Mooring Reservation system is dead in Two Harbors

[OCMerrill]

So if you can't get over there by noon on Friday....not a chance.

Sucks they dumped that deal. Sure worked for us. Now I have to burn $500 in diesel to "Take a chance."

Right now the decision is to not bring it back.

 

[t&y]

Wow really? What made them ditch the reservation system? That doesn't make any sense.

 

[TPC]

It didn't work very well / wasn't run very well goes the tale. It cost the Harbor Master his job.
Three Harbor Masters in three years.

Listening to Harbor Masters Ch 9 it seemed to get confused from time to time,, and that ain't good out there in the Pacific.
We're pretty good at anchoring,, but I just don't like to. Some people live for it. Pure boating in their book.

Best thing to do is get on the Harbors lists (at the Harbor Masters office) to lease your own mooring and in a few years one usually pops up. It may not be what you want,, but it's a great back-up if the premium moorings are taken. Used to be a dealio that if you had a mooring,, you could trade it for another free that was vacant for just your stay.
But I think that system is gone too.

I understand Cherry Cove moorings only pop up once every 50-60 years. One actually became available last year,, another person moved over to Cherry Cove from their Isthmus mooring and it opened up theirs. Everything else 3 to 15 years depending on location. Average wait maybe 3 to 7 years if you're not picky.
Cherry Cove:

Cherry Cove is the most desirable,, but the most wooden people.

Since the economy tanked moorings really became available. People that had excellent "West Wall" moorings for 25 - 35 years gave them up. Some regret their decision and are back on the waiting list.
West Wall Two Harbors:

A 30' mooring just off the beach is about $1200 a year. That's a bargain,, and you can leave your boat there. That in itself is amazing.

We're on 4 waiting lists, costs us a $5 per list fee per year.

Every now and again the lists get "lost" or "deleted" and you just may suddenly find yourself a little higher up than you were., and some ass holes are a little farther down than they were.
It pays to be liked in and around the West End of the island. Most, about 9 out of 10 sail boaters are ass holes and ya just get along with them the best ya can.

We have made a few close friends in Two Harbors and mooring lessees can designate theirs for you to use rule still is in effect. We're usually on a mooring of someone we know. We still have to pay for it, but their is usually some kind of special running where ya stay 4 days and ya get the next 3 days free. Or something close to that.
We were in Avalon for 7 days and only paid for 3 because the stay was over a Wednesday and some freebee rule kicked in. I think it was because I get along with the LEos so well.

One guy just got married, his new wife hates boating so I give him a check to pay his mooring fees and I use it. Prime spot took him 35 years to get. My bar bill is more than the lease cost.

Remember you can side tie to another boat. They still charge you, but if you can get someone over early,, you can roll in later and tie up to them until a mooring pops up.

Cat Harbor is the least desirable and those moorings pop up every few years. Ya take that mooring, use it as a back-up,, until you trade up to a more desirable harbor.
Catalina AKA Cat Harbor is 19 miles boating from Two Harbors, but just a 1 mile walk over the Isthmus to town.

 

[TPC]

How come yer so smart? I've been waiting for years to explain something on here.

I'm the dumbest guy in the forum. :champagne:

 

[TPC]

There are a few retired LEO's and Firemen that got on the lists 35 years ago.
They have moved up to premium spots over the decades.
Some have bought the old Bayliner or Sea Ray Yachts and re-furbished them on the cheap, and leave them in Two Harbors for the summer.

Good wrench motors, replace the genny and run the Honda 2000i most the time, a nice new finish on the hull, GIANT holding tanks, refurb the interior and they have a really nice set-up for super cheap. It spends most it's life on the hook and it serves their families well.
They just cross the channel once in a while, or boat up to the dock to pump out their holding tanks and take on water and fuel very rarely so the cheap-o set-up works just fine.

Cat Harbor:

Fourth of July Cove:

 

[TPC]

Now,, how you take advantage of the free days system and make it work for you:

I'd sometimes take the boat over early, get a mooring, then take the cat Express back home leaving our boat in the harbor.
Then we'd all head back to Catalina a few days later on the Cat Express and we'd be pre-set for the sold out weekend.
Yeah, it's a bit more money using the Express, but ya get 3 free days mooring and that helps the budget.

If ya have a boating friend over there that can keep an eye on your boat, and no winds or storms are predicted,, then you are good to go.
I've helped others out and watched their boats for a few days when they pulled this stunt. It's bending the rules.

Sometimes they don't come back on the Express, they come back on a friends boat and then side-tie.

 

[OCMerrill]

We were told by a gal in the HArborMasters office that the system just didn't work. People would cancel and they had to manually deal with it because after Friday they couldn't put them back in the system. Then folks show who know someone and they get a spot and have to shuffle a reservation. Then there was the computer double booking a spot that created all kinds of anger.

So Yep unless I can't leave at 5 am on a Friday morning then you have to sit on the hook. Thats fine but I don't know who feels good going to shore with your pride and joy being held by a section of 1/2" nylon rope. So then we have to set a stern anchor. Then were pretty secure but don't swing like the others and now its bumper boats.

