Mooring prices going up again.

Just noticed mooring ball prices at Bitter End now $35 per night... They are the first to increase... not the last!
Please, everyone, express your disgust to the BEYC marina office. (and stay 200m away, at Saba Rock, for $30!)
Response from BEYC fee collector was, "C'mon I am sure you can afford it, it is only $5 more..., "
That was motivation enough, to leave the place!

Also, FYI, purchased Diesel at Sunsail/Moorings, $3.67 per gallon. Much better than $5.75 at Spanish Town...

The bitter end has been 35 dollars for a long time. At least a few years. Their Moorings are also not maintained by Moor secure. The underwater gear tends to be in worse shape. Broke free one night in about 20 knots of wind. Kept the entire rig down to the sea floor. Shackle rusted down to nothing. The only concern BEYC expressed was getting the ball back!
G

I don't use beyc moorings for that reason. However, they also own Saba rock.

I thought that Saba was owned by a restaurateur from Hawaii with a Scottish surname (ie, Mac-something). When did it change hands?

This information is not correct. Saba Rock's mooring balls are maintained by Moor Seacure, and the business is owned by the McManus family. BEYC is owned by the Hokin family.

I will plan on staying at Leverick and Saba.

Anchoring is free, just saying and available almost everywhere.

I don't recall where my information comes from. If I come across it, I will post. I would prefer if it were independent of beyc anyway,

Is the $5.00 going to make or break your trip? The guy collecting the mooring fee doesn't own the mooring.

I would plan on anchoring or mooring wherever the captain is most comfortable, and feels most safe. That should be number one in my opinion.

Bitter End can be an amazing place, especially for families that want to take advantage of all of the water sports and activities. Plus, there are showers and a pool, as well as the restaurants.

Saba Rock is great as well. Cool funky little island resort. Great place out back to hang in the hammocks.

Leverick again, awesome place to dock, moor or anchor off (outside). Showers, laundry, restaurants and some really cool people there.

^ That's a false dichotomy. I bet most on this forum are fairly comfortable, financially. Very few expenditures are in the "make or break" category. That doesn't mean I disregard the concept of value.

Just my experiences but it seems the people with the most money are by far the cheapest b%$#^&ds out there. Probably why they actually have some money... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Just repeating what the poster offered and wondering why?
sponse from BEYC fee collector was, "C'mon I am sure you can afford it, it is only $5 more..., "
That was motivation enough, to leave the place!

The $5 isn't necessarily a big deal, but the collector's response sounds inappropriate and fairly disrespectful. Depending on tone and the interaction as a whole it's possible it wasn't distrspectful, but given the OP's response they appear to feel that it was.

3 years ago it was $25... now $35... pretty soon it will be $50... I am glad this does not bother anyone else.

I'm down for 3 weeks; just 2 of us on the boat. So... It does mean something! Probably not much of an issue if you are a group,of 8 on a cat for a week; but hate to see a ' squeeze all you can out of the tourists' approach.

First World problems.

Hahaha...ain't that the truth...

On another note...how much should I tip the mooring collector? Is 20% enough?

I will agree that people that are financially secure are more likely to be secure about being perceived as "cheap".

Biras Creek is still $25 and they provide wifi. They also accept reservations for moorings. Very sheltered, nice breeze when its blowing hard elsewhere.

The St. John National Park moorings are still $15 and the north shore of St. John has our favorite beaches.

Anchoring is still free. Distant Shores had an interesting series of posts on short scope anchoring in deep water - http://www.distantshores.ca/boatblog.php

Cheers, RickG

jboothe- I think 20% is sufficient for the mooring collector unless he/she owns the mooring. In that case no tip should be provided. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Tip the mooring collector??? Says who? Since when? Fifteen bareboat charters in 30 years, not one tip. Never before heard of anyone tipping. What "service" is he rendering? Should we be tipping the cashier at Rite Way?

That was posted as a joke due to a recent topic on tipping a charter captain.

That was great!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> I'm still laughing at my desk.

I really need a vacation. Sitting here watching the snow blow around. The high today is 17 and tomorrow's low is -6. I hate winter.

Much ado about nothing. BEYC runs a first rate shop and provides a great number of services. Many complain about crowds and lack of moorings when they want to get there. Mooring fees are one way to mitigate the pack. Yes, mooring gear will and does fail. On one charter with top tier outfit we experienced an anchor shackle failure. We got the anchor back on our own. Kids found it. When we reach the base. The only thing they asked was did you mark the spot where you left the anchor. Big Boat with Big Anchor. The feeling even below deck when the boat parted with the bottom was very distinct.

What do you pay to park a car for 24 hours at many of the popular areas so many of us visit? Anything less than $50 is inexpensive. See you on the BEYC shuttle soon... leave your garbage on the boat, they will send a scow out to get it.

Aren't the moorings in front of Peter Island resort like $65?

Hmmmm, no Wikipedia cut and paste

There is a bit of a difference between a Mooring and a anchor. You can easily inspect your boats ground tackle to insure it's in proper shape. That's not always the case with a Mooring. I have noted many times BEYC moorings in very poor shape. Unlike nearly every overnight mooring field in the BVI they did not use moor secure to maintain there moorings. It was Done internally. That may have changed but I don't think so.
I actually really like the BEYC however as a customer using one of their Moorings you get zero allowance for using their shore facilities. No ice, water or garbage service. The BEYC mooring field merges with the SABA mooring field. The SABA balls are in a better location for getting a breeze and you get free ice, water, restrooms ect.. Your access at BEYC is the same regardless of which ball you pick up.

George

So if the majority of charterers started anchoring instead of paying the mooring ball fees, what would happen to the mooring ball fee? I say boycott mooring balls! Use your anchor until they bring the fees back down! There is no justification for raising those fees other than greed per the rule of supply and demand.

Anchoring is not for everyone. We have even heard charter guests say they have NEVER anchored. Our last month in BVI 28 days on anchor and 2 on a ball. We saved over $800, most our monthly food allowance.

Teammac.. many do! Just as many refuse to pay to park at home. I will get flamed for this... but.. it is only a matter of time before some authority requires the use of mooring balls and prohibits anchoring.

Moorings are a good thing. They help prevent bottom damage and offer less experienced sailors easy access to some anchorages. They offer all sailors access to some anchorages that would otherwise be impractical for more then a couple of boats to spend the night. They also come with a cost to maintain. I think however the cost has not risen quite as fast as what is being charged.
The other issue is its always bad practice to anchor in a mooring field. In some BVI anchorages the fields have grown so large there is no option to anchor.
G

As a point of reference Nantucket Moorings start at $60, Edgartown $40... Mustique is $75 but you are allowed to stay three nights for the payment.. Catalina is $>50 with a three night minimum plus a $10 fee to make your reservations online. All the BVI mooring balls are far below the cost they could be.

And how's the charter business in Nantucket and Edgartown?

Can't really compare them. Very different environments.

Rather than compare to places that are more expensive, why not compare to those that are less? St. John is half the price at $15/night.

Those Catalina moorings are fun!<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> It amazed me how much it cost us to go to Catalina overnight on a boat from our sailing club here. It was still fun <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I always thought Saba Rock was owned by the Kilbrides and it was called the Pirates Pub then they sold it and it was sold again to the people who now own it.
I and many others really enjoyed it's layed back feeling.. Excellent Burgers Mahi sandwiches and drinks.

Saba is owned by Jonathan McManus, whose base of operations is in Hawaii. I think he bought it directly from the Kilbrides.

BEYC is owned by the Hokin family of Chicago. I think Dana Hokin is now the chief enchilada in their organization.