What makes a good moorage listing?
A strong moorage listing has a clear title, detailed description, accurate coordinates, safety details, and quality photos. Highlight unique features, set guest expectations, and provide rules. Good listings attract bookings, improve guest satisfaction, and ensure safe, transparent use of your moorage. Creativity and clarity help hosts stand out in the community.
Sharing your moorage with OnBuoy guests can be completed in just a few simple steps. But what makes an effective and detailed moorage listing? This will be your go-to guide to sharing your moorage with the OnBuoy community. Whether you’re looking for inspiration for a title or are stumped when it comes to rules to include, this article has it all!
1. Moorage Title
To begin, let’s look at the first step - an intriguing title. It’s important to craft a clear and concise title that captures the location of your moorage. Feel free to add a little creativity to your listing title as well!

Here are some examples:
- Calm Gig Harbor Hideaway - Private Mooring Dock
- Picturesque Blake Island Moorage
- Whidbey Island Paradise Mooring
- Secluded Camano Island Retreat - Private Mooring Buoy
- Serene Fidalgo Island Escape
2. Moorage Description
The description provides a little more detail into the location of your moorage and amenities. This is an opportunity to educate visitors about all the things that make your moorage a delightful place to tie up but also any issues they should be aware of when visiting, like water currents, rules you have for its use, or underwater obstructions.
- Mooring Type: Indicate whether it's a mooring buoy or private dock.
- Location: Briefly mention the nearest body of water.
- Key Features: Highlight unique aspects like proximity to attractions, how many feet from shore, scenic beauty, or special amenities (if applicable).
- Guest Expectations: Outline any house rules or specific instructions for guests, like shore access priviledges, quiet hours, etc.. By default, all moorages listed on OnBuoy do not include shore access but it’s a good idea to specify your shore access rules anyway just to reiterate your rules for the guests.

Here are some examples:
- This buoy located in Bessborough Bay, a small inlet tucked into the northeastern coast of Vancouver Island, offers calm waters ideal for sheltered moorage. Please maintain quiet hours between 10 pm and 7 am. No shore access.
- Nestled on Fidalgo Island near Deception Pass, this buoy is only 30 feet from shore with a depth at low tide of 15 feet. This moorage is located among a waterfront community, offering stunning views and easy access to kayaking adventures in the state park's coves. Shore access is available at the Fidalgo marina.
- This Aleck Bay buoy near Lopez Island offers serenity with its sandy shores dotted by cabins, while the spacious water provides a scenic anchorage protected from northerly winds, perfect for relaxing getaways and water adventures. No shore access.
3. Accurate Coordinates
Provide the exact latitude and longitude of your moorage for easy navigation for your guests. This can oftentimes be found in your inspection report or installation invoice. While OnBuoy requires that coordinates are in decimal form, some reports may have alternative formats. This small change can easily be done in under 1 minute!
To learn more about converting a different format into decimal coordinates be sure to check out this article here!

4. Transparency and Safety
Clearly state the maximum size limit for boats that can safely use your moorage. Check out this article here to learn more about figuring out what the maximum size boat that can fit at your moorage is. Also, indicate the water depth at low tide to ensure compatibility with different boat drafts.

5. High-Quality Photos
Include 2-3 captivating photos showcasing your moorage from various angles. At least one of these must be of your moorage, but the more photos you provide, the easier it will be for your guests to find it!
These photos are important to help guests tie up to the correct moorage. Be sure to show any distinguishing features of your moorages or local landmarks to help your guests easily identify your spot.
To learn more about taking quality photos of your moorage, check out this article here!

At OnBuoy, we believe travel is more than just getting from point A to point B. It's about exploration, discovery, and creating memories that last a lifetime. We encourage you to be creative with your listing and share your beautiful location with the OnBuoy community.