FLORIDA LIVEABOARDS... a MUST read!

[lowryjim]

If you are not keep a Ship’s Log, you should start.

The article below was printed today in the Florida Newspaper, the News Press.

There are alot of Liveaboards who travel weeks or months to another city, state or country for their job. They have someone (hopefully) watching their vessel. That person should also keep a log for the vessel they are tending.

Start logging every day and hour when you have
Boarded your vessel.

Why you ask… Because it may end up being your
Proof that you have not (did not) abandon your vessel.

And NOW may be the time for ALL liveaboards to
Start a Political PACT… To PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.

Remember the old saying… If you give them an inch they
Will take a mile.

The following article was printed today in the Florida
Newspaper, the News Press.
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A statewide database shows an estimated 1,000 to 1,800 derelict vessels in state waters, but Maj. Paul Ouellette of FWC's Boating and Waterways Section said those numbers are probably low.

"One of the things we're proposing is allowing local governments to regulate the anchoring of vessels outside of mooring fields," Ouellette said. "People keep boats anchored or moored on mooring balls behind safe structures or behind mangroves.

Currently there are no restrictions on that. It's still a maritime right to be able to navigate freely."

One of FWC's proposals is to let counties write ordinances that prohibit anchoring for more than 30 consecutive days or 120 days in one year.

Lee County already has an ordinance that says a boat is considered abandoned, and therefore subject to removal, if it's moored in the same area for more than 30 consecutive days or 90 days in a 365-day period.

The catch is that if the boat is "under navigation," the county can't touch it. Under navigation can mean that the owner comes by to check on the boat once a month, McBride said.

"People have great intentions whey they buy a boat," he said. "They think they're going to work on it, make it the jewel of the sea, but that doesn't happen. Instead of working on it one day a week, it's once a month, then once a year, until it becomes a derelict vessel.

"If we had a way to control that, we could nip it in the bud, to borrow a phrase from Barney Fife."

Many other counties have ordinances to deal with abandoned vessels, Ouellette said.

"There are a myriad of local ordinances out there all over the board," he said. "One of the contentious points to the cruising community is the confusion they have with different local ordinances."

Another proposal is to establish a 500-foot buffer around public mooring facilities, including public marinas, mooring fields and anchorages; no boat would be able to anchor within the buffer.

Keeping boats out of the buffer would protect marinas and other boats from damage caused if vessels broke free from their moorings or sank in navigable water.

Under the proposals, all boats in state waters would have to be registered.

"That would help us track vessels stored on the waters of the state," Ouellette said. "Unless someone is using a vessel, it doesn't have to be registered. One of the most difficult things in law enforcement when we're dealing with derelict vessels is identifying owners. If a boat runs aground, often there are no numbers, and if there are, they don't come back to anybody."

Ken Stead, executive director of the Southwest Florida Marine Industries Association, said the association doesn't have a position on the proposal.

Abandoned boats are a problem, but he said the commission may be using the wrong tool.

"That is just contrary to the cruising lifestyle," he said. "There's got to be another way to deal with it."

From McBride's point of view, giving counties more authority in dealing with boating issues is a good idea.

"I don't know how the state rule would end up," he said. "But it would give us more teeth to go after people to take responsibility for these vessels."

- The News-Press staff reporter Chelsea J. Samuel contributed to this story

[David M]

Its a good idea to keep a vessel log anyways...one day it could cover your rear end for numerous reasons.

[sneuman]

the article gives very little in the way of perspective -- not even a single example of how supposedly abandoned boats have caused a problem. I don't doubt it has been an issue, but if I were the editor of this reporter's story, I'd be obliged to point out the gaping holes.

The bottom line is that we will always be an easy target for landlubbers --Even poor liveaboards (such as myself) -- because this passion of ours is perceived as a rich man's pastime.

[AnchorageGuy]

This ongoing in Floriduh, Bottom line is they don't want boats anchored out in the state, period. If you are not a mega-yacht and you are not tied up in a marina they don't want you, period. They will continue to hammer away at this until anchoring is illegal in the state and we will be required to stay in marinas when transiting the state. The FWC is the most worthless organization in Floriduh. They spend most of their time driving up and down the highways in their SUVs and very little time on the water. Most are State Police wannabees that could not make it. When on the water they pretty much do potty patrol and not much else. So having them push legislation regarding boating will be disasterous at best. I don't know what the answer is except either stay out of Floriduh or if you must transit the state do so as quickly as possible. We have discussed this to death here on the board in the past.

[ksmith]

Don't you just love double speak. Considering Legislation=if no one complains too much Controlling and Registration=how did we overlook this source of revenue give us teeth=charge some more for what we are suppose to be doing anyway let the counties legislate=darn those federal, maritime and state regulations that apply ever where

I think a boat that is not attended to for 90 days should be turned over to the person complaining for a nominal fee and made their responsibility. I got debs on the 29 Bayfield sitting on the hard for 2 years. Oh and the T34C at the next slip over, whose halyards keep me awake during windy nights. Got no complaints about the power boats with blown engines.