What are Slips and Mooring Balls?
Slips and mooring balls are the two most common ways to tie up a sailboat. They are common across the United States and in many tourist destinations across the world.
A slip is essentially a single-vessel dock. Slips are generally arranged in rows where boats park side to side. Some marinas have long, straight docks that they call slips, but slips generally refer specifically to individual boat 'parking spots.'
Mooring balls are just that—floating balls onto which you can tie up. Mooring balls are small buoys that are anchored to the seafloor below, typically with a large concrete block. Some mooring balls are cemented into piles deep below the surface. Mooring balls have an eyelet on top where sailors can connect a bowline and tie up securely.
Slips and mooring balls are secure ways to tie up your boat and are generally preferable to anchoring. Sailors who find a mooring ball or slip generally agree that it's safer than anchoring in a cove and generally headache-free.
Benefits of a Slip
Generally speaking, slips are the most secure way to tie up your boat. They are sheltered from the elements, usually within a marina, and they are connected to pilings that are sunk deep into the bed at the Waterway.
For those who don't mind navigating a marina, slips are a convenient and comfortable place to tie up. Slips are connected to docks, which provide easy shore access. Additionally, slips are generally located close to shore amenities such as bathrooms, shops, repair facilities, and local attractions. Slips are also close to parking, which is important if you're a liveaboard. This also means that you don't need a dinghy or auxiliary boat to reach the shore.
Utilities are only available from slips and docks. Electricity, water, and even the internet are often provided via shore connections to sailors moored in slips. This is why liveaboard sailors almost exclusively dock in slips.
When moored in a slip, you can expect protection from the elements. Slips are located in marinas, which are generally found in coves, inlets, or areas sheltered securely behind shoals. This is especially important in areas that experience high winds and inclement weather, such as the coastline.
Drawbacks of a Slip
The same factors that make a slip an attractive place to dock your boat also makes it somewhat difficult to navigate. This is especially true if you own a large boat. Slips tucked deep within marinas often require several sharp turns to reach. Additionally, due to the high volume of boats found in Marinas, the odds of having a collision are much higher than on open water.
Navigating a marina in the dark is virtually impossible. Most marinas are not well lit, and boat spotlights sometimes aren't up to the task. Additionally, the presence of other sailors nearby means that you can't make much noise at night. No loud music, no bright lights, and parties are highly discouraged.
These factors are especially important to consider if your boat does not have a reverse gear. Many sailors failed to consider this fact and are stuck fighting against the wind and currently trying to back out about by hand or with oars.
Another disadvantage of slips is the cost. Slips are more expensive than mooring balls, as they offer more amenities and take up more marina space. For those with batteries, solar panels, and on-board water, you may not need access to shore power and facilities. But in many marinas, you pay for them regardless if you choose a slip over a mooring ball.
Renting a Slip
You're more likely to find a slip than a mooring ball at most marinas. Renting a slip in the short-term is quite easy at most marinas, though the process can be tedious at some yacht clubs.
Generally speaking, all you need to do to get a slip at a marina is give them a call and reserve one. Calling well in advance increases your chances of finding a desirable slip. Some marinas can accommodate sailors who simply pull up to their guest dock, which is usually located close to the office. Don't count on guest dock service unless you're familiar with the marina.
Yacht clubs are a lot pickier about renting out slips and tying up to their guest docks. Some yacht clubs offer slip rentals similar to how public marinas do, which involves calling ahead, observing rules, and acquiring your rental slip. Some yacht clubs only allow members of reciprocal yacht clubs to dock in their slips.
When docking at a yacht club, it's important to observe dress and conduct codes. These differ widely between clubs, so it is best to check ahead of time to avoid ruffling any feathers. Some yacht clubs kick you out for violating these seemingly insignificant rules, so keep that in mind when tying up.
Slip rates usually vary based on the size of your boat and the length of your stay. Larger boats, such as sailboats with deep drafts, cost more to dock than smaller shallower vessels. Sailboat draft isn't always a consideration, though it's more likely to be in rivers and shallow waters.
