Dock what do you think

DougLas

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Dec 13, 2008
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Lake Erie
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39 Express
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In some of the marina dock contracts there is a line reading. When the dock is not being used by the said person that rented the dock. The marina has the right to rent the dock to someone else. What if the dock is rented to someone else and the original renter comes back to the dock after being gone for one day with a life-or-death emergency to find their dock rented and no other docks or place to dock since the marina is full. Who would be liable if someone died do to not being able to dock the boat soon enough?
Not sure how this is legal it would seem to come under the law of no double dipping. When renting dock that is already rented to another party.
 
Our marina has a similar rule. It has never been an issue. They will only rent one night at a time for transient boaters. They also split the the rent with the slip holder.
 
Our marina does that as do many others; it's in the contract. They rented my slip when we were on a 2 week trip to the Bahamas. I came back to all of my dock lines gone; whomever they rented it to decided they liked my dock lines and took them. The marina reimbursed me for replacements. I don't tell them we are going to be gone anymore.
 
I’m sure if it’s truly life or death they’ll figure something out.
 
"The original renter comes back to the dock after being gone for one day with a life-or-death emergency to find their dock rented and no other docks or place to dock since the marina is full...."

That's laughable...If you have a life or death emergency it seems you don't cruise all the way home to see if your slip is available to take an action:rolleyes: And even if you did, there's surely a way to get to land for that life or death emergency?? My point is I guess I would deal with the emergency and not call my lawyer.

That being said, If I'm gone (and I put my slip on the list as available for rent) and they rent it, I get a check in the mail. If I come home early it's on me. It's called personal responsibility.
 
Our contract is the same, we do not get any cut of the rental revenue.

In 2020 we sold our boat two days after we launched for the season, our slip was empty all summer as we could not locate a replacement. Our slip was used a lot that summer for transients we never saw a dime nor did they owe it to us. It's in the contract that way.

There is almost always somewhere to tie up in an emergency.
 
Ours is the same too. We're supposed to notify them when we leave and plan to return so they can rent it while we're gone. This summer I never made it to my home slip. I don't care what they did with it but they better not bill me for electrical at the end of the season, I won't pay that.
 
I posted this same question in the past when I was looking for a new place that had the same fine print

I ended up not going there -- not because of this but for other reasons

I don't like it either. Where I am now, we have to pre-pay for the entire season so they already got paid.

We don't do overnights so at most we're gone for the day.

In reality how would they know if you didn't tell them? I'm sometimes gone before 6AM and most of the marina people don't arrive until 8. How would they know if I left early vs I was gone multiple days?
 
In some of the marina dock contracts there is a line reading. When the dock is not being used by the said person that rented the dock. The marina has the right to rent the dock to someone else. What if the dock is rented to someone else and the original renter comes back to the dock after being gone for one day with a life-or-death emergency to find their dock rented and no other docks or place to dock since the marina is full. Who would be liable if someone died do to not being able to dock the boat soon enough?
Not sure how this is legal it would seem to come under the law of no double dipping. When renting dock that is already rented to another party.
Its an annoying policy but our marina has it too. They want you to file a float plan when you leave so they can ensure that your slip is free on your return.

If there was a true emergency on the water, I would not be taking the time to dock my boat anyway. I would have emergency services arranged at the service dock before I got there and just pulled up alongside that dock. Its closer to land anyway. So, while I appreciate the argument for keeping your slip open when you are away, the emergency reason is not compelling. However, people often change trip plans, so if I was coming back early, I would call the marina and get them to make sure my slip was open on arrival.
 
Wow I don't rent dock space at any marina but I'll be looking for that in any contract if I do. The marinas around here are only about half full.
If you sign a contract that has that in it I guess you have to go with that contract but it sounds fishy to me. If you rent a house & go on vacation for a week or two, then have to end your vacation early you wouldn't expect someone else to be in your house when you get home.
 
