Very curious. So: Do each of the boats need to be registered/licensed/whatever paperwork is needed in the local area? Are they each required to have appropriate Coast Guard equipment, etc.? If one of them breaks loose during a storm and damages something else, how is responsibility determined?
All in all, a thoroughly annoying situation...
Thanks for sharing your pictures! Keeping up with your travels is a highlight of my day!
Phil, the boats are not motorized and are small. Therefore they do not require any registration numbers (just like, for example, a kayak). They are required to comply with the navigation rules, which require an anchor light at night, and if you look closely you can see that each boat has a short "mast" made of PVC pipe with a solar light on top.
As for other "required equipment," that can only be an issue if there are souls aboard. So the CG or other law enforcement can't cite him for, say, lack of life preservers unless and until there are folks aboard to need them.
If they break loose and damage something, then the owner is responsible, of course. But under admiralty law, the maximum liability of a boat owner for any damage to anyone else is the value of his own boat. I'd guess those Lasers are a couple hundred apiece, so that's all he could be sued for unless circumstances can be proven to take it out of that category.
Interestingly, the same part of admiralty law works both ways. So anyone could anchor right in the middle of that field of boats, and bounce into each and every one of them, but he'd have to prove damages. So if Vector sunk a half dozen of his boats, I'd maybe owe him a thousand bucks -- some might say it would be worth it. That being said, I would not want an admiralty judgment on my record...
Share your comments on this post! We currently allow anyone to comment without registering. If you choose to use the "anonymous" option, please add your name or nickname to the bottom of your comment, within the main comment box. Getting feedback signed simply "anonymous" is kind of like having strangers shout things at us on the street: a bit disconcerting. Thanks!
Very curious. So: Do each of the boats need to be registered/licensed/whatever paperwork is needed in the local area? Are they each required to have appropriate Coast Guard equipment, etc.? If one of them breaks loose during a storm and damages something else, how is responsibility determined?
ReplyDeleteAll in all, a thoroughly annoying situation...
Thanks for sharing your pictures! Keeping up with your travels is a highlight of my day!
Phil, the boats are not motorized and are small. Therefore they do not require any registration numbers (just like, for example, a kayak). They are required to comply with the navigation rules, which require an anchor light at night, and if you look closely you can see that each boat has a short "mast" made of PVC pipe with a solar light on top.
DeleteAs for other "required equipment," that can only be an issue if there are souls aboard. So the CG or other law enforcement can't cite him for, say, lack of life preservers unless and until there are folks aboard to need them.
If they break loose and damage something, then the owner is responsible, of course. But under admiralty law, the maximum liability of a boat owner for any damage to anyone else is the value of his own boat. I'd guess those Lasers are a couple hundred apiece, so that's all he could be sued for unless circumstances can be proven to take it out of that category.
Interestingly, the same part of admiralty law works both ways. So anyone could anchor right in the middle of that field of boats, and bounce into each and every one of them, but he'd have to prove damages. So if Vector sunk a half dozen of his boats, I'd maybe owe him a thousand bucks -- some might say it would be worth it. That being said, I would not want an admiralty judgment on my record...