TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands E-mail from Boatyball

You'll know it's gone too far when charter companies start removing the anchors from the boats - and putting a sticker with the BB website where the windlass controls were.

Oh come on guys... Let's have some substantive conversation. This just bash boatyball stuff is getting old...

Carol,

Have you ever seen so much passion on a subject as there is with getting BB out of the BVI?

The answer is "no" and I think the passion is a little overdone..

I’ll bet anyone here that Alec and his cronies never worry about arriving and not getting a Moorings ball.
Now of course they’ll Want to reply that they go through the same procedures that the charterers go through yet they know it’s not going to hold any weight.

For whats its worth I actually have a lot of respect for Alec. It takes a lot of courage for this young man to stay on this board in the face of the relentless onslaught. To his credit he has actually become a lot more forthcoming with his BB responses and apparently the sole spokesmen for BB on this board....

All IMHO

I also think Alex is doing a good job.

I here you guys bitching about $40 for a mooring ball.

But, not one complaint about why a 20 min private water taxi from Red Hook to West End costs $550 to $700. Crickets. I know insurance is a lot and fuel, but come on.

The real problem isn’t the fees its the fact that you have to make reservations during your vacation so basically your not fully on vacation.
Now don’t come up with “You can always anchor” because anyone familiar with the anchorages knows that the moorings cover the majority of the field and if approximately 20% decided to anchor they would be too close to a ball.

for some reason, boatyball always has the moorings in the best oftern most sheltered locations.

I can see reasons to not like it, but plenty of people make reservations for slips while on vacation. How is this so different? It is simply a change.

My initial thoughts were that it wasn't a big deal aside from the rigid times you had to book it. And the fact that there are services that were already in place that could have been used (dockwa for example). But I do think their new initiative is going too far. And even prior there were a lot of smaller things to work out.

For what its worth I have absolutely no issue with the cost...after chartering a 514 powercat, paying for gas, paying for provisions and plane tickets to SJU and chartering a flight it isnt even rounding error and 1 day of BB is less than my parking/commute to DC on any given day.

I personally dont even have an issue from a captains standpoint....

I have no issue with the business model as simply a mooring payment system.

My total and complete issue is with the owners of BB continuous and persistent disingenuous and deceptive marketing practices. My assumption is that if they are brazenly doing that the to the chartering world they are more than likely doing that to the BVI businesses. And that part to me is totally unacceptable. BB is a classic case book study on how to not to market a business and that in the long run integrity and character do matter.

It is my understanding that Alec is not an owner of BB so at least for me he has my full respect....

Alll IMHO

Hey, I've seen people here very passionate about flag etiquette and fender management too....(and let's not even start on holding tanks!)

Its really simple for me. Any system that gives preferential access to Mooring balls and completely locks many people out of those balls is unacceptable. This was never about making things easier for charterers or mooring owners. It’s about making big dollars for boatyball. If it was about convenience they would have simply kept all the balls FCFS and allowed online payment. They need to have control of the balls and who books to extort people into booking charters with them. As they gain control of more and more balls the power they will have to force charter bookings through their site increases. This will have a major impact with real charter brokers in the BVI. I for one will not do any business with any company that chooses to partner with boatyball.
G

Really can’t compare it with dock reservations. Dock reservations aren’t new and are an accepted part of the boating community.

...and probably don't have to be sitting with a finger on an app waiting for some magical time to arrive to try and win a lottery as it were.....

I joined this forum as I plan to charter in the BVIs next summer for the first time, and I can tell you I'm not at all excited about this change. When you are on vacation, this 7am exact schedule for BB is the last thing you want. Really not great at all. Even if you could schedule in advance a few days, the winds, weather, and plans can all change last minute.

The good news is:
a. Shouldn't really matter in the summer....unless
b. They continue take over more balls.

Boatyball...the new evil empire!

If you don’t book your charter through boatyball the 7am window might well be a non issue.
G

Interesting point...and agree

I for one plan to go to Wonky Dog more and to recommend it more since not only did they not succumb to BB but in fact have added FCFS which not only benefits them but benefits all the Anegada business's and the BVIs as a whole...and, of course the food is great. Good business role models...

I have discussed BB with Moorings several times...

What if you're a boat owner and don't use the usual booking procedures?

G[/quote]


Interesting point...and agree

I for one plan to go to Wonky Dog more and to recommend it more since not only did they not succumb to BB but in fact have added FCFS which not only benefits them but benefits all the Anegada business's and the BVIs as a whole...and, of course the food is great. Good business role models...

I have discussed BB with Moorings several times...[/quote]

Perhaps encourage Wonky Dog with their new balls to offer advance reservations directly.

The Last Resort did this with a few balls and since I had to pick up at airport on night of Full Moon Party, I took advantage of this advance reservation , DIRECTLY from the ball owner. There was a "premium" $ for the ball, but it also gave you "bar credit", thus ensuring your patronage at The Last Resort. (A "reserved" floater was attached to the mooring ball, clearly stating "Reserved"

Perhaps instead of just whining and bashing BB for the changes from "the good ole days", encourage COMPETITION. Email reservations with ability to cancel with adequate notice, thus allowing usage by others.

Competition in free market society helps to control prices as well as many other things about BB that the BBHaters Society dislikes.

Warren, have you discussed this possibility with Peter?

