Mooring etiquette

Looking for thoughts on etiquette when using a mooring for multiple nights. Is it acceptable to tie off a kayak to your mooring if you go for a midday sail?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

We were faced with this at Cooper Island a couple days ago. We were told we could tie our Kayak to the ball while we went out to a nearby dive. I wasn't too keen on it until they insisted it was fine by them. We paid for 2 nights...

I think if you have not paid for the upcoming night leaving anything tied to the mooring is a big no no. However, if you have prepaid for the mooring there should be no issue.
Note that I said "should" I have seen late arrivals pick up moorings with items attached, and then seen the arguments when the boat which had already paid arrived even later.

This is a touchy subject, especially during high season in popular anchorages.

And for God's sake, whatever you do, don't stay longer than 90 minutes on an NPS mooring ball.

I echo trueblue's comment 100%. If you are planning in advance, maybe a sign that you can leave on the kayak stating that the mooring is already paid and you are just out for a day sail would help keep the overzealous sailor off it. IMO once you pay, the ball should be yours regardless of if you are on it or not (as long as you leave something tied to it). That said, some charterers don't make the most rational decisions when they pull into a mooring field at 4:30 only to realize that there are no moorings available and they've never actually dropped the hook outside of their basic keelboat class.

Five Man Electric Band...... Cdn group no less
"""Signs, Signs... Everywhere a Sign....."""

In Jimmy Buffett land no less........

Ahhhhh... ok, ok, ok...I'm just hav'n fun wit' u guys......
Don't kill me for it....

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the different perspectives.

Wheels up in 12 hours.

Cheers,

I have done it several times but I ask for permission from the establishment who oversees the mooring before assuming it's OK. Never had a problem, got yelled at once at Cooper by a boat load of partiers, but a cold beer and an explanation resolved all conflict.

I was hoping this thread was going to be about whether to bathe on the back of the boat in swimsuits or au natural while in the mooring field.

Ah yes! We are preparing our very Midwestern grandchildren for the likelihood that they will see this during our summer sail. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

I didn't realize there was even really a question.

Sounds like a good question to raise in a different thread.

au natural of course...