Ask a Maritime Attorney - Page 31 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.

How Can I Resolve a Dispute Over Commission Paid to a Broker?

December 18, 2013

I am trying to help my parents with a problem that developed in connection with the recent sale of their boat. The boat was listed with a broker in Southern California, and after the deal closed, he had apparently deducted a...

What Laws Protect Owners of Floating Homes from a Marina Eviction?

December 6, 2013

I own a floating home. The structure consists of a two-story triple-wide modular home integrated onto a 40- by 80-foot barge. I keep the home at a marina here in Southern California, but I just received an eviction notice...

My Boat’s Buyer Is Not Making Payments. What Do I Do Now?

November 20, 2013

I sold my boat a couple of years ago and allowed the buyer to make payments for half of the purchase price. He signed a promissory note, and I recorded a preferred ship’s mortgage with the Coast Guard. He is now three...

Recreational Sailboat vs. Tugboat with Barge: Who Has the Right of Way?

November 6, 2013

I own a sailboat that I keep at a marina in San Diego. We had an encounter in the bay last month with a tugboat that was pushing a barge, and there was some disagreement among our crew as to who had the right of way. We were...

Trying to Sell a Boat When No One Is Alive to Sign the Bill of Sale

October 23, 2013

My father passed away last month and I am working to get his affairs in order. He owned a sailboat, which he purchased three years ago. But after his death, I learned that title for the boat is still in the name of the...