The right way to find a mooring?

[Thepipdoc]

I’m going to ask what is possibly a stupid question but I’m going to ask it anyway............!
Is there a “correct” procedure that should be followed when entering a new harbour or port and looking for a mooring as a visitor?
I’m new to boating and having recently bought a Sea Ray 270 I’m somewhat nervous that I do the right thing and don’t annoy fellow visitors by flouting protocol.
I recently took a 2 day RYA helmsmans course and whilst I asked what seemed like a million questions, I don’t recall asking my instructor this.
Thanks in advance.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Depends on where you are sailing. Here on the East Coast it is common to pick up a vacant mooring, if the strop is weedy the chances are that it has not been used for a while. If the owner returns you immediately vacate it. Sometimes the harbour master will see you and ask for payment. This has only happened to me a couple of times. When there is a dinghy attached the owner is returning. Or speak to the harbour master and ask if there is a spare mooring. Look in Reads Almanac and you'll see all the info regarding harbour masters etc. Good Luck.

 

[hlb]

There is no set proceedure. Most marinas answer to chanel 80 but not all. Hm's are usually on 12 or 14. A pilot book or almanac is vital. Many places are. First come first served. Mostly with HM moorings, along side, will be, just find a space, buoys may be coded by colour or written on. Visitors. Marinas like a call first, then direct you. Many HM's are not on duty all the time. You can usually work it out as you enter the place, it either looks organised or not. If in doubt just carry on.

 

[Tidnock]

I’m going to ask what is possibly a stupid question but I’m going to ask it anyway............!
Is there a “correct” procedure that should be followed when entering a new harbour or port and looking for a mooring as a visitor?
I’m new to boating and having recently bought a Sea Ray 270 I’m somewhat nervous that I do the right thing and don’t annoy fellow visitors by flouting protocol.
I recently took a 2 day RYA helmsmans course and whilst I asked what seemed like a million questions, I don’t recall asking my instructor this.
Thanks in advance.

There would be an element of protocol and accepted procedure if you are rafted, perhaps you should study this or one of the more experienced posters could advise.

 

[oldgit]

A good place to start.

Is post on here.The forum reaches all sorts of little nooks and crannies around the coast and some local info is very useful after a long drag along the coast knowing that you will have somewhere to park without wondering if you are going to be turfed out at 2am in the morning.
Round here there are all sorts of moorings from top end marinas,small boatyards,clubs and rusty commercial bouys up creeks that could give you a decent nights worry free kip.
Most of the east coast has loads of space for anchoring up tidal creeks etc where you will not be bothered for money or by anybody for that matter,suspect the south and west coast are a different matter due to too many boats and not enough useable mooring space.

 

[Solitaire]

VHF channel the harbour master can be contacted on (usually 80).

Incorrect, Ch 80 is predominately commercial marinas only - try calling a local HM on 80 and you will get no response. For example Hamble HM - call sign Hamble Harbour Radio is on Ch 68, Cowes HM is 69. Ch 11,12 and 14 are referred to as port operations channels so for example in the Solent, QHM Portsmouth on Ch 11, Southampton VTS' main channel is 12, with listening watch on 14 and also where the hourly ship movements in Southampton water are given out. If you go into Poole, then Poole Harbour Control is Ch14.

For local VHF channels for HM etc it's best to refer to the almanac, which will also provide you with information on where you can moor, anchor etc.

 

[Solitaire]

...so I know if you enter a River with a number of Marinas the actual Rivers Harbour Master may not be on Ch80, but if you want a berth in a Marina then you might just get lucky!...which I think the OP was wanting to know...

That's not my point - You don't call the Harbour Master on Ch 80 and expect a response. Read what I said - all main marinas operate on ch 80. So your posting of all marinas in the Solent area showing Ch 80 is no surprise!

If you are going to post advice then make sure what you are saying is not misleading. Harbour Masters are not marinas! "Might get lucky" is rather a hit and miss statement. Protocol dictates that you call the marina you want to go into by name, not simply "shout" out on ch80 asking for the Harbour Master or is there anybody there wanting to offer me a berth!

The OP actually asked about protocol of finding a mooring. For all we know he may not even have a VHF or for that matter an operators certificate.

 

[Observer]

There is no set proceedure. Most marinas answer to chanel 80 but not all. Hm's are usually on 12 or 14. A pilot book or almanac is vital. Many places are. First come first served. Mostly with HM moorings, along side, will be, just find a space, buoys may be coded by colour or written on. Visitors. Marinas like a call first, then direct you. Many HM's are not on duty all the time. You can usually work it out as you enter the place, it either looks organised or not. If in doubt just carry on.

Good, practical advice imo. If you can't get explicit direction from a book or by VHF, nobody will get upset if you berth or pick up a mooring with reasonable consideration for others, then sort out the formalities ashore. Worst that can happen is you'll be asked to move to another spot. It's very unlikely, in ordinary circumstances, you'll be turned away.

 

[elton]

Handy list of harbour and marina channels attached.

 

[hlb]

all main marinas operate on ch 80.
If you are going to post advice then make sure what you are saying is not misleading.
...................................................................................................
Holyhead marina is on 37, as is Conwy water taxi. Holyhead sailing club is on chanel 80.

