Bad neighbor

G

GoVols

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Apr 29, 2014
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33610
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57
I've had my fill of my dock neighbor's territorial habits when it comes to our shared finger (starboard side) on our dock. He has told me before that it's his finger and he's free to put anything on it that he wants.

When he 1st moved in, he had a 28' cruiser in a 60' slip, so he built himself a 15' deck for more elbow room. Well he seized an opportunity and bought a 68' houseboat soon thereafter. Instead of removing the 15' deck, he just leaves his aft-end sticking 23' beyond the end of his slip. This, of course, makes it difficult for me to return to my own slip when there's anything other than ideal conditions around the dock.

Since he's very good at building decks, lots of other folks have asked him to install a deck on their slip as well. This is fine, except he likes to store his lumber scraps on our shared finger, which creates a tripping hazard for anyone walking down that finger. I pushed the lumber to his side of the finger and left myself a "walkway' to get to the end of the finger, which ticked him off. I don't understand why he thinks it's OK to block my side of the finger and not just his because his boat is a dock queen, which never leaves the slip. For over a year, I tolerated a large tool storage locker that was positioned on my side of the finger and was pushed up to the edge almost against my boat. This made it difficult for people pulling my bow line and walking down the starboard finger when coming in or going out. Eventually he moved it after his wife (the more sensible one of the 2) finally saw the trouble it was causing us.

Lastly, you can probably guess from the ‘dock queen' comment, that he doesn't pump out. They lived aboard the boat for 2 years and finally moved back to a house. Since they moved, I've noticed a dramatic difference in the clarity of the water around my boat. It makes me quiver whenever I have to reach into my Marine Air's, generator's, or toilets' strainers when working on them because I know what's in there.

My stupid marina's management won't do anything. I've tried searching for Coast Guard dock regulations and such, but am coming up empty handed. I've been told that the CG has rules that nothing can be on the fingers that restrict passage. Also, I believe there's rules about how far a boat can stick out beyond the end of their slip, due to safety when docking, but can't find anything official.

Can you guys help me find any of this info? Perhaps an anonymous phone call to the local CG office…….?
 
I have never heard of Coast Guard dock regulations. But you marina likely has its own rules - ours does which covers most of your issues. If management won't do anything, you may be in a bind. Any chance you can change slips? Or worst case, change marinas?
 
I had a "dockmate" at my old marina who would spread out all his bedding and cabin carpets on the dock behind his boat(also behind mine)to "air out". He would leave them for hours and give an attitude to anyone who said anything to him or step on them.One cool September evening when it was just us two on the dock I went for payback....ever see how much smoke a couple mechanical Cummins diesels with the oil and intake heaters turned off will put up thru a dock on a 50 degree nite? I`ll bet he slept good on those nice stinky diesel sheets.
 
The only USCG reg maybe if he had oil or gas tanks on the dock. Maybe your local town or county has ordinances requiring docks to be clear in case of an emergency, also decks may be subject to building permit regulations...

If it was me, I woudl just try to move to another slip as it is usually not worth the fighting. If that's now possible then when you trip on stuff, make sure it ends up tripped in the water. Overall your marina is in charge and it s up to them. Check what rules they have in the dockage agreement and demand enforcement.
 
I'm a bit confused. You say this is at a marina, but the management won't do anything. Is there not a contract in place the governs what you have "leased" from the marina?

You mention that this guy has been allowed to "build" in the marina. Exactly how does he do this when it is not his property to do so?

You are trying to consult the Coast Guard, thus my confusion over who owns what here. My own preference is in personal responsibility, which means I actually read line by line each and every contract I ever intend to possibly take issue with. If you entered into a contract with the marina, why would you ask the coast guard what was allowed at that marina? A bit rhetorical I admit, but it seems you are asking the CG or members of a forum to decide what was/was not stated in a contract you signed with a private party. That's what I'm inferring here rather strongly.

It sure seems like you have issues with the marina, based on some kind of perceived breach of duty to your mutual contract. Okay, so start citing chapter and verse of the marina contract you and them have mutually entered into. Demonstrate how they have failed to meet the contract language and leverage them into some kind of action. If they don't: 1.) If you found a basis for doing so, spend a day in small claims court 2.) Move out and find a better option ***this is almost certainly your best option

