Ask a Maritime Attorney - Page 8 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.

Ask A Maritime Attorney: Are there penalties for chartering my vessel for free veteran events?

May 11, 2023

Question: I have a non-profit company that is set up to take veterans out on fishing and boating excursions, and I have been using my 42-foot power boat for these events. I don’t charge the vets directly for these trips, so...

Ask A Maritime Attorney: Can you explain the property tax allocation after purchasing a used boat?

May 4, 2023

Question: I bought a used sailing yacht through a California broker earlier this year. We used the California Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA) form purchase contract supplied by the broker, which called for the parties to...

Ask A Maritime Attorney: I was stopped by the Coast Guard and searched with no ability to consent or object. Can the Coast Guard preform a warrantless stop?

April 13, 2023

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...

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...

Ask A Maritime Attorney: Do I need a bareboat policy for when I do bareboat rentals?

March 23, 2023

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...