When you cruise to different places you most likely stay in a slip that has a seasonal contract with another boater who is cruising. These contracts free up places for us to stay. If you have a hang up with someone using your vacant rental slip, buy a slip.
 
Same here. Our marina ask you to let them know when you are going to be away for multiple days. We took a long trip told them my dates and came back to someone in our slip. It was after hours so everyone at the yard was gone. We just grabbed the next available for the night. Told the yard in the am and they immediately moved the transient boat to another slip. Wasn't a big deal for us. Generally if they see our slip empty for a few days they will call us to see when we are coming back.
 
Our marina does that as do many others; it's in the contract. They rented my slip when we were on a 2 week trip to the Bahamas. I came back to all of my dock lines gone; whomever they rented it to decided they liked my dock lines and took them. The marina reimbursed me for replacements. I don't tell them we are going to be gone anymore.

Same happened to me more then once. Or they use you lines and retie them so you can't use them at first and you need to undo there mess. The other thing that isn't right is "they" are using your electric that you are paying for and the marina is making money on that, that you don't see. Sometimes they pro rate you but still.

As for the life and death situation, I am guessing the harbor police and or coasties would be notified long before you got back to the dock and have arranged for pickup somewhere closer.
 
When you cruise to different places you most likely stay in a slip that has a seasonal contract with another boater who is cruising. These contracts free up places for us to stay. If you have a hang up with someone using your vacant rental slip, buy a slip.

Exactly, we own our slip so this is a non-issue but I sure am glad other marinas do it or we wouldn't be able to transient anywhere.
 
The point to look at here. In a vacation area a place is rented for the season upon leaving for a fishing trip in the area for a week. The owners rent your place for that week with all your belongings still in it.
There is a car parking spot rented for the year. The owners rent it to another party when you are not there.
In any of these circumstances the original renters show up with other parties in their rented places. How should they feel? The same as a boater feels like it's not really a big deal from what was stated earlier.
With this as an example is there any other areas of rental properties one would find it to be ok for it to be rented even though it was already paid for?
Why is it ok for a marina to rent a dock that is already rented where in any other rental areas this is known as "double dipping."
If the dock was rented the rental proceeds should be go to the original renter. I cannot see how the marinas can get away with this. Other than it has never been challenged.
 
The point to look at here. In a vacation area a place is rented for the season upon leaving for a fishing trip in the area for a week. The owners rent your place for that week with all your belongings still in it.
There is a car parking spot rented for the year. The owners rent it to another party when you are not there.
In any of these circumstances the original renters show up with other parties in their rented places. How should they feel? The same as a boater feels like it's not really a big deal from what was stated earlier.
With this as an example is there any other areas of rental properties one would find it to be ok for it to be rented even though it was already paid for?
Why is it ok for a marina to rent a dock that is already rented where in any other rental areas this is known as "double dipping."
If the dock was rented the rental proceeds should be go to the original renter. I cannot see how the marinas can get away with this. Other than it has never been challenged.
What's double dipping? We don't know but that may be a part of their financial planning to help keep annual fees and costs down. Read your contract; is the language in there? If it is and it's such a big issue why stay there?
 
My marina is not a “destination” marina so thankful I don’t have to deal with it. But once, we were at Fairlee rented for weekend, when slipholder came back early. He was seriously pissed we were in his slip although dockmaster explained it was in his contract. They put him another slip til Monday morning then moved his boat.
I’m kind of a laid back person so I would have been whatever, here’s the keys, move it tomorrow.
Now, my zodiac? Oh that would be a war!
 
Double dipping is charging twice for something that is already paid for. It is illegal to charge rent for a place already rented that is double dipping
I came back to my dock in a hard blowing wind to find all my dock lines untied and laid in front of my slip. It made docking real interesting since it was just the wife and I in a 39 ft boat. We always depended on the lines to be in place to grab. Along with one power cord missing. Inquiring at the office they had put someone in the dock and they would check to see if they could get the power cord back. You see there is another line saying marina is not responsible for anything lost or stollen.
 

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