JoeKel
Newbie
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2023
- Messages
- 3
- Vessel Name
- Forget Aboat It
- Vessel Make
- 60' Chris Craft Motoryacht
Hi! We're new to the forum and are hoping our fellow boaters can give us more information.
We just moved to a new marina after being kicked out without notice from the Safe Harbor Regatta Point in Palmetto where we had signed an annual contract. Fees were automatically paid on time every month and we had no issues with anyone - or so we thought. We had a golf cart and scooter parked in the parking lot, and two limos that were legally parked away from the marina on city property (police verified). We were six months into the lease when the dockmaster gave us a notice from a lawyer to leave without cause. Since we were planning on looking for a more "tropical island" vibe anyway, we just decided that it made us move sooner than we planned. However, it was a huge pain even trying to find anywhere that allows liveaboards.
We actually didn't even find one - we went for one month to the Bradenton Beach Marina where you can stay 8 nights per month. However, we actually live on the boat. I rent a room in a house and have a new motorhome, so I have a physical mailing address. However, Joe has been living on the boat for years. We both just came over from Fort Lauderdale last January.
We just moved to the Seafood Shack Marina in Cortez (Bradenton Beach) after waiting for a slip for a month. They know that we are liveaboards, and have others here who do...along with some derelict boats that are in disrepair and never attended to. We got here on the 1st and have a great relationship (so we thought) with the dockmaster. We parked our one car, two golf carts and two scooters exactly where he told us to; he even told us where to charge the carts.
However, the day we arrived some other assistant dockmaster started giving us a hard time, first telling us to clean up our boat (which isn't bad but could be painted - we've actively been working on that), and then telling us to move the boat to another slip. It progressed to a point where he started telling us that "the big boss" (unknown and he won't name) said we have to move the golf carts and scooters completely off the property or they would be towed in a matter of hours, and even that we had to leave with our boat by the end of the night! There is no reason - we've complied with everything the dockmaster has said, and even what this new unknown guy said!
So our question is basically - what are our rights as liveaboard boat owners in Florida (Manatee County)?! Can any marina just up and kick you out without notice and without reason? We're the largest boat in the marina so we figured we should be their best customer, since we're paying the most rent by the foot. However, it feels like we're being harassed and discriminated against, and it's causing a ton of stress and anxiety, not to mention time and expense as we search for a place to live.
Any help, insights, information or stories will be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks in advance
We just moved to a new marina after being kicked out without notice from the Safe Harbor Regatta Point in Palmetto where we had signed an annual contract. Fees were automatically paid on time every month and we had no issues with anyone - or so we thought. We had a golf cart and scooter parked in the parking lot, and two limos that were legally parked away from the marina on city property (police verified). We were six months into the lease when the dockmaster gave us a notice from a lawyer to leave without cause. Since we were planning on looking for a more "tropical island" vibe anyway, we just decided that it made us move sooner than we planned. However, it was a huge pain even trying to find anywhere that allows liveaboards.
We actually didn't even find one - we went for one month to the Bradenton Beach Marina where you can stay 8 nights per month. However, we actually live on the boat. I rent a room in a house and have a new motorhome, so I have a physical mailing address. However, Joe has been living on the boat for years. We both just came over from Fort Lauderdale last January.
We just moved to the Seafood Shack Marina in Cortez (Bradenton Beach) after waiting for a slip for a month. They know that we are liveaboards, and have others here who do...along with some derelict boats that are in disrepair and never attended to. We got here on the 1st and have a great relationship (so we thought) with the dockmaster. We parked our one car, two golf carts and two scooters exactly where he told us to; he even told us where to charge the carts.
However, the day we arrived some other assistant dockmaster started giving us a hard time, first telling us to clean up our boat (which isn't bad but could be painted - we've actively been working on that), and then telling us to move the boat to another slip. It progressed to a point where he started telling us that "the big boss" (unknown and he won't name) said we have to move the golf carts and scooters completely off the property or they would be towed in a matter of hours, and even that we had to leave with our boat by the end of the night! There is no reason - we've complied with everything the dockmaster has said, and even what this new unknown guy said!
So our question is basically - what are our rights as liveaboard boat owners in Florida (Manatee County)?! Can any marina just up and kick you out without notice and without reason? We're the largest boat in the marina so we figured we should be their best customer, since we're paying the most rent by the foot. However, it feels like we're being harassed and discriminated against, and it's causing a ton of stress and anxiety, not to mention time and expense as we search for a place to live.
Any help, insights, information or stories will be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks in advance