Laws/ Advice for Setting a Private Mooring in Niceville/Destin FL

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

There is an "anchorage" off my sailing club in daytona beach. This is not a designated anchorage, just a convenient place off the icw where its deep enough to anchor. There are currently 18 boats ranging from 20 to 37 feet out there. All but a few are on moorings which they put down themselves. Most have been there for several years. Not one has been asked to move, although about once a year the police come around and give out tickets for not having an anchor light.

See 33 CFR 109.10. Charts show designated anchorages. Anchor lights are not required in SAA for vessels under 65'.

[Cheechako]

"It's not moored, it's anchored..."
My guess is it wont be a problem.. EXCEPT for other people who might complain. If you are right in front of a waterfront house, too near a traffic area etc...

[onestepcsy37]

Delmarrey, you may not have noticed that I wrote "anchorage" with quotes around it. This is not a designated anchorage.

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[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

Delmarrey, you may not have noticed that I wrote "anchorage" with quotes around it. This is not a designated anchorage.

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That was just an FYI for those who think they need an anchor light every-time they drop anchor.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

That was just an FYI for those who think they need an anchor light every-time they drop anchor.

You may not "need" an anchor light but it's for your own protection. I would suggest displaying the brightest anchor light possible whenever and wherever you are anchored (at night).

[avb3]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

That was just an FYI for those who think they need an anchor light every-time they drop anchor.

Well I certainly was one of those who though they needed to!

From the USCG Inland Water Navigation rules, Rule 30:

• (g) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length, when at anchor in a special anchorage area designated by the Coast Guard, shall not be required to exhibit the anchor lights and shapes required by this Rule.

Link to that page is:

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName...nt#rule30 & 31

Personally, I still think it is the safe and courteous thing to do.

[delmarrey]

Don't ya jus luv legalism?

[Boatguy30]

You might get a permit if you own the land directly inshore of the proposed mooring area.

This is the exact problems with mooring in FL. Plenty of us want to invest in quality tackle for a good safe mooring, but can't get a permit. If you can't get a permit, you don't want to spend too much as it might get impounded or even just taken over by someone else if you go on a cruise.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by rwidman

That is the information I got as well. I called and they sent me a twenty seven page application to fill out. I gave up on the idea.

I suspect most of the moorings in my area are put there without permits.

27 page application. Sounds to me like just another way to tell you it's not happening.

One of the companies in my area that builds and places moorings told me basically what boatguy30 said, if you own land on the water you might get a mooring permit for the water in front of your property. Otherwise the odds of getting a legal permit were slim to none.

[Yjsailor]

We are in a townhouse complex with a community dock. I don't necessarily own the land. The mooring would be relatively close to other waterfront houses so I'm not sure what they would think. I'm not sure that corps of engineers has anything to do with the choctawhatchee bay. Never seen or heard of their presence here. If I called the FWC, would they know?


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[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Yjsailor

........... If I called the FWC, would they know?


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They might.

[a64pilot]

If you ask, the answer is no. And then if asked, your only response could be, yes I asked but did it anyway.

Don't ask, I almost guarantee if your boat moves every now and again, has sails and a mast on it, isn't covered in algae above the waterline and isn't half sunk, no one will notice, or care.

On edit, you have a perfectly reasonable explanation, you'd dock it at the dock you have, just your boat is too big and draws too much water

[onestepcsy37]

Start by just anchoring out there. Use two big new gen anchors and all chain. Have at least a small solar panel to keep your batteries charged for the bilge pump and anchor light. Stay on anchor for a few months. If you dont get hassled, put down your own mooring.
Thats how it happened here...

[Cestmoi]

Couple years ago I went through that drill and found out the problem is when you install something into the bottom there are permits and environmental agency approval, etc. I make a unique system that accomplishes the same thing but that can be taken out if the anchor zone chances as did where I was anchored due to the manatee protection act. I made a form and poured a sixty pound bag of cement in it using a piece of inch an a quarter pvc pipe to have a hole in the center. I used the 60 lb bag of cement because that was as big as I could lift comfortably. Any way I ended up with a 300 lb mooring which I attached a mooring ball to. When the Feds came and told me the zone had changed I just disassembled the mooring and moved it. There are more details to the construction and assembly as well as the install. If you are interested let me know.

[Yjsailor]

I think I've decided to stick with a boat that fits in our slip instead of dealing with all the mooring stuff. I've narrowed it down to a catalina 27 tall rig wing keel or an oday 272.


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