Question: Last year I was stopped by a Coast Guard boat while leaving Long Beach Grand Prix on my boat. I was given a sobriety test by one member of the Coast Guard crew, while others searched my boat from bow to stern while...
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.
Ask A Maritime Attorney: What steps do I need to take when purchasing a boat other than have a professional look at it?
April 6, 2023
Question: I just submitted an offer to buy a used boat and I want to do everything possible to avoid any problems with the purchase. I know I need to have the boat inspected by a professional, but are there other steps I can...
Question: I have a boat that I would like to rent out for bareboat charters and also for six pack charters. I have my captains license and I already have a six pack charter insurance policy on the boat. Is it necessary that I...
Ask A Maritime Attorney: How “broad” is the insurance coverage of physical damage to my boat?
March 9, 2023
Question: I have a question concerning the physical damage insurance coverage on my boat. The policy defines the phrase “caused by” quite broadly, stating that it means “any loss that is contributed to, made worse by,...
Ask A Maritime Attorney: Can I record a maritime lien against the boat to secure my attorneys’ fee claim?
February 23, 2023
Question: I am in litigation over the sale of my boat last year. The buyer sued me, as well as my yacht broker and his own broker. This is clearly a frivolous lawsuit, and it looks like we will be on the winning side. My...