Here's a few more tips on making mooring balls safer: - as the captain, dont be intoxicated. - Set an anchor alarm. They've been around for decades and are cheap. - dive your mooring ball and check the holding. - dont tie to the top of the ball. Tie to the chain that goes to the mushroom anchor. - dont be in a rush. sit for a while after tie up.
Looking forward to seeing you and the crew back in the BVI! Greatly enjoy these videos to learn and imagine what retirement might look like cruising around Florida and the BVI. Hope all works out with future endeavors, you deserve it.
Miss your boating content. I try to understand your situation but at the same time would love to see you get another boat and continue where you left off. I loved your BVI videos!!!
I’ve seen two videos recently, neither of them Alan’s, where a mooring in the BVIs has failed. The latest was a non-charter Leopard 45 left unattended. Luckily ppl from boats around jumped on and saved the boat.
Thanks Alan. I am glad to see you getting back. Your great personality and overall happy disposition is appreciated. I can't wait to see your next BVI video.
Great information! So happy to see you heading back down to your happy place. We will be here over Christmas and New Year's as always. That warm sun and salt air is going to be great for you in many respects! Safe travels my Friend, Jay!
thanks for the great info on Boaty Ball. Will be chartering BVI again in a couple months. Appreciate your wisdom about turning your (Wandering Hillbilly) loss into goodness and helping others.
I used BB this past summer and I was shocked and amazed how hard it was to get a ball. I had four people on phones at 7:00 am sharp all trying for a ball and I think I was only successful on one day - maybe two. A third day we got one in little harbor later in the day since it's much less popular. They go instantly. It was never really a problem because there are usually other balls and you can usually just anchor. This is not a criticism of BB, just that it's crazy how popular it is.
Here is what we have been doing in Australia. Public mooring buoys are maintained by the government. They are professionally installed and clearly marked for size and tonnage of boat, most have a time limit from hours to days. Private moorings are licensed and as part of that license but be built to the size of the vessel. As a condition of that license the mooring "must" be professionally maintained and checked every year. Unfortunately you cant legislate against idiots.
Next step is to have Garmin use its positioning systems to start the engines and use thrusters to return the boat to it's mooring circle once it receives a mooring ball out of position alarm.
Great Ideas for Videos ! 💪❤.... All these boat-makers-seller companies who make a fortune off of boaters should have been doing this stuff years ago 😡 Disgraceful ❗
NEVER trust a mooring ball - too many blindly trust. Trust your own gear more and know how to use it! There is zero guarantee that the mooring ball will break at anytime.
So, what if someone ties up to the "Boaty Ball" that you have reserved and they refuse to get off of it when you arrive? Who enforces this, especially if you arrive late at night? I know that most boaters are respectful but there are still some pirates out there. Will someone show up and make them leave the mooring ball? Because frankly without enforcement, laws or rules are nothing more than suggestions. Just curious, thanks for the info! Glad to see the Hillbilly making boating content again.👍
It is frustrating when this happens. There are bay managers in each bay that help out when we have an issue. In rare cases the police get involved. If Marine Patrol has to come out they will charge the captain with a criminal offense. No different than eating dinner and running. It is basically stealing from the locals who own and maintain the moorings.
Here's a few more tips on making mooring balls safer:
- as the captain, dont be intoxicated.
- Set an anchor alarm. They've been around for decades and are cheap.
- dive your mooring ball and check the holding.
- dont tie to the top of the ball. Tie to the chain that goes to the mushroom anchor.
- dont be in a rush. sit for a while after tie up.
Great idea to do this series. I am looking forward to learning from these conversations.
Great start!
Happy to see new content from you about sailing/boating in the BVI again! Thanks, Alan!
Glad to hear you're going back there to Paradise !
Good tech! We’ll test it out in Feb2025👍🏼
Miss your content!! So glad to see you!!
Great Job Alan. Keep on; keepin on.
Looking forward to seeing you and the crew back in the BVI! Greatly enjoy these videos to learn and imagine what retirement might look like cruising around Florida and the BVI. Hope all works out with future endeavors, you deserve it.
Glad your back!
So glad to see you back. Would love to hear you thoughts on the new Aquila 50.
Miss your boating content. I try to understand your situation but at the same time would love to see you get another boat and continue where you left off. I loved your BVI videos!!!
