Squatter On Your Mooring Ball ( Canada )

[Elysium]

I disaggree. My concrete block is not garbage and is far more environmentally friendly than hundreds of anchors continually chewing up the bottom. This point has been proven the world over.
To be perfectly honest, if people were decent, I would have NO PROBLEM sharing my mooring ball when not in use. But if I want to come back, then you're bloody well right, I expect them to move. They did not pay for the gear and have no claim to it. It is the people who are not decent that are messing things up for everyone else....from the Government body who imposes unreasonable environmental fees on marinas, to those who try to sue people when they squat on somebody's mooring that breaks.
If you wanted to argue that the mooring balls were taking up all of the free space, making it impossible for people to safely anchor; then that is a different issue and you wouldn't be wrong. This limitation on visitors coming in and exploring the different parts of BC has a direct impact on the local economy. A negative impact.

However, when marinas and clubs continue to increase their rates it makes it impossible for people of modest income to still be members of the boating community. Unless they find alternatives. I am playing by the rules. If the government changes those rules, I will comply. If I do not own that mooring ball, then someone else will. Do I want to be out there? NO. But it is the only way my family and I can enjoy owning a sailboat.

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by HappySeagull

....I'd like to know why throwing your garbage in the water, tied to a buoy, makes the area your private property. Sorry, but You are the one dumping trash. If that fellow wants to anchor there, he has every right to do so. When your boat is tied to it, your garbage is an anchor holding a vessel, but as soon as you leave it, you can't expect anybody coming in to treat it as though it's a ghost-boat. ....there wouldn't be anywhere to anchor whatso-ever if that were the case. If I were there, I would tie up to it and were you to come-by, I'd ask you to remove it, so I can anchor, without fouling your underwater trash.

Actually, you're wrong by a long shot. People can still put in mooring buoys in BC and if they are properly marked someone else doesn't have the right to tie up to it.

[davefromoregon]

How long has the boat been docked there and when was the last sign of someone having gone to the boat?

For all anyone knows, the guy could be OD'd and rotting in the aft berth.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Having grown up in a far less gentile era on the BC coast, I would wait until the dead of night, raining and foggy, try and raise the owner aboard and if no response take the derilict under tow, out into the Straits, pop a couple of through hulls and stand by while she sinks to the bottom so no one hits her and quietly return to my marina slip for the next 6 weeks or so. No fuss, no muss, no fuzz and no comebacks. The days of waiting for harbor authorities, RCMP, etc., to solve all our marine problems should be over... cheers, Capt Phil

While this approach offers a somewhat primitive level of emotional satisfaction, it might be naive to assume there would be "no comebacks," as promised above. After all, how hard would it be, one rainy/foggy night after the OP has left his boat on its rightful mooring, for the offended party to pop a few thru-hulls in retaliation?

[Don L]

Originally Posted by HappySeagull

....I'd like to know why throwing your garbage in the water, tied to a buoy, makes the area your private property. Sorry, but You are the one dumping trash. If that fellow wants to anchor there, he has every right to do so. When your boat is tied to it, your garbage is an anchor holding a vessel, but as soon as you leave it, you can't expect anybody coming in to treat it as though it's a ghost-boat. ....there wouldn't be anywhere to anchor whatso-ever if that were the case. If I were there, I would tie up to it and were you to come-by, I'd ask you to remove it, so I can anchor, without fouling your underwater trash.

WOW you don't sound like a happy anything! Please post your boat's name and some pictures of it and you. I feel people need to be on the lookout for you.

[xiabbo]

Tell the harbormaster or the RCMP or whoever that they need to get this boat off your property or you will simply (and legally) release from your mooring when you arrive to put your yacht on your mooring.

Who wants the thing? It is a rabid dog you have there friend. It is going to cost someone about $2000.00 to trash it. If you arrive and need to moor (because you just happen to be in distress at that moment ^o^) it will never get to court.

What else could I do Mr. Harbormaster sir - your honor? I tried to save the thing but it got away from me. I went above and beyond my civic duty to avoid this unfortunate disaster! I asked you a month ago. Just go BP on 'em and declare it is not your fault.

This just in...***runaway boat in the early hours of this morning, after crashing through the mooring field like a Tasmanian devil made it's final collision with the land by wreaking havoc upon the ecosystem and a heavily populated elementary school during the spelling bee...797 dead - 181 reported missing ... rumors are the captain fell into a life boat and is now drinking G&T's and watching the sun set. ****

[Mark1977]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Having grown up in a far less gentile era on the BC coast, I would wait until the dead of night, raining and foggy, try and raise the owner aboard and if no response take the derilict under tow, out into the Straits, pop a couple of through hulls and stand by while she sinks to the bottom so no one hits her and quietly return to my marina slip for the next 6 weeks or so. No fuss, no muss, no fuzz and no comebacks. The days of waiting for harbor authorities, RCMP, etc., to solve all our marine problems should be over... cheers, Capt Phil

Nice one took the words out of my mouth.

[rebel heart]

This thread, by the way, is a great example of why free anchorages are drying up. More and more derelict boats floating around sucking up space.

[neilsailingrn]

I think a little scuba night diving for hull inspection of the outlaw boat might be in order. Owner must be aboard so he gets to swim off his sinking boat. Then the Coasties come along and arrest him for the oil spill caused by his sinking vessel. Problem solved. Guess who gets to watch the show!?

[davefromoregon]

Originally Posted by neilsailingrn

I think a little scuba night diving for hull inspection of the outlaw boat might be in order. Owner must be aboard so he gets to swim off his sinking boat. Then the Coasties come along and arrest him for the oil spill caused by his sinking vessel. Problem solved. Guess who gets to watch the show!?

Of course, the water is now that much more polluted as is the karma.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

This thread, by the way, is a great example of why free anchorages are drying up. More and more derelict boats floating around sucking up space.

It's called over population. Just like in big cities the garbage fills the streets in some of the poor areas.

[neilsailingrn]

Okay, bad idea... :-)

[downunder]

Originally Posted by cburger

Looks like you found your squatter

+1

[Cheechako]

If tied to the ball with a rope, those things tend to wear through pretty fast, especially in the winter in the PNW. I'm thinking a large round file would help get 'er worn about 90%. Then just wait for the next night of 45-70 mph winds! The rocks and local officials will take care of the rest.

[shorebird]

Is there any way you could find/buy a cheap (tire filled with cement) anchor and tie-up float? just anything that might work for a while, then swap lines and transfer his boat onto the new, cheap, illegal mooring ball. He can't really complain, since you have re-possessed yours, but left him no worse off...he still has a mooring in the same area. If the authority gets after him, or the thing drags, well,,, not your problem... did the best you could...