Most marinas offer long-term rates, which often cost less than short-term rates. Liveaboards usually pay by the month, which is likely to be cheaper than local housing and rent prices. Most short-term marina slip rates cost the same (or less) than local hotel rooms.
Benefits of a Mooring Ball
The primary benefit of mooring balls is that they're really easy to tie up to. Mooring balls are generally located in a cove adjacent to the marina or just beyond the slips. If you can aim your boat at a mooring ball, you can tie up to it with relative ease.
Mooring balls are a secure alternative to anchoring. Conditions on board will be identical to being at anchor, except you'll have a much smaller chance of drifting away.
In many places, the size of your boat will not affect the cost of a mooring ball. This means that you can save a significant amount of money tying up close to shore but not directly at the dock.
However, it's important to check with the marina and ask if their mooring balls have any size imitations. After all, you do not want to drag the mooring ball anchor across the channel in the middle of the night.
That brings us to another advantage of mooring balls. In most cases, they are significantly less expensive to rent than slip at the dock. Marina can install dozens of morning balls for the cost of a single floating slip. As a result, many marinas simply fill empty parts of their waterways with mooring balls to increase capacity.
Mooring balls provide some level of privacy and protection from thieves and vandals. The only way to get to a mooring ball is with a boat, and most mooring balls are spaced apart quite considerably. That means you'll have fewer neighbors to complain about your loud music at 3:00 in the morning.
Drawbacks of a Mooring Ball
The primary drawback of a mooring ball is access. Mooring balls are located on the water, which means that you'll need a dinghy or an auxiliary boat to get to shore. Generally speaking, it is not possible to swim from your boat to the shore. This shouldn't be an issue if you're only stopping for the night. If you need to rent a mooring ball without advanced notice, simply pull up to the marina's guest dock and get your paperwork settled.
Another potential downside to mooring balls is exposure to the elements. Mooring balls are generally located in relatively protected areas, such as coves or inlets, but they're much less secure than slips.
At a mooring ball, your boat will be exposed to the wind and chop of the open water. Your boat will turn with the wind (just like when you're at anchor), which can be distressing for some people. Additionally, you're not protected from other boats which may be moving and making a wake close by.
Tying up to a mooring ball is easy with the helper, but it can be tricky if you have to do it alone. To make it easier, it's best to keep a line ready with a carabiner attached as a temporary link so you can pull yourself in and get a more secure connection.
The final disadvantage of a mooring ball is that it is not as secure as a slip. Mooring balls are sometimes anchored to the seafloor with weights, which (under the right conditions) can be dragged. It's a lot more difficult to drag a mooring ball than an anchor, though it's not unheard of. Mooring balls can also break free, which generally happens when they're poorly maintained or overloaded.
Renting a Mooring Ball
The process of renting a mooring ball it's generally quite easy. Most marinas cell out of slips before Mooring balls, so you're more likely to find one at popular destinations. Renting a mooring ball at a marina is the same as renting a slip. Simply call ahead and reserve your spot.
The tricky part of renting a mooring ball is finding it afterward. Slips are easy, as marinas provide maps with clearly marked slip numbers. Mooring balls are difficult to distinguish from a distance, so it's best to show up with a good pair of marine binoculars.
Some marinas don't mark mooring balls at all. Once you rent one, you're free to choose whichever mooring ball is most convenient. Color coding is common, especially in areas where water depth is unpredictable.
Once you find your mooring ball, tie up securely, and don't give it too much slack. You don't want to drift into somebody else's boat and don't make it too easy for a careless vessel to run over your line.
Some marinas offer long-term mooring ball rental, though it's less common than long-term slip rental. This is because mooring balls generally don't appeal to liveaboards or long-term residents.
Smaller marinas that don't explicitly offer long-term mooring ball rentals may be willing to negotiate if you really want one. Prices are likely lower than what you'd pay for a slip, just don't expect any amenities.
Mooring balls are not common at yacht clubs. With the exception of high-volume locations, yacht clubs are designed for visitors who expect amenities and services such as food, fuel, shore access, and pump-out stations. As a result, you're likely to end up at a public or private Marina if you're looking for a mooring ball.
