Behind my house lies the Warwick river less than a half mile away. I was
wondering if I could legally moor the boat in the river. There is a public
boat ramp called Denbigh Docks and I could launch a little boat and run over
to my big boat. I currently have the boat at a marina on the York river.
Besides saving 1400 per year, the boat would be very close to the house.
Does anyone do this type of thing and what are the possible negatives. How
far from the public docks would the boat have to be.? The warwick is a
small navigable river about 200 to 300 feet wide where I would like to
anchor. I have a generator on board so I would have power when needed. There
was a sail boat achored there for a week but it is gone now.

If the river is only 200 to 300 ft wide and you put out a safe amount of
scope you would have to anchor in the middle to allow for swing around your
anchor.

Don't count on the river current to keep you laying in the same direction
all the time. Winds can sometimes over come the currents set.

This location just doesn't sound like a "designated anchorage" and therefore
you would be at risk of being run into, even if you did have a anchor light
every night. You could also be liable for creating a hazard to navigation by
anchoring in an non designated place.

"a sail boat achored there for a week " does not a designated or safe
anchorage make. They may have been aboard at all times or near by on shore
to keep an eye on it.

If you are able to moor your boat at a safe secure marina for $1400 a year,
then you have a better deal than an open anchorage with no one to keep an
eye out for trouble. (that's about $1000 less than I pay per year.)


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Warwick?? That wouldn't happen to be off the James would it? Many moons
ago I used to sail one design Hampton's in a few regattas there, out of
Warwick yacht club.

Subject: Ok to anchor/moor in a river?
From: "Scott Downey"

Does anyone do this type of thing and what are the possible negatives.

If you are moored in a navigable channel of the river, your boat may be a
hazard to navigation. It may also be boarded and burglarized/vandalized since
no marina owner/operator is watching it.

The warwick is asmall navigable river about 200 to 300 feet wide where I
would like toanchor.

I would check with the your state's Dept. of Natural Resources/Fish and
Wildlife/Game Wardens/Bird and Turtle Police ;-) to see if they could direct
you to a source that could give you a definitive answer and law cite.
That said, I don't think it's a good idea unless there is some easy way to keep
an eye on the vessel. Good luck.

People sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to
do violence on their behalf......George Orwell.

I'd be worried about it at night. Possibility of a collision with another
boat underway. Additionally, it'd be likely that you could have some
anchor slippage.

The risks would be yours however.

b.

Check with the Fifth Coast Guard District (757) 398-6390, but I'd bet
dollars-to-donuts you'd be an illegal hazard to navigation.

LJD
"Scott Downey" wrote in message
...
Behind my house lies the Warwick river less than a half mile away. I was
wondering if I could legally moor the boat in the river. There is a public
boat ramp called Denbigh Docks and I could launch a little boat and run
over
to my big boat. I currently have the boat at a marina on the York river.
Besides saving 1400 per year, the boat would be very close to the house.
Does anyone do this type of thing and what are the possible negatives. How
far from the public docks would the boat have to be.? The warwick is a
small navigable river about 200 to 300 feet wide where I would like to
anchor. I have a generator on board so I would have power when needed.
There
was a sail boat achored there for a week but it is gone now.

Check with the Fifth Coast Guard District (757) 398-6390, but I'd bet
dollars-to-donuts you'd be an illegal hazard to navigation.

They have so many sailboats anchored, living and presumably ****ing in the
water, south of Matanzas pass (SW Fla) that it is hard to pick your way down
the channel and the Coast Guard, The City of Ft Myers Beach nor Lee County
seems to be able to do a damn thing about it.

If I was going to do it at all, I'd think I'd put in two moorings or
piles and moor for and aft to keep the boat in one place near the edge.
--

Have you considered your boat's vulnerability to theft and/or vandalism.

At marinas and designated mooring areas there is often sufficient traffic to
help deter vandalism and after you become known to your neighbors the theft
threat is also reduced.

Butch

yes it is right off the James in Va.
Seems the consensus is mooring there is not a good idea.
I did not realize some areas are designated mooring areas.


"UglyDan®©T" wrote in message
...
Warwick?? That wouldn't happen to be off the James would it? Many moons
ago I used to sail one design Hampton's in a few regattas there, out of
Warwick yacht club.