For us it needed to work. I am not playing the ferry game. You're supposed to be available to move if required to do so. I have watched this go on at Avalon a couple times. They daisy chain big yachts to a single large can out of the breakwater and your billed big money for leaving your vessel.

Cat Harbor - Real muddy most the time and my kids wont swim in it. Dark as fuck at night and a real cluster when a Yacht Club is going off but that is your backup.

It's a 10 min walk between the two harbors.

 

[TPC]

We're closer to getting a mooring OC, we'll be able to designate it to friends. We'll take anything. Also, others with moorings do a dealio where if their friends can use yours,, my/your friends can use theirs on an pre-assigned basis.

Cat Harbor has it's fans. Usually people with monster sail boats that want to smoke their green, blast their music in the nude, run their construction generators and not be hassled.
The good thing about that is they'll pass on up-graded moorings on the other side of the isthmus.

Last three years the only time we saw people turned away was on the 4th,, and those willing to wait on the list were eventually,, within a few hours able to get a mooring.
Ya might get a mooring a few feet bigger that your boat calls for,, and it'll cost ya a few bux more,, but it's all good IMHO.

I have monster boat fenders for side-tieing,, so you'll never get shut-out over there.
Your kids will love the Sea Doo scooter:
[video=youtube;L0X7q5WmenI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0X7q5WmenI[/video]

We bring the towable tube too.

 

[OCMerrill]

Wow I hope you get a mooring Ross. That would be fantastic for you and your family.


We will be camping from the boat in Goat Harbor 22-24 of this month. We will come into the Isthmus on Sunday for a cocktail and ice. Don't know if your planning on being there or not?

 

[TPC]

Coming home the 21nd then returning the 28th for the 4th.

 

[TPC]

We will be camping from the boat in Goat Harbor 22-24 of this month.

How do you get your mooring assignment at Goat,, or do you anchor?
Is it included with a campsite?

 

[DeltaSigBoater]

How do you get your mooring assignment at Goat,, or do you anchor?
Is it included with a campsite?

Some of the Boat in Camp Sites have moorings some don't. Goat Harbor is one that doesn't, so the boat is on the hook and you dinghy in.

Cannot remember if they charge you for being in the cove w/ the boat anchored, but I do know they charge per person, per day for camping.

 

[searaydoug]

Some of the Boat in Camp Sites have moorings some don't. Goat Harbor is one that doesn't, so the boat is on the hook and you dinghy in.

Cannot remember if they charge you for being in the cove w/ the boat anchored, but I do know they charge per person, per day for camping.

If you anchor and stay on your boat, there's no charge. In fact I think you can do that anywhere on the island, where anchoring is permitted.

 

[TPC]

If you anchor and stay on your boat, there's no charge. In fact I think you can do that anywhere on the island, where anchoring is permitted.

That's correct.
Seen some big feuds break out in the anchoring area when boats drop too close to each other.

225 ft of chain is minimum / claw-plough anchor goes the tale at the bar,, and at low tide situations can get really tight. Boaters don't want to take in their line because then others snake in too close.

I've learned some about ocean / harbour entrance anchoring in the past few years. Shock cords used properly on your line make a huge difference in many ways.
Some guys live for anchoring and are more than willing to show ya how to set your hook with the patience of 10 Indians.

One guy we met that has a 22' cuddy cabin fishing boat is like the mayor of the anchoring in Little Harbor. The Ayatollya of getting your hook set.
He has crossed eyes with his right eye pointing toward the deck and left eye pointing dead south. When he blinks the light dim. A hell of a nice guy and he'll guide anyone through it and you'll be really good at it 6 beers later.

Smoking, brutally hot GF Shannon with spin-your-head-around hot daughters.
They camp and fish regularly on the backside of the island.
I have to get pix and do a story on this couple.
Great people.

 

[OCMerrill]

Some of the Boat in Camp Sites have moorings some don't. Goat Harbor is one that doesn't, so the boat is on the hook and you dinghy in.

Cannot remember if they charge you for being in the cove w/ the boat anchored, but I do know they charge per person, per day for camping.

16 of us this year. I bought the whole beach. Saturday - Monday


Someone sleeps on the boat with the anchor alarm set. We also have a big stern anchor placed. This time two dinghies, dive gear, and whatever else will fit.

Most the time its calm but not always.

 

[OCMerrill]

If you anchor and stay on your boat, there's no charge. In fact I think you can do that anywhere on the island, where anchoring is permitted.

One year a boater in a massive power cat ran dual gensets all weekend long. When he came ashore we let him know our thoughts on that.

 

[DeltaSigBoater]

You can also come ashore any time during the day you like as long as it's a designated area. Last year we had 6 boats in Goat. When we leave to go cruise or fish we place our large fenders on the Stern anchors, leave them in the water, and have always been able to come back to the same spot.

One year a boater in a massive power cat ran dual gensets all weekend long. When he came ashore we let him know our thoughts on that.

Catfish?

 

[OCMerrill]

I don't remember the name. I want to say he was seen in Dana.

Nice people just never slept. LOL.

Since you can't fish in Goat most just move on except for the dive boats.

 

[TPC]

Last summer 244 mooring moves on the West End.
That's amazing.

Many prime spots became available.