Legal advice!
 

OK, any thoughts on this would be helpful. Ok, I was out on the Mississippi river this past weekend and although this didnt happen to me, it happened to a guy next to me and was wondering what options would be available if this ever did happen to me. Basically, we were at a sand bar, obviously a very busy weekend, however in my experience, it has always been first come, first serve on a river sand bar. Apparently, a guy had his boat anchored at the sand bar but ran in to the Marina with another boat to help with something. He was gone for an hour to and hour and a half. While he was gone, someone actually moved his boat from his spot, put it between 2 pontoons up river about 25 yds. They didnt bother to put out any bumpers and his boat was getting beat by the pontoons. I dont know if there was any significant damage to his boat but in my opinion, it really doesnt matter. If you dont have my permission, you stay the hell out of my boat. I told him he handled it a lot better than I would have. I feel that it would be trespassing and even possibly theft but really dont know. Any thoughts? By the way, the boat wasnt a Mariah but a very beautiful Crownline, however, nobody better touch my beloved Mariah without my permission.

Re: Legal advice!
 

Well for one taking any vehicle without permission up here is theft, secondly damaging it if he found out who had it they should be liable. But thirdly as you so nicely put it If some one touchs my Mariah without exspressed written permission, from darkcalling dark industries and or Darth V enterprises: it would be the last boat they ever touched deep lakes and heavy wieghts and lots of hunger fish. Just my opinion

Re: Legal advice!
 

It is amazing what some people think they can just do... :shakehead:

That being said, the person who moved the boat would be liable for all damages and could be (should) be brought up for theft.

People like that need to be made an example of.

Just unacceptable.

Re: Legal advice!
 

More common than you think! Where I live.... the city marina charges X amount of dollars per foot for a day/night stay. In my case about $32/night. Much like a motel room, that slip is mine for a 24 hour period. BUT..... money talks and when the rich show up, you get booted to another slip. If you are not there they will start YOUR BOAT (if keys are in it) and move it. Here is the best part... if no keys are in it, they attach lines and will walk it boat to boat, dock to dock, or TOW IT behind another boat. All this while I'm 100 yards away having dinner/drinks. This happens so much here it makes me sick! Not talking about a small marina either. If a 60 footer shows up and wants to be next to "thier friends" you best be packing yer chit!

Re: Legal advice!
 

When you dock at a marina, many have the "right" to move boats as necessary to accommodate other boats. Since we don't get a contract and even if we do, we don't necessarily read the mouse print.

This is very different then going to a sand bar and having someone out of the blue just decide on their own to move someone else's boat without permission so they can be where they want to be and too bad for anyone else.

Totally different scenario....

Re: Legal advice!
 

thats why I bring a cable and lock for overnight stay

Re: Legal advice!
 

I usually have a few hundred lbs of Akitas on board or in my truck seems to work well ;)

Re: Legal advice!
 

I tried to stay silent on this issue but I cant. In Ohio,it would be not be considered theft. There is a law called Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. I would have called the local agency and filed the report and have the "you know what" charged.