It’s nice to see you back!!!!!!
Keep up the great content. Get your health back up to where you want it. Lots of memories still to be made!
I'm taking my first charter next week because of you, sir!!! Here we come, BVI's!!!
This is super valuable content! Thanks for doing this Alan. 👏🏻
Great info to know.
It’s great to hear you laughing again ❤ wish nothing but the best in your future and hope to run into you one day!
BRILLIANT business concept ❗
Great to see you!!
Alan great work helping us and so many others after you 🛟 be SAFER ❗✝🙏
Great to see your smiling face and a really awesome jacket - you’re the best mate, Good Luck, Cheers Swanny
Excellent info and a great attitude toward life and what it deals you.
Hats off to you for all you and your wife for all
the boating disappointments you have been through. Let's make it better for cruisers, thanks to you.
I’ve seen two videos recently, neither of them Alan’s, where a mooring in the BVIs has failed. The latest was a non-charter Leopard 45 left unattended. Luckily ppl from boats around jumped on and saved the boat.
Great Idea.. Hope to try it out soon!
What a great idea for the restaurants
Thank you
Eric😂
Thanks Alan. I am glad to see you getting back. Your great personality and overall happy disposition is appreciated. I can't wait to see your next BVI video.
Great information! So happy to see you heading back down to your happy place. We will be here over Christmas and New Year's as always. That warm sun and salt air is going to be great for you in many respects! Safe travels my Friend, Jay!
thanks for the great info on Boaty Ball. Will be chartering BVI again in a couple months. Appreciate your wisdom about turning your (Wandering Hillbilly) loss into goodness and helping others.
What a great video! I love the new interview concept. Please bring hull shield in at some point.
I would love to beta test this for the week of 11.10 thru 11.15. How do we sign up to test it while we are there?
Absolutely amazing, will definitely use it at some point!! Will they be trying this out in other locations?
Looking forward to when you take delivery of your new 54, better yet the 70!
I used BB this past summer and I was shocked and amazed how hard it was to get a ball. I had four people on phones at 7:00 am sharp all trying for a ball and I think I was only successful on one day - maybe two. A third day we got one in little harbor later in the day since it's much less popular. They go instantly. It was never really a problem because there are usually other balls and you can usually just anchor.
This is not a criticism of BB, just that it's crazy how popular it is.
Here is what we have been doing in Australia. Public mooring buoys are maintained by the government. They are professionally installed and clearly marked for size and tonnage of boat, most have a time limit from hours to days. Private moorings are licensed and as part of that license but be built to the size of the vessel. As a condition of that license the mooring "must" be professionally maintained and checked every year. Unfortunately you cant legislate against idiots.
Will you be getting a new aquila ? We missed seeing you on your boat . All the best
Omaha? 311 fan? New album out today! Hope you're doing well man!
Apologies, but looked up app and it has a few, don’t want to pick wrong one, I’m on your team and his brother!!
Next step is to have Garmin use its positioning systems to start the engines and use thrusters to return the boat to it's mooring circle once it receives a mooring ball out of position alarm.
Great Ideas for Videos ! 💪❤.... All these boat-makers-seller companies who make a fortune off of boaters should have been doing this stuff years ago 😡 Disgraceful ❗
Anchor watch apps do the same thing
When I saw this video I thought the same thing. I didn't known why an anchor alarm wouldn't work with a mooring ball as well, but wasn't sure.
NEVER trust a mooring ball - too many blindly trust. Trust your own gear more and know how to use it! There is zero guarantee that the mooring ball will break at anytime.
So, what if someone ties up to the "Boaty Ball" that you have reserved and they refuse to get off of it when you arrive? Who enforces this, especially if you arrive late at night? I know that most boaters are respectful but there are still some pirates out there. Will someone show up and make them leave the mooring ball? Because frankly without enforcement, laws or rules are nothing more than suggestions. Just curious, thanks for the info! Glad to see the Hillbilly making boating content again.👍
It is frustrating when this happens. There are bay managers in each bay that help out when we have an issue. In rare cases the police get involved. If Marine Patrol has to come out they will charge the captain with a criminal offense. No different than eating dinner and running. It is basically stealing from the locals who own and maintain the moorings.
i offered him dinner and a beer! foolish