This whole conversation makes me want to stick to USVI, SVI, PR, and STM. The BVIs continue to suck all the cash they can from the boating community. Still, there are lots of good places to anchor in the BVIs. We definitely trust our ground tackle more than moorings.

Cheers, RickG

No soup for you!!

For the most part I don't see an issue with BB. Seems like they're just capitalists. The argument in large part on this board is somehow they are providing a service we don't want. When is that a criteria for anything? Remember pet rocks? No one needed that item and they sold them in truck loads. Your choice is to buy or not buy the product. Take your money somewhere else. Use the pointy thing up front and anchor your boat somewhere else. I just don't understand the passion here. However......

I do have a question for the admins. Alec appears to be on the Boatyball payroll and he is clearly promoting his product on this forum. My understanding of the forum rules are that you need to be a sponsor to do that. Perhaps you could clarify what you are allowed to post as a member vs. a sponsor? I'm sure there are many on this forum who would like the opportunity to promote product without paying for sponsorship.

thanks!

I agree with looking at the other islands!
I trust my ground tackle just fine as well. But I'm not sure I trust all of the people chartering boats. Second issue is that many of the bays someone might want to stay overnight is full of moorings and has little opportunity to anchor. Meaning you have to anchor farther away and possibly have a long/wet dingy ride to get to a place to eat/shop. The moorings obviously fulfill a need.

So far, I haven't seen Alec posting a new post, but responding to posts by others. Certainly, if someone else posts a thread about YOUR business, you should be able to respond to defend yourself or explain yourself, no? All the 'advertising' for BB here seems to come from members who bring it up in every other thread..

Agreed that he hasn’t started many posts before t when he replies he some times says things that are half truths. For example the mentioning that with BB your guaranteed a safe and fully insured mooring ball but the Mooring balls are put in by Moore Secure are the ones responsible.
A lot of times according to other posters they give out false information and do it in a way where it’s almost a borderline question which would require a response. Etc etc

Not in the BVI, but there are areas where it is. As I said though, it is a change. People resist change.

The having to sit and wait to be able to book it though and only have a chance of getting it like buying tickets for the hottest event around is a problem though. And their newest practice of potentially giving preferential treatment is a problem as well. I think if it was done right it could be good, but the way they did it isn't ideal.

I think the passion against it here comes from the fact it is taking away FCFS mooring balls. And it seems in many cases, taking the better balls.

My thoughts all along have really been a reservation system doesn't really work or prevent the hassle of getting somewhere and not finding a ball unless every single ball is part of the system.

I think the passion against it here comes from the fact it is taking away FCFS mooring balls. And it seems in many cases, taking the better balls.

My thoughts all along have really been a reservation system doesn't really work or prevent the hassle of getting somewhere and not finding a ball unless every single ball is part of the system.[/quote


The object of BB is to get all the FCFS balls and monopolize the mooring fields other wise they would make their balls FCFS and when someone ties up to one they would be able to go online and pay for it.

I don’t understand how BB benefits the establishments that are converting their balls or the independents that own balls. If I am CIBC I am full every day during the high season and a goo d part of the shoulder season. What benefit does BB add? I would like to hear their sales pitch.

I think the pitch is that no one needs to go out to collect the fees.

Unless you have lived in the BVI, it’s hard to imagine how bad the banks are, not to mention they are only in Road Town. Not having to handle that much cash and ferry to RT is a big advantage, quite apart from the challenges of collecting and tracking cash.

Got it. Thx.

Good answer!

ok... so here is my suggestion. Everyone on this forum should stop referencing BoatyBall. Instead it should be "the service we will not mention by name" or maybe "the company who's name shall not be mentioned". Or whatever you want to use. That way all these posts are not advertisements for BB. Let me show you how it's done with my second suggestion.

Second suggestion. What I have heard pretty clearly is that getting up and fighting in virtual space for a ball from the company who's name we shall not mention really bothers people. Fighting over a mooring ball in person in the mooring field in the afternoon is however acceptable (sarcasm intended). The way to get around this issue is actually pretty straight forward (and more sarcasm coming) and just involves funding a go-fund-me project that I will surely put in place to create a web site that your can register yourself where you can choose the date and the mooring balls you might want to reserve - give it a whole list in order that you prefer. The site would then fire up a bot at 7:00:00 and attempt to make a reservation for you following the list that you have set up. It will then e-mail you the outcome so when you get out of your bunk at ten or so you can check your e-mail inbox. Surely this service is worth 5 bucks since it will eliminate the need to fight with the other boaters at the ungodly hour of 0700 and it doesn't depend on having a fast internet connection that morning. So fix the problem of the company who's name we can't mention with another web service that we can all hate on. Perfect or what?

Ahhh!!! So there is the definition of a perfectly good counter to the company who shall not be mentioned by name. Create a on-line service where people can pay for FCFS moorings. Not a reservation system - just a payment system. When the person comes to collect you just show him your receipt. Or even better - number the FCFS balls and you can specify it when you pay on line. That way the guys don't even need to come by your boat. This has the upside of no cash involved and the mooring owner doesn't need to come collect. This would take away - to large degree - the incentive of the mooring owners to use the company who's name shall not be mentioned. Who's in on this one?

Its a Ching thing and already in the works

I dont know what that means. Please enlighten me!

Ching a new system of payment like Square but for the Caribbean

So SleepyChef,
Do I infer that Wonky Dog moorings will be reservable by other than That Company Who's Name We Shall Not Speak(TCWNWSNS)?