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.

When friendly arrangements turn sour

May 25, 2014
 I bought a 41 foot power boat two years ago with the help of a friend who loaned me the money for 80 percent of the purchase price. He funded the transaction by taking out a home equity loan, and our arrangement called for...

How to proceed with a lien sale

April 27, 2014
 Procedures for the enforcement or foreclosure of a vessel lien or mortgage vary considerably depending on whether the boat is state-registered or documented with the U.S. Coast Guard.  Unfortunately it sounds like our...

Do I need workers compensation insurance?

April 12, 2014
I own a construction company that is performing seismic upgrades and electrical work on a fuel dock at a marina in the Bay area.  I have workers compensation insurance for my employees but my insurance broker now tells me...

The Difference between a Loan and a Mortgage

March 13, 2014
 I purchased a Vessel and originated a loan with an institutional lender in 2003.  At the time of the purchase the lender recorded a “Preferred Ship Mortgage” with the Coast Guard.  Unfortunately the boat sank several...