Ask a Maritime Attorney - Page 27 of 66

David Weil has been the proud author of the “Ask a Maritime Attorney” column in The Southern California Log Newspaper and Sea Magazine since 2006, with over 300 installments of the column. We have provided links in this section to those articles, covering a wide range of topics of interest to the California maritime and boating communities.

Sunken boat liability — who’s responsible for its removal?

February 12, 2015

I recently lost my boat in a marina fire in Northern California. The fire started aboard a boat in a neighboring slip and my boat was one of four that were totally destroyed. The burned-out hull of my boat is still in the...

Concerns about buying a yacht from a private party without a broker

January 29, 2015

I am buying a yacht in California from a private party without a broker, and the seller’s attorney drafted a two-page purchase agreement. I am a little concerned about whether the agreement adequately addresses the issues...

How do the U.S. Coast Guard, SeaTow and Vessel Assist respond to distress calls?

January 7, 2015

I am researching the services offered by commercial assistance towing companies (such as SeaTow or Vessel Assist), and I am a little confused about the interaction between these services and the U.S. Coast Guard. Under what...

Can ignoring equipment failures become a problem for marine insurance coverage?

December 19, 2014

My boat was out of the water last week for some bottom work and an insurance survey. My marine surveyor told me something about marine insurance coverage that did not make any sense. We were talking about insurance claims...

Shipyard liability release

November 8, 2014

My boat is listed for sale through a California broker and I recently accepted an offer from a prospective buyer. The offer is contingent on a sea trial and survey, which will require the boat to be hauled out of the water...