While I'm sure it happens occasionally, someone squatting on your reserved ball is far, far from inevitable. Certainly has not happened to us.
Happened to me twice in early months of BoatyBall (and probably 20 reservations). I asked the "offender", "Do you have a reservation for that ball #7?" The first was totally clueless about the BoatyBall as apparently crew did not think anything of "RESERVED". They politely moved. The second time, the boat realized it immediately and move.
Now that Boaty Ball has been there a year, and charter companies are informing charters, there is really no excuse for ignorance. But there will occasionally be a squatter.
