Question: I am having a dispute with my insurance company. They denied coverage after my boat was partially submerged at the dock. The incident occurred after a mechanic completed some work in my engine room. It appears...
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.
Question: Last month my boat was struck by another boat while at anchor at Catalina Island. The damage was substantial, and the repair estimate prepared by a local boat yard came in at around $50,000. The other boat’s...
Ask A Maritime Attorney: Can you explain why my resident marina won’t install ladders?
March 1, 2024
Question: I am a resident in a waterfront community with a marina. We are members of a home owner’s association that governs our homes, the common areas within the coummunity, and the operation of...
Ask A Maritime Attorney: Can you explain the public trust doctrine regarding long-term anchoring?
February 1, 2024
Question: I am a liveaboard boater and I have lived at anchor in various ports up and down the west coast. It comes with a lot of logistical problems, starting with getting back and forth to the boat while it is at anchor,...
Ask a Maritime Attorney: What are the laws regarding rescues at sea?
January 25, 2024
Question: I recently read a social media post about a rescue at sea that was successfully performed by a boat owner who was in the vicinity of the boat in trouble. The post said nothing about the legal requirements of a...