The other option I did not list. You really want to get along with your neighbors. Life is too complicated to be pissed at the people next to you. I'm guessing you and this neighbor have never seen eye to eye. You have never offered him a beer, maybe looked down your nose at him, etc... That's a great way to piss of a neighbor. What you get, is what you get. That all said, Option 3 is to BE THE CRAZIEST NEIGHBOR. That's the option your dock mate has already chosen. He may feel justified, who knows the problem is even from afar I can tell you are not currently even close for being the in the running for craziest neighbor. I don't recommend it, but if you think for a moment that YOU can be the crazy neighbor instead, go for it. Mr & Mrs Crabtree won't cut it here, you actually need to worry a little about your sanity, not just complain to everyone around you but actually get skin in the game and TAKE SOME ACTION. We already know the marina does not mind if you just start randomly constructing things. Fine, construct a deck that leaves him 1 inch to get out of his slip. Block the ENTIRE finger slip. Buy some old portapoties and STORE them on his side of the slip. Like I said, I don't recommend it. But if the marina wants to play "not our problem", then amplify the noise of the problem. At some point, everyone really gets pissed off enough to take some kind of action. Nobody will ever be able to get along again, and someone will have to move. Since we know this guy has been a familiar live aboard, building things for other people and likely securing their moorage for the marina, you will almost certainly be the one asked to leave.

Another sure fire way to get the marina's attention. Fling yourself onto the dock after tripping. Get a bit banged up. Go to the emergency room, maybe the local clinic is better. Your insurance will ask if its an accident, tell them YES. They will then go after the marina who will have one hell of a time keeping their insurance after you have made written notices to them in the past. You did make written complaints didn't you? You can either try to make a connection with a fellow human being, realize maybe this is not the right marina for you, or just get nasty. Getting nasty means a written, legally relevant paper trail.

Time to get started today. Take action, but only if your really sure you can be the crazy one. Having spent time in TN growing up, that's a pretty high bar. You really might want to seriously consider moving out.

Have fun!
 
Most of your neighbors don't want to get involved, Ghost is right you either decide to get ****ing nuts or keep your sanity and move to a better place. Now lets have a contest and see who can come up with the CrAziEsT **** to put around your area.
Swingset, Porta Pottie, old tires, rocks, car parts, rotting garden hoses, old pizza boxes, tree limbs, all the abandoned charcoal grills you can find, washer, dryer, (I can go on for a long time ) old lumber, scrap wood . . . . .
 
Never heard of "Coast Guard dock regulations". If they existed, we'd know because the Coast Guard would be inspecting docks and marinas periodically. They aren't.
 
I say put some good bird feeders all down his side of the finger. Just another way to give him the bird!!
 
If your marina will not take care of this, move. Why give them a nickel more of your money
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gregory S

Never heard of "Coast Guard dock regulations". If they existed, we'd know because the Coast Guard would be inspecting docks and marinas periodically. They aren't.

Click to expand...

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Bet there's a local fire code that say something like you need to bail outa' your boat from either side in the event of a fire.

Bet there's a local health dept might coulda got involved beck when they were live aboards (that ship already sailed)

I like the bird house idea. . . . birds don't selectively p00p on just your neighbor though.

As for the marina not getting involved ? Been there had that happen.
 
It all depends on the water you are on. On my lake the Army Corps of Engineers enforces the rules, and they are very picky about non passable fingers.
 
I have been meaning to discuss these same issues with my slip mate:)

Just kidding I have the best slip mate and he posted three posts before me.
 
Place a few potatoes on his side of the finger under some of his stuff and wait a few days. Nothing smells worse than rotting potatoes

Seriously, if the marina won't do anything, I think I'd move somewhere that actually cares what happens on thier premisis.
 
invest in a good paintball gun.

Red, I think, would be his best color.

RWS
 
Yes, there are some CG rules about dumping sewage inside of something like three miles. If the boat is a dock queen, the pump out may have to be blocked off too. The other things, well, I think you know you can't outlaw trailer trash mentality.
 
Write to marina management. Mail it, not just email. Find out who the owner is, copy them. Of course, stop paying your bill.
Mention the macerator has been used which is against the law.
Mention he is creating a navigational hazard with the 23' of storage he doesn't pay for.
Mention he is working in the marina and does not have adequate liability insurance to protect the marina owner.

In closing, that this letter, with accompanying pictures is formal notification of a trip hazard on my dock for yourself, your guests, the other boat owner and marina employees.
You can CC the local authorities as well as your attorney.

Worse case, they throw YOU out.

My guess is, this guy is well liked by marina management and other slip owners. You're the only one that deals with the downside.

Is there a reason you do not ask to relocate to a different slip (e.g. convenience or view?) or another marina?
 
Throw some Sardines up on his Cabin Roof. The Seagulls will all be on your side of the debate.
 
Does this boat have any rigging by chance? Throw a few of the ring clips on his deck that hold rigging pins together. I don't own a sailboat, but I do own a small case of the little clips. Works great when you run into obnoxious sailboaters. Funny as he'll watching them stare into the air for an hour trying to figure out where they came from.
 
I would think the marina's insurance policy would prohibit slip renters from cluttering up walkways..
 
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