Posted: January 18, 2012
I was sued in small claims court last year by a marine engine mechanic who did some work on my boat. We had a dispute over whether the job was properly completed, so I decided to withhold my final payment until the problem was resolved. I was out of town on the day of the hearing, so I’m not sure what happened, but I later received notice that a judgment had been entered against me for around $7,000. Last week, the county sheriff seized the boat and I was notified that it will be sold to satisfy the judgment. I am confused by all of this, because my boat is Coast Guard documented, and I had always understood that a lawsuit involving a documented vessel must be filed in federal court, and that the boat would be seized by federal marshals. How was he able to do this through a small claims court lawsuit?
Posted: January 4, 2012
I am considering buying a 39-foot sailing yacht that was built from a kit on a vacant lot. The boat was never completed or put in the water, and ...
Posted: December 23, 2011
Last year, I was involved in a boating accident when I hit an unlit channel marker buoy in San Diego Bay. I wasn’t going very fast, but unfortun ...
Posted: November 25, 2011
I read your article in the most recent issue of The Log Newspaper (Nov. 11-24) concerning the prohibition against the use of foreign-constructed boats ...
Posted: November 11, 2011
I just ran across an online discussion of how the Jones Act and other maritime regulations might interfere with the running of the America’s Cup ...
Posted: October 28, 2011
Posted: October 14, 2011
Posted: July 7, 2011
I was watching Fourth of July fireworks from my boat this weekend, and I was shocked at how many private boats were shooting off signal flares during ...
Posted: June 23, 2011
I am a licensed captain and I operate a sportfishing boat in Southern California as a “six-pack” charter boat. Over the past few years, I ...
Posted: June 9, 2011
I am considering the purchase of a large yacht through a broker, and I have a few questions about the escrow process. I understand that most transacti ...
Posted: May 25, 2011
I am considering the purchase of a boat through a yacht broker, and he has advised me that I must submit the offer with a 10 percent deposit. This is ...
Posted: May 13, 2011
I took a harbor cruise with my family in Long Beach Harbor a couple of weeks ago on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. The afternoon breeze picked up -- a ...
Posted: April 29, 2011
I recently read an article about marine insurance policies in another yachting publication. The author of that article indicated that many shipyards i ...
Posted: March 30, 2011
We are preparing to make an offer on a fairly large boat, and I am concerned that I may be overlooking some of the legal issues associated with the pu ...
Posted: March 17, 2011
Last year, I was sued when I withdrew from an agreement to buy a boat. The agreement called for me to give my boat and cash to the seller in exchange ...