a few months ago a boat moved into the slip next to my sailboat. At first I didnt notice a problem but one day when I came back in from sailing, I had left on an ingoing tide and returned on an outgoing tide , I noticed that my neighbors boat was extending into my slip by almost a foot. This made it very difficult for me to get into my slip and I actually nudged his boat a little. It has gotten very ugly with him not wanting to move his boat and actually trying to make me responsible for thousands of dollars of damage , when I actually just nudged his boat, rubrail against rubrail. The marina has finally gotten him to move his boat, although he has just barely moved it. It goes right up to the midline between the two pilings. The marina does not seem to address exactly what constitutes ones slip space. Has anyone addressed this before. I would think that out of coutesy you would not want to even cross the line on the inside of your own pilings. I would appreciate any input into this problem. thank you.
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My 2 cents...
1. If you hit his boat, for whatever reason, call your insurance company. They will likely look into the facts, along with the marina's and other boat owner's insurance. (Neighbor's boat broke a piling, then damange from the pier. His ins co is going after the marina owner to reimburse the damage.) 2. My guess is, if you hit it, you are responsbile. Think a parking spot at the mall, you just can't hit the other car who's parked crazy, no matter how bad you want to. 3. How did a "nudge" turn into thousands of dollars worth of damange? I don't see how 2 versions of the story can be that different. 4. The def of leased space should be spelled out in the lease agreement. You typically rent the right to use whatever space is assigned to you by the marina. If your current space is unusuable, for whatever reason, demand another one. Why fight it? Move and go sailing. 5. Is this NC or SC? If so, what marina? We should note the problems.
1. If you hit his boat, for whatever reason, call your insurance company. They will likely look into the facts, along with the marina's and other boat owner's insurance. (Neighbor's boat broke a piling, then damange from the pier. His ins co is going after the marina owner to reimburse the damage.) 2. My guess is, if you hit it, you are responsbile. Think a parking spot at the mall, you just can't hit the other car who's parked crazy, no matter how bad you want to. 3. How did a "nudge" turn into thousands of dollars worth of damange? I don't see how 2 versions of the story can be that different. 4. The def of leased space should be spelled out in the lease agreement. You typically rent the right to use whatever space is assigned to you by the marina. If your current space is unusuable, for whatever reason, demand another one. Why fight it? Move and go sailing. 5. Is this NC or SC? If so, what marina? We should note the problems.
Same Problem
Over the 15 years that I have had the same slip, I've had about 6 different neighbors. Some allow plenty of room. Others have been so wide that there is only room for a fender between us. I have never had a controversy with any of my neighbors. The advice that I can offer you is to always have fenders out on both sides of your boat to ward off any "nudges" and not give anybody reason to be crabby. Or hope that you don't have any crabby neighbors. Other than that, you can always request that you be moved to another slip and leave your troubles behind.
Over the 15 years that I have had the same slip, I've had about 6 different neighbors. Some allow plenty of room. Others have been so wide that there is only room for a fender between us. I have never had a controversy with any of my neighbors. The advice that I can offer you is to always have fenders out on both sides of your boat to ward off any "nudges" and not give anybody reason to be crabby. Or hope that you don't have any crabby neighbors. Other than that, you can always request that you be moved to another slip and leave your troubles behind.
slip V lines for docking ...
In our port it is possible to attach 2 lines forming a V with the lower point of the V fixed on a dock and each upper end of the V tied round the pilings. On entering your slip , point the bow into the lower point of the V and the sidelines keep you from blowing into a neighbor's slip... 2) can you tie guidelines from the pilings towards a dock so your boat will contact the line before it contacts his boat ? ( this would also keep him out of 'your' slipspace. By the way I think the national marina owner's association has some standards for beam of boat vs. slip width, it sounds to me like your neighbor has acquired a slip too narrow for his beam.. usually for a certain LOA, a certain beam is allotted, an owner trying to save $ on the slip length will try to cram a large boat in a small slip.. take some digital photos and stake out your water-turf....and if the marina put this devil of a neighbor into a smaller slip than his boat requires, the owner should be partially responsible for any damage -- though i cannot imagine how a functional rubrail will allow 'thousands' of $ of damage .... MitchM
In our port it is possible to attach 2 lines forming a V with the lower point of the V fixed on a dock and each upper end of the V tied round the pilings. On entering your slip , point the bow into the lower point of the V and the sidelines keep you from blowing into a neighbor's slip... 2) can you tie guidelines from the pilings towards a dock so your boat will contact the line before it contacts his boat ? ( this would also keep him out of 'your' slipspace. By the way I think the national marina owner's association has some standards for beam of boat vs. slip width, it sounds to me like your neighbor has acquired a slip too narrow for his beam.. usually for a certain LOA, a certain beam is allotted, an owner trying to save $ on the slip length will try to cram a large boat in a small slip.. take some digital photos and stake out your water-turf....and if the marina put this devil of a neighbor into a smaller slip than his boat requires, the owner should be partially responsible for any damage -- though i cannot imagine how a functional rubrail will allow 'thousands' of $ of damage .... MitchM
Slip
Some good advice above...would the marina put in a piling or two in the middle, between you and your friendly neighbor?
Some good advice above...would the marina put in a piling or two in the middle, between you and your friendly neighbor?
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