Mooring basics

[bobkatfly]

I'm using a marina mooring this season for the first time. Would anyone be able to give me some tips with approach, pickup, dingy use, etc?
The dingy is marina supplied so I'd be approaching both the ball and dingy coming back in. I'll also be doing this single-handedly as I'll be dropping off passengers at a nearby dock first. I have a pickup pole that I expect to use and the boat is a 21 ft I/O bowrider.
I think the mooring is about 20 - 30 ft off shore. Not sure of the depth but it's probably less than 10 ft.
I expect to get some instruction from the marina but interested in what some experienced users have to say.
TIA
Bob

[BillTex]

Wear your PFD when transitioning between boats.

[8gv]

What I do:

Leaving...

I have a mooring "mast buoy" which has a stick on the top and a weight on the bottom.

Attached to it is a one foot long loop of 1/4" line which goes through the hole in the weight.

On that loop I have a large, almost the size of my hand, carabiner.

When it is time to leave the mooring I disconnect the bull snaps from my boat's bow ring and clip the carabiner through them.

I drop the buoy in the water and motor off.

Returning...

I approach the mooring going up wind.

That makes it easier to control the boat in close quarters with the other boats and moorings.

Using ZERO throttle, I idle up to the buoy being careful not to over shoot it.

Remember that the boat will still be moving after you shift it into neutral.

Grab the mast on the buoy.

Haul up the mooring lines and put the loop of 1/4" line over a cleat to stop the boat from moving.

Put one bull snap on the bow ring, unclip the carabiner and stow the buoy and then clip the second bull snap.

[camp guy]

Your question will produce several answers, but I suggest that you have answered your own question by saying "you expect some help from the marina". Who else will be as familiar with mooring at that marina ?! Your personal expertise will come with practice, and mooring isn't rocket science, it is a matter of knowing what you want to do in any particular situation. Watch others as they perform their mooring activities. It is excellent advice to wear your PFD when transferring from one boat to another, and when hanging over the side to pick up the mooring mast. Mooring is a very important part of boating, and, like activities while boating, takes time and practice to perfect the technique that works for you. Good Luck.

[WinterHarborGuy]

Mast buoy is an absolute “must”.

Does your marina have a bird problem? If so, you will need to be prepared…

[Cobalt 25]

All good information.

Also very handy in your situation is a boat hook. It is a must when I am approaching a mooring ball, even if there is a pole attached to it.

[bobkatfly]

Originally Posted by WinterHarborGuy

Mast buoy is an absolute “must”.

Does your marina have a bird problem? If so, you will need to be prepared…

By investing in a lot of cleaning products? A mechanical owl? What do you do?

[WinterHarborGuy]

Originally Posted by bobkatfly

By investing in a lot of cleaning products? A mechanical owl? What do you do?

I was on a mooring in Wolfeboro for two or three years and we had a big bird problem. First thing you need to buy is netting which is relatively cheap. But I ended up spending a few hundred dollars for diversionary stuff like spinning spider things, etc..

However, we still ended up with Cormorants standing on our swim platform and they **** all over it. It’s not so much the expense.. It’s the annoying part of having to put all that stuff on your boat after you tie it to the morning ball. It gets a little tiring. Hopefully you won’t have bird problems.

We have a bowrider, and they are a little trickier to cover with netting then a pontoon boat. A pontoon boat is less of a challenge when it comes to keeping birds off.

[tis]

Originally Posted by WinterHarborGuy

I was on a mooring in Wolfeboro for two or three years and we had a big bird problem. First thing you need to buy is netting which is relatively cheap. But I ended up spending a few hundred dollars for diversionary stuff like spinning spider things, etc..

However, we still ended up with Cormorants standing on our swim platform and they **** all over it. It’s not so much the expense.. It’s the annoying part of having to put all that stuff on your boat after you tie it to the morning ball. It gets a little tiring. Hopefully you won’t have bird problems.

We have a bowrider, and they are a little trickier to cover with netting then a pontoon boat. A pontoon boat is less of a challenge when it comes to keeping birds off.

The moorings close to the WCYC have a terrible bird problem. I feel so bad for those people when we go by.

[WinterHarborGuy]

Originally Posted by tis

The moorings close to the WCYC have a terrible bird problem. I feel so bad for those people when we go by.

That was me. 😝

[camp guy]

With respect to birds..., probably a losing proposition. Ducks, and other "prolific" flyers view a moored boat as a floating toilet, and once they get used to its location, I'm sorry, but there is very little you can do.

[tis]

Originally Posted by WinterHarborGuy

That was me. 😝

Oh no. Well I feel sorry for you. I know you tried everything!

[bobkatfly]

Have to admit, I didn't think of the bird issue. I should have, given the amount of techniques I've seen on swim rafts to get rid of them. I'll have to speak to the marina about their experience.

[ApS]

I posted a picture here of about a dozen large birds perched in front of two giant plastic owls.

I'd suggest a "gull sweep", which uses breezes to rotate a wide thin metal sweep around the center of your dock or float.

In my travels, I saw a plastic reptile (Iguana-like) that seemed to work.