Miami Beach Anchoring Etiquette - A Letter to Cruisers
Miami Beach welcomes responsible visitors including those who come by yacht

By Morris Sunshine, Ph.D.
Posted Thursday, April 22, 2010

 
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Dear Editor:

The Miami Beach Marine Patrol is no longer enforcing this city's nastly old ordinance that limited anchoring in local waters to 7 days. This policy change, of course, is due to the recent changes in Florida law covering anchoring. Sailors may anchor wherever they want for as long they wish provided that they do not anchor in ways that would interfere with marine traffic. All that is very good news for cruising sailors.

However, as a resident of Miami Beach, a former chairman of the Miami Beach Marine Authority and as a cruising sailor, I urge cruisers coming to Miami Beach to obey the rules of common marine decency:

(1) Do not pollute local waters by secretly pumping your head over the side; find and use a nearby pumpout station.
(2) Do not anchor too near residential buildings on the shore. Residents sometimes feel that their privacy is being infringed on. A good rule of thumb, say, is keep off at least 200 feet.
(3) Shift your anchorage regularly, say, every four days. You would be surprised at the number of complaints I have heard about boats that are "in my backyard for the season."
(4) Never approach a waterfront residence in your dinghy after dark. It may eventuate in needless calls to the police by people who fear theft of their outboard motors or burglary of their homes.
(5) When you take your trash ashore, place it securely in a City of Miami Beach garbage container. (6) Do not play loud music. Amplified sound can easily carry two miles! If your music is plainly audible at 100 feet, it is too loud. The city of Miami Beach has noise laws and they are actually enforced by the Police and Code Compliance Departments.
(7) If you come ashore at Monument Island to have an alcohol-fueled party with amplified music, do not be surprised when you are arrested by the police for both illegal consumption of alcohol and making excessive noise. The city is cracking down and visiting sailors should know that.
(8) If you use any public park, e.g., Monument Island, put your trash in containers provided for that purpose. Read signs carefully and clear the park before the closing hours. Persons hanging out in MB public parks after the closing hour will be prosecuted.
(9) If you bring your dog ashore, it must always be on a leash and you must clean up after it, so bring along those sandwich bags.
(10) If there is an emergency and you will have to leave your anchored boat for a several days or longer, be sure to contact the MB Marine Patrol. Finally,
(11) the city has no CG-approved anchorage area. Hence, you must use your anchor light after dusk.

Miami Beach welcomes responsible visitors including those who come by yacht. The city has great places to eat, excellent medical facilities, libraries, supermarkets, laundries, hardware stores, marine supply stores, pharmacies and banks. The public transportation system is very good. And, our marine police patrol has a new director, Sgt. George, who is very professional, user-friendly, and can advise visiting sailors about satisfying their cruising needs.

The telephone number for the Miami Beach Marine Patrol is 305.673.7959.

Morris Sunshine, Ph.D.

Qualityoflife@the-beach.net

Miami Beach