Down here in the Caribbean there are more and more moorings popping up of the for profit variety and while these mooring fields are being marketed as "green" and "for the protection of the environment" most are anything but...
One of my main objections to moorings is that the folks who put them down, while being very energetic in the collection of fees are somewhat less energetic when it comes to actually maintaining them (maintenance would cut into the profits no doubt). Which, just maybe, is the reason that when they collect your $25 they also have you sign a release which absolves them of any damage to your boat (or boats you may damage) as a result of the mooring failing...
Over the years, being an avid diver, I have seen some very scary mooring systems both in design (would you believe dog chain?) and mooring tackle so badly maintained that the rope was only a thread or two from parting while the chain components were rusted through and ready to part from their own weight (much less a ten-ton sailboat). These days we keep hearing more and more stories of sailboats going walkabout because of mooring failures and as the various mooring for profit mooring systems tackle gets older I expect we will be hearing about a lot more in the not too distant future.
Of course, if you find yourself in a situation where you are required to pick up a mooring, I cannot stress enough the need to dive on it and inspect it before you pay for the mooring, leave your boat unattended or sleep.
For more on the subject you might want to drop over to the always worthwhile Attainable Adventure Cruising for the sad story of the loss of "Kantele" and a postscript.
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