. Currently visitors to the loch are required to anchor and face a moderate dinghy ride to the village slip. The charted anchorage can take up to 10 boats comfortably and in the season it is more often than not full.
The proposed moorings would be nearer the village and would offer an alternative to the anchorage.
The cost of ground tackle plus contractor, insurance and annual inspection is considerable, and the purpose of this post is to try and get a feel for skippers preferences, given the option, to either anchor or moor.

Your thoughts, preferences and observations would be most welcome.

Thank you - Highland Laddie :confused:
 
4 Questions;

1) Where?
2) How much for a night?
3) How much shelter will the visitors moorings have?
4) Whats the holding like at anchor?
 
I've been equipped to anchor 'soundly' when on the West Coast and have done many times. However, were there to be reliably maintained Visitors' Moorings which were not commandeered by locals with their fishing boats and fish-cage servicing RIBs, then I would use them for preference. That preference would include using the local shop(s), pub(s) and facilities.
 
You say that the normal anchorage is further from the village, than the proposed moorings. Is this because the anchorage is more sheltered than the site at the village? or is it because the anchorage has better holding? If it's less sheltered, do you think people will use them?

Provided that the proposed moorings are not in a good anchoring spot, then feel free. I won't be using them, though.

You can see what happens in places like Castlebay, where the best corner to anchor in has been completely taken over by visitor moorings. I think there are now twelve, and it must be very rare for them all to be in use. Personally, I always prefer to anchor, as I then know what is holding the boat. I've seen moorings with weed ten feet long streaming off the buoys. When were they last looked at?

If your village really wants to encourage visiting yachts, then provide a good landing for dinghies, (possibly a pontoon, with a water supply), a shop, and a pub. Real boats have, and use, anchors.
 
usually i'd rather anchor, unless i'm hoping to head up a hill for a day etc, which isn't often, but depends where your loch is? :-)
 
One of the problems is the yacht owners who will use but not pay - you really need someone to shake them down in the evening or in the morning. You will need maintenance and insurance as well as the capital cost. If the village has an hotel and/or pub, they are the ones that will get the most pecuniary benefit and might cough up the start money - free parking for diners is always appreciated.
The "bluemoment" forum may be a better place to seek advice. "Water taxi" ????
 
Boathook said:
My first thought is how much for overnight and is it more sheltered than the anchorage. Also, would it be viable to offer a water taxi service ?
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£12 per night, the moorings will comprise 2 trots with 3 risers on each. Shelter as for the anchorage.
The anchorage is good holding ground, the moorings will be on a sloping bottom not suitable for anchoring.
There are no commercial boats in the Loch and there are separate moorings for local boats.
A pontoon will be in place by the beginning of March, with water and tender berths.
Several of the Assn members live close by so an informal rota should serve for collecting dues and offering a Highland welcome.
 
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You mention a new pontoon...is it Shieldaig, Loch Torridon?

Okay, I cheated and looked at your profile I noticed that you like Twisters!

As the moorings are away from the anchorage and there are no other visitor moorings in Loch Torridon, it could work and possible attract more people to the village. I would use them and pay.
 
I think most charge £10 per night. Places like Tobermory don't charge at all for a non-overnight stay, taking the enlightened view that most visitors to their moorings, or pontoons will be spending money in the village.
 
Highland laddie said:
£12 per night, the moorings will comprise 2 trots with 3 risers on each. Shelter as for the anchorage.
The anchorage is good holding ground, the moorings will be on a sloping bottom not suitable for anchoring..
Click to expand...

OK, I draw 2.3 metres, 50 foot in length and weigh close on 25 tons. Will the mooring be safe in a strong blow?



.
 
Highland laddie said:
I am putting together a case on behalf of the mooring association for visitor moorings in an attractive West coast Loch. Currently visitors to the loch are required to anchor and face a moderate dinghy ride to the village slip. The charted anchorage can take up to 10 boats comfortably and in the season it is more often than not full.
The proposed moorings would be nearer the village and would offer an alternative to the anchorage.
The cost of ground tackle plus contractor, insurance and annual inspection is considerable, and the purpose of this post is to try and get a feel for skippers preferences, given the option, to either anchor or moor.

