I've been at this marina for six years. There are no posted rules - on site or on their web site. There is no "lease" to speak of - only a loose "rental application" I filled out with basic info about size of my boat, who insures it, etc...
Four years ago I decided I hated the layout of the forward cabin. I grabbed a sawzall and chopped out all the furnishings. I have been gradually building in new furniture and a new head (bathroom) in my spare time. I keep the exterior of my boat maintained and if you didn't know me, you'd never know the interior is a construction site.
Except last week I was doing a bit of sanding prior to painting. I limit power tool use to during the day on week days when the place is dead so as not to disturb sailors. However, the maintenance guy was walking by, heard the sound and knocked on my hull. He told me I am not allowed to do any kind of construction work in the marina. Its a "rule" (I cannot find the documentation for this "rule").
I've had a conversation with the marina manager and explained I understand the limitations because of environmental and aesthetic issues - but what I'm doing isn't environmentally impactful (its just wood, interior paint, a little fiberglass and confined to the interior). He insists this is a condition of my slip rental and says I need to go to a boat yard to do the work. Boat yards charge about 10x what the marina charges. I can't afford it. Also, I'm nearly done - about 3 weeks from completion if I'm left alone to complete it.
Ok - on to the question. This prohibition on interior work is news to me. People improve their boats all the time, installing refrigerators, navigation gear, water makers, etc... Furthermore I've been at it off and on for four years so this feels like a change in policy to me. Suddenly, the maintenance guy has decided he has a new game - lets catch that sneaky guy "breaking the rules" again. He is paying special attention to me and my boat and its getting crazy. I was just vacuuming the interior yesterday and he's telling me I have to stop "working".
I understand noise restrictions. I understand limitations on use of power tools that make noise. But I'm being singled out and hassled and I reckon what happens inside my boat and isn't visible to the outside is solely my business and these "rules" seem to be pulled from thin air - I didn't sign any agreement to abide by them and they're not posted.
Do I have any legal recourse like suing in small claims for interferring with the enjoyment of my vessel? Can I be evicted and if so, how long is that likely to take them to execute? Is it like evicting a tenant from an apartment? Can I be cut off from my vessel legally (we use key cards - they could just turn mine off I guess).
I'm considering just pushing ahead to completion (as quietly and discreetly as possible) and hoping it will blow over. Also looking at just moving but there's a shortage of available alternatives.
Thanks for reading all that.
Submitted July 13, 2016 at 03:06PM by cyancynic http://ift.tt/29D3PVp legaladvice
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