Mooring Ball

A mooring ball is a permanent floating buoy attached by a sub-surface line to a heavy anchor, concrete mushroom, or helical screw set into the seabed. A vessel ties to the mooring ball via its own bow line, avoiding the need to set its own anchor. Mooring fields are typically maintained by marinas, municipalities, or private owners and are rented by the night.

Mooring balls protect seagrass and coral from anchor damage and are often mandatory in sensitive marine sanctuaries — parts of the Florida Keys and Bahamas require the use of designated mooring fields within protected zones.

For charters, mooring ball fields offer a convenient, lower-cost overnight option between full marina stops. Fees are typically a fraction of slip rates, though amenities are limited: no shore power, no direct walk-off access, dinghy required for shore excursions.