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Re: Boatyball [Re: FRANKIE2] #218186
02/20/2020 10:53 AM
02/20/2020 10:53 AM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Kirk Offline
Traveler
Kirk  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Just back from a 10 day charter. As has been reported numerous times-Cooper was a problem. We did eventually luck out and snag a FCFS ball when somebody left. Leverick was another problem. It seemed as FCFS balls were open, but pulling up on them 3 were missing a proper painter. We ended up tying to a ball with no painter. They did knock off $10 bucks both nights for that LOL. Great Harbor on Jost seemed like it was all BB. One of the crew did snag the last remaining BB when we got there mid-day. Crew was also told one more than once that a certain big charter company was reserving BB for clients. FWIW


Kirk in Maryland
BVI Sponsors
Re: Boatyball [Re: FRANKIE2] #218188
02/20/2020 11:02 AM
02/20/2020 11:02 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
Traveler
RickG  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
We had our first experiences with boatyball last weekend. Wo do not expect to ever use them. We anchored at Leverick. No boatyballs at Norman, we used one of the new orange moorings in the Bight. I dove the mooring and it looked new. We are headed to Diamond Cay and Great Harbor this weekend.


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: Boatyball [Re: Kirk] #218205
02/20/2020 12:49 PM
02/20/2020 12:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 32
Virgin Islands
B
BoatyBall Offline
Traveler
BoatyBall  Offline
Traveler
B
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 32
Virgin Islands
Kirk, we just wanted to address your last comment. We check the logs on a regular basis and there is not a "large" charter company making reservations for all their clients. We limit each user account to one reservation per day. This prevents one user from making multiple reservations.

We have been averaging 350 users per day on the application. We know this can make it difficult to get a reservable mooring. We are hopeful as places like Saba, BEYC, Marina Cay, Peter Island Resort, etc.. start opening back up that this will help elevate the current demand for mooring balls in the BVI.

The number of boats on the water are at pre Irma levels but the number of maintained moorings and dock slips are significantly less. Boats have fewer places to go and this is increasing demand. We are excited for new bays to open up!

Re: Boatyball [Re: BoatyBall] #218206
02/20/2020 12:56 PM
02/20/2020 12:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Kirk Offline
Traveler
Kirk  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Originally Posted by BoatyBall
Kirk, we just wanted to address your last comment. We check the logs on a regular basis and there is not a "large" charter company making reservations for all their clients. We limit each user account to one reservation per day. This prevents one user from making multiple reservations.

We have been averaging 350 users per day on the application. We know this can make it difficult to get a reservable mooring. We are hopeful as places like Saba, BEYC, Marina Cay, Peter Island Resort, etc.. start opening back up that this will help elevate the current demand for mooring balls in the BVI.

The number of boats on the water are at pre Irma levels but the number of maintained moorings and dock slips are significantly less. Boats have fewer places to go and this is increasing demand. We are excited for new bays to open up!


That's why I said FWIW. Simply stated what people told us while we were there.


Kirk in Maryland
Re: Boatyball [Re: Kirk] #218224
02/20/2020 04:03 PM
02/20/2020 04:03 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by Kirk
Crew was also told one more than once that a certain big charter company was reserving BB for clients. FWIW

One more than once is 2. So, they were told twice? Doesn't seem so credible. Most likely people upset they didn't get a BB first.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Boatyball [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #218227
02/20/2020 04:23 PM
02/20/2020 04:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Kirk Offline
Traveler
Kirk  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Originally Posted by JasonHelmbrecht
Originally Posted by Kirk
Crew was also told one more than once that a certain big charter company was reserving BB for clients. FWIW

One more than once is 2. So, they were told twice? Doesn't seem so credible. Most likely people upset they didn't get a BB first.

I guess it's follow me around and disagree with my posts day. Did I kick your dog or something?


Kirk in Maryland
Re: Boatyball [Re: Kirk] #218229
02/20/2020 04:24 PM
02/20/2020 04:24 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by Kirk
Originally Posted by JasonHelmbrecht
Originally Posted by Kirk
Crew was also told one more than once that a certain big charter company was reserving BB for clients. FWIW

One more than once is 2. So, they were told twice? Doesn't seem so credible. Most likely people upset they didn't get a BB first.

I guess it's follow me around and disagree with my posts day. Did I kick your dog or something?

If you did, you'd not hear from me online.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Boatyball [Re: FRANKIE2] #218236
02/20/2020 05:02 PM
02/20/2020 05:02 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Online content
Traveler
GeorgeC1  Online Content
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
Lost the boatyball lottery today for Cooper. Logged on and ready to hit enter at 7 am. No luck. Went to Cooper early to make sure I could get a ball. Arrrived at 12:30. For the first time in 30 years could not get a ball arriving at that time. At least 12 empty boatyballs. 5 boats waiting. No happy people. Found out people are creating multiple boatyball accounts and everyone on the boat tries at 7 AM. The entire thing is a sad mess.
G

Re: Boatyball [Re: GeorgeC1] #218238
02/20/2020 05:04 PM
02/20/2020 05:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
Orange_Burst Offline
Traveler
Orange_Burst  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
I can not confirm this, but I also heard that people are having their family/friends, in the states with fast internet, book the ball for them. Much better chance of getting one with a fast internet connection.


