So according to my very basic understanding, you can't go around making your own moorings (I'm in WA) but if I went out and bought an anchor 5 sizes too big and plonked it down and left my boat tied up for 6 months, in some areas that's perfectly fine.
So here's my question, at what point can I get a fine for making my own "anchor" and is there an official definition of the difference?
FYI, I have a trailer sailer and over summer want to leave it set up in the water. Where I can very safely anchor is protected from swell and there are no moorings there, so not in anyone's way and sandy bottoms so not destroying any sea life.
I guess if you can lift it, it's an anchor ? I've been tempted myself to drop a well oversized anchor at my summer anchor spot, same deal no other vessels have a reason to anchor there.
this would be a good place to start
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/moorings-and-pens.asp
I'll hazard a guess that if ya leave it behind it's a mooring. If you take it with you it's an anchor.
Select to expand quotegarymalmgren said..
You anchor in an anchorage and you moor in a mooring field.
Gary
Ahh, but are the two mutually exclusive?? 
Excellent mooring size report by the Kiwis here fyi in case you were wondering what size mooring block and tackle to put down
www.boprc.govt.nz/media/456922/ocel-swing-mooring-design-report-v2.pdf
So after reading all the DoT articles I still couldn't find anything that gave the definition of an anchor. So I've gone with 2 danforth anchors end to end with a metre of chain between and then 100kg of steel plates on a 10kg pipe where I can slide each plate on and off as the third heavy anchor, followed by about 5m of chain. It's only an 18ft in 1.5m of water and about 20m offshore, so three anchors should hold it.
If needed I could have the whole lot up and out the water and into the boat in about 5mins, you can't do that with a mooring so therefore it must be an anchor. I think the cleats will break before this anchor moves so no need to go any bigger
I think the WA authorities will say this is a mooring if you use it for more than a couple of hours or days.
mooring" means any gear (including an anchor or stake) set out in a permanent manner to which a vessel or other floating structure may be secured by a chain, cable, wire or rope;
From the definition in the Mooring Regulations 1998 www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_1826_homepage.html
If there are no moorings there in your way just use a correctly sized modern anchor that is capable of resetting. A short bit of chain and a decent swivel to the rope. Take it with you in the anchor locker and reset when you return. With a decent swivel the boat will remain anchored and the rope not unravel with the tide and wind changes.
Select to expand quoter13 said..
Excellent mooring size report by the Kiwis here fyi in case you were wondering what size mooring block and tackle to put down
www.boprc.govt.nz/media/456922/ocel-swing-mooring-design-report-v2.pdf
Great link, I've been looking for that having built a block and gear using that about 12 years ago.
Thanks.
Regards from jeff.
Edit 1 to 12.. my keyboard old..
