Potters Cove

I

Irishstorm

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exMember
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Feb 11, 2006
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20208
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35
What is the policy regarding picking up a mooring in Potters Cove. I thought it wasn't a problem to pick up an empty mooring. I know they are private but thought that it was Ok. I have done this many times before as well as others that I know. Friday I was out fishing and went into Potters to eat lunch and grabbed a mooring. I was there about 15 minutes when a police boat showd up and asked me if it was my mooring. I told him no and he said to get off the mooring. I was literally the only boat in Potters Cove at the time. Are they now going to keep boaters from picking up a mooring that is not theirs?
 
sort of like parking in someones private, paid, parking spot isn't it???
 
We do that all the time in Hamberg Cove. No anchor there - only moorings. When the owner arrives (twice in 6 years), we graciously leave. After all, it's his or the Yatch Club's mooring. There is no "Poiice Boat" to scurry you off like described in Potters Cove. However, the Town Mooring Club Officials (nice people) arrive to collect on Town moorings for the night if you're there past 5pm. No biggy ($20/night). Life is good!

Can you drop anchor in Potters Cove???
 
Without prior permission, I would guess that it's a no no. The private mooring could have been designed for the moorring owner's very lightweight 16' day sailor, with very light mooring weight or mushroom and very light tackle. Someone comes along and hooks up their 40+ footer, a weather blow kicks up, and that mooring is toast...or at least moved out of position.
 
Ron, like you I have never had a problem pulling up a mooring in PC. Sounds like the police (who I've never seen at PC) had nothing better to do. I know from talking to mooring owners that they generally don't mind unless they show up to use it...if that happens, I simply leave no questions asked. Were you on a mooring near the inside part of the cove or way outside? I go there all the time so I hope there is no issue. I was also under the impression that some of the mooring were public not privately owned but I've never confirmed this.

Tim
 
Ron, like you I have never had a problem pulling up a mooring in PC. Sounds like the police (who I've never seen at PC) had nothing better to do. I know from talking to mooring owners that they generally don't mind unless they show up to use it...if that happens, I simply leave no questions asked. Were you on a mooring near the inside part of the cove or way outside? I go there all the time so I hope there is no issue. I was also under the impression that some of the mooring were public not privately owned but I've never confirmed this.

Tim
 
I've been told that all moorings in PC are privately owned...the dozen or so I've seen up close have the owners name on them. I've been there there at least 4 times each of the last two years and have gotten the boot twice, one time the owner made their dissatisfaction quite obvious. Seems a shame to anchor this early in the season when few of the moorings are used.
 
I have been going to Potters Cove for many years and have also hopped on open moorings. For years, I have never had or witnessed someone being tossed by the harbor patrol. But we were there for a weekend late last summer and saw the Portsmouth Harbor patrol kick off several boats all weekend long. My sense is that the owners have grown tired of coming up to their mooring and having to ask someone to leave then wait for them to move. So the harbor patrol has become much more active.

I am resolving to only anchor in there which I have done many times with no problems.
 
<<..."My sense is that the owners have grown tired of coming up to their mooring and having to ask someone to leave then wait for them to move."...>>

That is a good point. Let me ask this: ... For you guys who have slips, do you mind it when strangers just use your empty slip wihtout asking anytime you are not there, and then have to ask them to move when you return? Is this something that would bother you?
 
I guess I will just drop the hook from now on. I just thought it was weird to get the boot as I was the only one in PC at the time. I have been going there 2-3 times per year over the last 10 years and have never gotten the boot. My neighbors at my marina also go there and pick up a mooring. You just get off if the owner comes. Maybe there has been damage to the moorings lately and the owners have complained and have asked the police to monitor.
 
Potter's Cove. Prudence Island? I can't remember. It's been a lot of years.

When I got into boating, snagging a mooring for an afternoon was not unheard of and condoned. Owner arrived, you cast off and snagged another mooring or dropped anchor.

Times and folks were kinder and more tolerant then.

IIRC, you now have to pay an obnoxious fee to drop a mooring in Narragansett Bay. So I have to ask....is this a power grab thing???????????
 
AS prospective said, the police have been more vigilant at the end of last year and I guess into this year. I have two moorings at my availibility so we are generally alright. I can say that when we have arrived at the mooring and it was occupied, it is a bit annoying, especially if the person has "unpacked" and takes 30 minutes to get going. Then again, I am usually there about every weekend from June through August

There are no public moorings in Potter's Cove

I will say that I am surprised they bothered yuo on a Friday afternoon. They must have been bored. Usually they come by on Sundays
 
You are always welcome to come by. although the 48 footer would be a little large for one of the moorings. The other could handle it. Come by any time.
 
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