Your thoughts, preferences and observations would be most welcome.

Thank you - Highland Laddie :confused:
Click to expand...

Provided the moorings have max weight on them, and cost no more than £15 per night I see no problem. Harbour master coming out to collect fee's and monitor use, great.
 
Maximum weight/length are issues to be considered in the proposal, and popular demand will no doubt play a part in the final mooring specification due to be discussed with the pontoon mooring contractor.
 
I generally prefer to use a mooring, providing that:
The shelter is good,
The moorings are regularly maintained,
There is pick-up buoy,
They are not two close together,
They are clearly marked with a maximum boat size.

I'd also add that boats are in general getting bigger, so don't under size the moorings, and that a pick-up buoy is really important, it's much harder to get a line through a shackle when single or short handed, especially on a boat with high free-board.
Don't let local boats monopolise the moorings, it just puts people off.
We enjoy going ashore to walk, going to the local shop (if there is one) and have a meal in the local pub/restaurant, and I don't mind paying a reasonable fee for an overnight stay on a mooring.
 
[QUOTE Also, would it be viable to offer a water taxi service ?[/QUOTE]

Would you also like a boat coming round selling fish and chips and a floating TESCO food delivery service :rolleyes:

Edited:
Sorry! no need for sarcasm. I am all for the idea of new visitor moorings given the obvious provisos as I prefer to use moorings over anchoring.
The more I think of it, the occasional visit by a fish and chip boat might be appreciated.
 
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Trop Cher said:
You mention a new pontoon...is it Shieldaig, Loch Torridon?

Okay, I cheated and looked at your profile I noticed that you like Twisters!

As the moorings are away from the anchorage and there are no other visitor moorings in Loch Torridon, it could work and possible attract more people to the village. I would use them and pay.
Click to expand...

Well done!
 
If these proposed moorings are where I think they are, they will be exposed to NW winds.
One of my objections to the provision of moorings is that inexperienced people see that there are moorings at "x", and say, "Right, we'll go to x", without ever considering the possible conditions there. Last summer, boats which had done just that, got into trouble at Castlebay, and Stein, and had to be assisted by lifeboats. In both these cases, the moorings, while maybe strong enough, were inappropriate for the conditions. In both cases there were sheltered anchorages less than a mile away.
Sorry, but IMHO the provision of visitors moorings is just another instance of the dumbing down of our abilities to fend for ourselves.
 
Several thoughts-Visitors moorings in Broadford Bay lasted one season due to high levels of corrosion.
Similarly a mooring I have that was put in six years ago is now U/S
If you can find someone to drop blocks far better with multiplait seasteel risers with mooring strop on end and no swivels as the multiplait can handle the twisting.
Watch this space as I am in process of trying to find someone to do this in Inner Sound area
Arisaig Marine uses this system very sucessfully in Arisaig Bay.
Last but not least even if properly laid insured and inspected moorings can fail
 
I use visitors moorings for convenience but will anchor if there is any doubt. I also anchor far more than I use visitors moorings by a significant factor and row or motor the dinghy to the landing for the pub or restaurant which I don't see as an inconvenience, its just the way of things. My expectation of visitor moorings on the Firth of Clyde is that they will be knackered or looked knackered and as such I wont use them. I would recommend that a disc / label with the service date and contractor is added to each mooring, replaced at each service to give me confidence. The boat is 10,000 kg at 41 ft. I don't mind paying for the use of visitors mooring providing that the person taking the money is familiar with the mooring. I don't like handing money over to someone who has been tasked with collection but cant answer basic questions like weight limit and service date. I also expect a receipt for the mooring fee, something that is not always possible either because an honesty box is in place or the person is unable to issue a receipt (which they are obliged to do if taking money for a service).

In summary - if you just stick a load of moorings down and limit the level of service to that, then in a few years word will get around that it's a pile of poop and the money grabbing locals want cash for nothing. If you provide a genuine service that addresses the users expectations then in a couple of years word will get around that the service is really good, reliable and trustworthy. There are a few keich moorings in Scotland and bad reputations associated with them. Personally I think it's a good idea and you should do it, they will get used but don't take it for granted. Keeping the anchorage free of moorings is a must.
 
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