I'm thinking of a mooring

Posted By: Riley Smith, Bobcat, MS Gulf Coast
Date: 7/6/08 6:53p.m.

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We’re far enough along on our house project that I can begin to think about recreation activities such as boat and fishing. That doesn’t mean that a sail is imminent but that I can begin to THINK about it. And I have already sampled the fishing a bit Actually what I have been thinking about is a mooring. I don’t want to leave the catboat on a mooring permanently because I feel that would eventually destroy the boat. What I would like to do is leave the boat there for a few days at a time during good weather. Yes, yes, I know. You can’t count on good weather but a cover for the cockpit and a good mooring would make an unplanned weather situation a non-event. I have considered a berth on the pier (which is still to be rebuilt) but don’t really like that idea because the pier is not oriented correctly to the prevailing winds for that. There would be problems with chafing the boat and banging pilings, as well as wave action. I will always remember leaving Muad’ib at a berth at Quietwater Beach, Pensacola and returning several hours later after the wind did a 180 and waves were now breaking where once was calm water. The boat was trying to self destruct so I took her out and anchored off. Things went as smooth after that as possible condsidering the lumpy water. On a mooring the catboat would head bow to the wave action and ride like the cork she is. I could rig a line to the pier and attach a block under the mooring ball to make using the pier as a boarding place possible. Yes, I’ve been thinking….. I know that all of this somewhat depends on the powers that be. It's a good plan to get permits when you're doing stuff to and OVER the waters of the state, but have heard that the process is not bad. It looks like a conference with the Bureau of Marine Resources is in my future Riley