OUR WATERWAYS Sarasota Mooring Field Opens, Driving Away Some Boaters By Steve Morrell The infamous Sarasota Mooring Field, after three-plus decades of haggling, indecisions and cost over-runs, finally became a reality in October with the opening of 35 moorings. Since these moorings cost from $250 to $345 per month—depending on boat length—many of the previous occupants who were anchored in the area moved away. The anchorage, which has been free for the last few thousand years—since the last ice age came and went—was one of the most popular—and contentious—spots to live aboard on Florida’s west coast. Everything from derelicts that could barely stay afloat to yachts worth a few hundred thousand have occupied a spot in the bay, which lies just off downtown Sarasota. Storms that caused some of the poorly anchored derelicts, to be washed ashore, prompted many over the years to push for a mooring field, with mooring balls anchored into the bottom, along with the idea that charging for a mooring would get rid of many of the derelicts which wouldn’t be worth the cost of a mooring. Another concern was the belief many on land held that the boaters were dumping human waste into the bay from the boats, many of which were liveaboards. Since a large number of those land dwellers felt that those who live on board were derelicts themselves—living on derelicts—they were hoping
BoatUS Offers Updated Florida Anchoring Information Tip Sheet, Advising Boaters to Carry it Aboard From BoatUS Since it was first made available at no cost two years ago, some boaters have called it one of the most helpful documents to have aboard when anchoring in waters across the Sunshine State. Others are saying it’s a great educational tool when they are confused about local and state anchoring regulations. Now, BoatUS offers an updated “2013 Florida Anchoring Information” sheet to clarify for everyone, from the boating public to government agencies, the current status of the 2009 passage of Florida House Bill 1423 and the five pilot mooring field projects. Most important, the 2009 law gave relief to many boaters and meant they no longer had to fear their boat “overstayed its welcome” and needed to move on. “Every boat owner wants to follow the law, but in Florida, some boaters, anglers and sailors may still fear a visit from law enforcement that will force them to move on from an anchorage,” said BoatUS President Margaret Podlich. Four of the five pilot project areas include the city of St. Augustine, Monroe County (Key West, Marathon), city of Sarasota and city of St. Petersburg, which have established mooring fields and have passed local anchoring ordinances. These areas will be used to test policies that promote public access, enhance navigational safety, protect maritime infrastructure and the environment, and deter improperly 32
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that a mooring field would get rid of the human riff-raff that was believed to be the majority of the boaters out there, even though many were on boats worth tens of thousands of dollars. A local newspaper reported that one of the residents in a high-rise condo—who could see the bay from above— claimed he could see the waste being pumped from boats, although it was only a year ago, on Nov. 16, 2011, when approximately 1-million gallons of raw sewage leaked onto the streets of downtown Sarasota from a break in a main sewage line. The leak was repaired 24 hours later, but in the meantime, about 40,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the bay. Since it was a downtown main line, sewage from the nearby waterfront condos was definitely in that leak. I wonder if that resident saw that sewage from his condo. Some of it could have been his. The new mooring field is about one-third completed, with the total planned moorings eventually being 109. Eventual cost of the field is expected to reach more than $1 million. The field will be managed by Marina Jack, the nearby marina, which has built extra restrooms, operates a pumpout boat and has a dinghy dock for moored boats. Boats must be insured, and no one is allowed to live aboard for more than six months. Although only 23 moorings were initially taken, when all of the 35 moorings are filled up, the city plans to install more moorings until all 109 are completed. Boaters who chose not to pay for a mooring moved their boats to where they are allowed to anchor, 150 feet outside the field boundary. stored, abandoned, or derelict vessels. As of press time, the fifth pilot area, Martin County/city of Stuart, was still drafting an ordinance likely to come on line in 2013. The 2009 law also clarified the meaning of “liveaboard”: Full time, active cruisers who sleep on their boats with no permanent residence on land are no longer considered live-aboards under this law and, as a result, their anchoring cannot be regulated by local governments, other than in pilot project areas. (For more: FLHB 1423, Chapter 2009-86, Section 6) BoatUS has been monitoring the pilot program and investigating its impact on boaters. “We recognize that there are still boaters who have not heard of the legislation but continue to arrive and enjoy Florida’s gorgeous waterways,” said Podlich. “They should know it is illegal to restrict anchoring of non-live-aboard vessels in Florida outside of mooring fields, except in the jurisdiction of the five pilot projects. In 2014, the anchoring ordinances of these five localities will expire unless renewed by the Florida Legislature. In the meantime, boaters should know that anchoring close to any of the five pilot program mooring fields today can be limited by these participating local governments.” BoatUS encourages boaters to become familiar with these local regulations and provide the association with feedback on how they are working. To download and print a copy of the anchoring sheet, go to: www.BoatUS.com/gov/flanchoringsheet, or for more on this issue and to provide comment, go to www.BoatUS.com/gov/floridaanchoring.asp
SOUTHWINDS is printing this sheet for boaters to tear out, or they can keep this issue on board. www.southwindsmagazine.com