Colleen

[Linked Image]


Re: Boatyball [Re: FRANKIE2] #218240
02/20/2020 05:07 PM
02/20/2020 05:07 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Online content
Traveler
GeorgeC1  Online Content
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
I can confirm it. I have done it myself for friends in the BVI. With a fast fiber optic connection I had good success.
G

Re: Boatyball [Re: Orange_Burst] #218243
02/20/2020 05:17 PM
02/20/2020 05:17 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by Orange_Burst
I can not confirm this, but I also heard that people are having their family/friends, in the states with fast internet, book the ball for them. Much better chance of getting one with a fast internet connection.

That would really suck if you were the friend and lived West Coast. 3am during high season....


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Boatyball [Re: Orange_Burst] #218244
02/20/2020 05:23 PM
02/20/2020 05:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Kirk Offline
Traveler
Kirk  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Originally Posted by Orange_Burst
I can not confirm this, but I also heard that people are having their family/friends, in the states with fast internet, book the ball for them. Much better chance of getting one with a fast internet connection.

BB gets their money either way. banana


Kirk in Maryland
Re: Boatyball [Re: FRANKIE2] #218245
02/20/2020 05:30 PM
02/20/2020 05:30 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
S
sail445 Offline
Traveler
sail445  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
Wow this is great, maybe they should have toll booths put in all harbors just so you can enter. That would add to the BVI experience.
From Nature’s Little Secrets to Headaches.

Re: Boatyball [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #218248
02/20/2020 05:43 PM
02/20/2020 05:43 PM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
Orange_Burst Offline
Traveler
Orange_Burst  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
I'm guessing they wouldn't be a friend for long....LOL


Colleen

[Linked Image]


Re: Boatyball [Re: FRANKIE2] #218264
02/20/2020 10:22 PM
02/20/2020 10:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 45
Ohio
S
Sedona Offline
Traveler
Sedona  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 45
Ohio
We met some folks who ponied up the $400 to BB for advance reservations. Split between the 4 couples on their boat it was $100 per couple. They said that reservations at every spot were wide open the day before and they thought it was worth it, especially at Cooper and Great Harbour.

Re: Boatyball [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #218265
02/20/2020 10:25 PM
02/20/2020 10:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
L
Latadjust Offline
Traveler
Latadjust  Offline
Traveler
L
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
Originally Posted by JasonHelmbrecht
Originally Posted by Kirk
Originally Posted by JasonHelmbrecht
Originally Posted by Kirk
Crew was also told one more than once that a certain big charter company was reserving BB for clients. FWIW

One more than once is 2. So, they were told twice? Doesn't seem so credible. Most likely people upset they didn't get a BB first.

I guess it's follow me around and disagree with my posts day. Did I kick your dog or something?

If you did, you'd not hear from me online.


Ok John Wayne....

Sheesh, lighten up Francis

Re: Boatyball [Re: Sedona] #218275
02/21/2020 10:13 AM
02/21/2020 10:13 AM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
P
Phil Harvey Offline
Member
Phil Harvey  Offline
Member
P
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by Sedona
We met some folks who ponied up the $400 to BB for advance reservations. Split between the 4 couples on their boat it was $100 per couple. They said that reservations at every spot were wide open the day before and they thought it was worth it, especially at Cooper and Great Harbour.


At the end of January we had no problem getting a ball anywhere except Cooper and Jost Great Harbour. That's only 2 nights out of a week that we could have used the advanced reservation feature. $100/couple is very steep for just 2 nights. Plus you'll probably wind up using BoatyBall at other islands when there would have been available FCFS balls, so you spend an extra $10/night unnecessarily. Yes, I get it, you get some peace of mind from having a reservation, but for me this would be more than offset by the haunting knowledge that BoatyBall swindled me out of yet another $10.

Last edited by Phil Harvey; 02/21/2020 10:14 AM.
Re: Boatyball [Re: Latadjust] #218276
02/21/2020 10:13 AM
02/21/2020 10:13 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by Latadjust
Originally Posted by JasonHelmbrecht
Originally Posted by Kirk
Originally Posted by JasonHelmbrecht
Originally Posted by Kirk
Crew was also told one more than once that a certain big charter company was reserving BB for clients. FWIW

One more than once is 2. So, they were told twice? Doesn't seem so credible. Most likely people upset they didn't get a BB first.

I guess it's follow me around and disagree with my posts day. Did I kick your dog or something?

If you did, you'd not hear from me online.


Ok John Wayne....

Sheesh, lighten up Francis

Great advise. Thanks for your input.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Boatyball [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #218279
02/21/2020 10:20 AM
02/21/2020 10:20 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,475
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,475
Central Florida!
All righty then, addressed to no one in particular, this one is done.


Carol Hill
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