San Francisco, CA asked in Admiralty / Maritime for California

Q: What actions can I take if boat buyer hasn’t moved the boat out of the marina and I am been billed for the slip

I have already submitted the boat title transfer. It's been over 14 days since the transaction. The marina doesn't have billing information for the buyer and they say that I am liable for slip fees.

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2 Lawyer Answers
James William Alcantara
James William Alcantara
Answered
  • Maritime Law Lawyer
  • Scottsdale, AZ
  • Licensed in California

A: Is the boat federally or state registered? Technically the boat can be arrested, but that would not be cost effective. But you can put a lien on the vessel and/or threaten arrest.

Patrick J. O'Connor agrees with this answer

1 user found this answer helpful

James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: If you have transferred the boat title and the buyer has failed to move the boat out of the marina, you should contact the buyer and request that they immediately remove the boat. If the buyer does not respond or is unable to remove the boat, you may want to consider taking legal action to recover any unpaid slip fees and to force the buyer to remove the boat.

You can start by sending a demand letter to the buyer, outlining the unpaid slip fees and the expectation that they remove the boat from the marina. If that does not work, you may want to consider filing a lawsuit against the buyer in small claims court or civil court to recover the unpaid fees and to force the buyer to remove the boat. You may also want to consult with an attorney to determine your legal options and to help you navigate the legal process.

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