 

[Firefly625]

That's not my point - You don't call the Harbour Master on Ch 80 and expect a response. Read what I said - all main marinas operate on ch 80. So your posting of all marinas in the Solent area showing Ch 80 is no surprise!

If you are going to post advice then make sure what you are saying is not misleading. Harbour Masters are not marinas! "Might get lucky" is rather a hit and miss statement. Protocol dictates that you call the marina you want to go into by name, not simply "shout" out on ch80 asking for the Harbour Master or is there anybody there wanting to offer me a berth!

The OP actually asked about protocol of finding a mooring. For all we know he may not even have a VHF or for that matter an operators certificate.

OK David. I have assumed that the OP, having done a RYA helmsman course will also have or will be doing a VHF course.. No where did I suggest as you did a "shout out" on Ch 80 will magically get you a berth. But, as my original post on this thread suggested to the OP getting himself a pilot book or harbours in his area (still not sure where that is) but this would guide him to the harbour he wanted to "visit". Now, if the visitors berths in that harbour, for example say Yarmouth are controlled by the Harbour Master then the pilot book would tell you what VHF ch they would be reached on, as you most correctly say that will not be on Ch80, however on the e.g. I have used Yarmouth HM will undoubtedly come and meet you at the entrance and give you a berth & directions to it there... as you will well know. However if you were a visitor to the Hamble, and wanted to stay in a marina then (I'm not going to do a transcript!!) but you would call the Marina (yes, by name.... I know you will be tempted just to "shout out"..) on Ch80 and they would let you know if they have a free berth and where it is... (I think that is what the OP was asking.)... calling Hamble river HM would NOT succeed in finding the OP a berth in a Marina... so still not sure why you believe my posts were misleading....

You mentioned all correct contacts for Soton HM and VTS etc etc... however unless the OP is docking a ship then that advice is...err not that helpful... If he is visiting rivers... harbours then my posts... which I have now deleted as they obviously caused offence or as claimed were misleading... were meant to be slightly more helpful..... It wouldn't be much good the OP calling Southampton HM to find a berth now would it....

Hey ho... maybe that's why I am not a teacher...... still not sure on the aggressive responses though.... very odd

 

[TargaLout]

What is real world stuff is setting out for a trip without an almanac. Essential boating gear particularly if you are going to go into marinas harbours etc that you have not visited before. I for one am fed up by the number of boats that just arrive at a marina and start looking around for a berth while they are drifting around and about potentially causing a problem because they didn't know what channel to call the marina on or didn't even have a vhf. So get an almanac and then you will know all there is to know about the berth/mooring places you want to visit.

 

[[2068]]

Assumes that the marina is actually listening on the correct channel.

(Quote from busy Cowes marina after we had drifted around in the tide like numpties for several minutes: "We did think it was a bit quiet this morning" as it turns out they were listening to the wrong channel)

 

[hlb]

This is all getting a bit silly.

There is also the presumption that every one is in the Solent boating pond. Mostly by folk that have never been to the world beond.

What the book says and what happens in practice can be quite different. The call on the radio is quite often just not answered, many harbours do not have an HM on call every day.

Usually you can get a feel about the local custom, asking around helps. In N Wales it's usual to just find the nearest empty Buoy and hook up to that.

in the Helford it's any green buoy, whilst in Falmouth town marina, you just find an empty space.

Weymouth is usually, raft up where you can, the HM may get involved or not.

 

[Firefly625]

What is real world stuff is setting out for a trip without an almanac. Essential boating gear particularly if you are going to go into marinas harbours etc that you have not visited before. I for one am fed up by the number of boats that just arrive at a marina and start looking around for a berth while they are drifting around and about potentially causing a problem because they didn't know what channel to call the marina on or didn't even have a vhf. So get an almanac and then you will know all there is to know about the berth/mooring places you want to visit.

Totally agree.... had a chap in a Sealine FB shout across at me when we were in Mercury where he should berth... I obviously looked official! I did feel like shouting back that Mercury was full..... but instead I told him to call dockmaster on Ch80

 

[Firefly625]

This is all getting a bit silly.

There is also the presumption that every one is in the Solent boating pond. Mostly by folk that have never been to the world beond.

What the book says and what happens in practice can be quite different. The call on the radio is quite often just not answered, many harbours do not have an HM on call every day.

Usually you can get a feel about the local custom, asking around helps. In N Wales it's usual to just find the nearest empty Buoy and hook up to that.

in the Helford it's any green buoy, whilst in Falmouth town marina, you just find an empty space.

Weymouth is usually, raft up where you can, the HM may get involved or not.

Totally agree... I'm usually quite silly.. It does sooo depend on where the op is... he seems to have got board and gone away, not surprised!! my comments were solent based where there are a plethora of Marinas so advice was so based. As you say, Wales, the SW etc is a more relaxed affair and your advice is of course spot on.

 

[Firefly625]

Assumes that the marina is actually listening on the correct channel.

(Quote from busy Cowes marina after we had drifted around in the tide like numpties for several minutes: "We did think it was a bit quiet this morning" as it turns out they were listening to the wrong channel)

Oh..., yes that would help the situation..... but in those situations you just have to wait like a numpty as its so difficult to know where to berth when almost all Solent marinas do not have dedicated visitors spaces...

 

[carlton]

Handy list of harbour and marina channels attached.

Handy that - cheers Cap'n S.