Mooring question

[Dev75]

So we are trying to get in line to get on a very popular lake next season and it is not going to be easy.  Doesn't appear to be any dockage available.  Our only option is mooring.  Does anyone use mooring and if so your thoughts on it?   I'm probably being extremely lazy but looking to see other experiences regarding convenience, ease of transport to and from boat, things we need to be aware of...etc. 

 

[mattb]

I do not moor, i trailer everywhere unless we overnight at a marina with dock access.  It seems to me that the hassle of loading/unloading a days worth of necessities to a moored boat would be more hassle than trailering.  Can you not trailer into this lake?  My biggest concern any time i leave mine in is theft of my property, not so much the boat but all the required safety stuff, which would put an end to a legal outing before it starts.  Sounds silly but people will steal anything and everything, i dont want to run around replacing everything.  I want to boat, damn it.  While a dock would be more secure, a tethered boat would be ripe for the picking, as they say.  Good luck with it.

 

[BigKahuna]

Dev....


By mooring are you talking about just tying your boat up in a slip?!? If it is we have moored our boat in a private slip across the street from our house for the past 2 years. We have kept our boat at a marina dry storage lot for years. We would hook up the trailer put the boat in the water and take it out at the end of the day. Now we just walk across the street take the cover off and go. Very convenient! The only thing we bring is a cooler and towels. Everything is left on the boat.


Hope our neighbor never sells that property!


There is no difference loading a moored boat or a trailered boat. Done both.

 

[Link]

BK, I think Dev is referring to a mooring ball that is a little off shore where you have to swim or paddle something to reach it.  There are quite a few of those on our lake and I don't know why unless there are depth issues. 


Not sure how much of a PIA that would be, probably depends how you use your boat; transfer a lot of cargo for an all day trip or have a lot of passengers to ferry out.  Might be a nightmare if you are a fan of night cruising

 

[BigKahuna]

BK, I think Dev is referring to a mooring ball that is a little off shore where you have to swim or paddle something to reach it.  There are quite a few of those on our lake and I don't know why unless there are depth issues. 


Not sure how much of a PIA that would be, probably depends how you use your boat; transfer a lot of cargo for an all day trip or have a lot of passengers to ferry out.  Might be a nightmare if you are a fan of night cruising

Wasn't sure what he meant. Thanks. 

 

[Rockie69]

Most moored boats like that have marina dingys that shuttle you to and fro. Typically I see larger boats. I've never seen a toon like that... could be talking mooring whips too. 

 

[Dev75]

Hey guys, sorry for the confusion.  They are mooring balls that start about 20 yards out from the marina.  They have spots for trailers as well but the trailer spots are all taken and the mooring balls are the only available.  Since posting I have found out that they provide transportation to and from the boat when they are open but we are on our own when they are closed.   


Plenty of docking to pull boat up and load and unload - kind of odd that they don't have slips available.  


just wasn't sure if there are any other unknown things about mooring balls that I need to take into consideration.  

 

[Spoiledrotten]

I saw a marina on Lake Ouachita with those mooring points out from the bank. This one had probably 5 toons, and various other boats. I told my wife that I would not like that. It looks like a lot of trouble, but I suppose if that is all you have available, then go for it. I'd trailer my boat first.


This is Google Earth of the place on Quachita. There were several more boats out when we went through.