A houseboat washed ashore on the beach at Oatland Esplanade this morning while a 15m cruiser which broke its mooring had to be saved from hitting rocks at entrance to Bayview Harbour by the Coast Guard.

Earlier today, a yacht broke its anchorage at Jacobs Well and collided with a houseboat, causing superficial damage.

Gold Coast Water Police Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Lucas Young said recent high winds and above-average tides had caused several boats to become adrift, including three dinghies which had to be saved from hitting rocks over the weekend.

 He put the problem down to insecure anchors and poor mooring practices.

 ``If you are on a registered mooring the lines become fatigues because they are in the water all the time, so check them periodically and ensure the integrity of the line,'' he said.