Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

[rfdfirecaptain]

I recently read in another iboats thread where someone mentioned that while traveling on the ICW he encountered bad weather. This skipper chose to go over to a marina and tie off to a face dock. It was obvious in the story that it was after hours when he tied off. He went on to recommend to other boaters that they should get to a dock as opposed to trying to set an anchor in bad weather. I can understand that.

He then mentioned that in order to avoid transient fees you had best ?set your alarm clock early? so you can high-tail it out of there before the marina?s staff arrives. Thus, implying leave early or else the staff will expect you to pay a transient fee.

I?ve only been boating since 2006, but something about this fellow?s recommendation just seems a little ?fishy? (pardon the pun). Does anyone know the legalities of this behavior? Is there a grace period at any dock that is implied by law? At the very least it seems like a moral dilemma.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

Yeah, sounds a bit scallywagish to me too. If you're worried about having to pay for a service you've already recieved, why not just wait 'til the weather passes and be back on your way.

 

[IES99]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

Morally wrong, IMHO.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

Kind of funny. When not skipping docking fees, he is probably overnighting at Wal*Mart

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

So far it looks like you folks have the same opinion I have. Actually, I was shocked when I read it and I found myself re-reading just to be sure I clearly understood what the guy was saying.

lol.... JRJ

Actually, on my honeymoon I slept on my boat, on the trailer in a Wal-mart parking lot. After towing the boat several hours to the ICW we found ourselves in a surprise monsoon storm. Weather was so bad we couldn't launch at the marina that evening to get into our transient slip. We decided to head to a Wal-mart to buy a few last minute items. When we came out the road was closed due to high water. Woke up the next day and drove through the high water out to the police barricades. It was hilarious when the police had to move the barricades so that an F-250 with a large cruiser could get back to dry land. Oh well? I guess you had to be there to get the full effect.

I'm still anxious to get someone to post on this thread about the legalties of this behavior.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

Kind of funny. When not skipping docking fees, he is probably overnighting at Wal*Mart

... but which one is he?

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/photos

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

I certainly wouldn't dodge a dock fee....and would NEVER recommend others to do it.

 

[96sla50]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

In Texas, where I am a LEO, he could be charged with theft of service. the penalty would depend on how much the normal fee was. However, I would be surprised if the marina pressed charges considering the situation.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

Legally........depends on where you are. Morally.............wrong, no matter where you are. What's the big deal about paying the marina a few bucks for supplying a safe berth. It cost them money to put it there and maintain it.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

I used to do a little seasonal work for a contractor at the 2 Milwaukee yacht clubs.

We often had people seeking shelter when the weather turned rough, and the face docks were always available or offered, except for during the Queens Cup regatta.

SSYC had a pretty loose rule on transients, pay if you will, but we aren't chasing you.
If you come ashore, use services, shower, diner, bathrooms, you need to pay.
Of course, the rest of the protected harbor was also available.

The MYC was a bit nastier, and the members were snooty and bitter to most strangers.

There are also many county owned rented slips in the MYC harbor area. Have seen many vessels tied up to escape the fury of a Great Lakes storm.

As they say, any port in a storm.

If seeking shelter from the storm, ok.
If looking for the easy and cheap way to stay the night, not ok.

Most times it is hard to tell if the piers/docks are public or private, and docking rules and fees are not always posted.

 

[Blown Challenger]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

Absolutly wrong, No better then stealing in my book. btw,Love your sig^^^ Paddle faster.lmfao!!

 

[jonesg]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

I recently read in another iboats thread where someone mentioned that while traveling on the ICW he encountered bad weather. This skipper chose to go over to a marina and tie off to a face dock. It was obvious in the story that it was after hours when he tied off. He went on to recommend to other boaters that they should get to a dock as opposed to trying to set an anchor in bad weather. I can understand that.

He then mentioned that in order to avoid transient fees you had best ?set your alarm clock early? so you can high-tail it out of there before the marina?s staff arrives. Thus, implying leave early or else the staff will expect you to pay a transient fee.

I?ve only been boating since 2006, but something about this fellow?s recommendation just seems a little ?fishy? (pardon the pun). Does anyone know the legalities of this behavior? Is there a grace period at any dock that is implied by law? At the very least it seems like a moral dilemma.

The bigger pitfall is in judging the morality of other people.
Thats the problem with opinion, its rarely a judgement of self.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

The bigger pitfall is in judging the morality of other people.
Thats the problem with opinion, its rarely a judgement of self.

We judge people everyday, usually first is by their apperance, then maybe by the way they smell, and then it's probably by what they say or the way they say.

It's human nature to judge people, if not consciously, then subconsciously.

...and didn't you just pass judgement on the OP for questioning the morality of said post and you judged him him be judgemental?

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

I think we all pretty much agree that this was not good advice.

l would like to offer my own twist and ask for your opinion. I ask this question because on fishing trips I often arrive late in the evening to a prepaid slip at the marina. I'm generally there from about 9 pm until 6 the next morning. No more than 10 hours. They always charge me full price (the 24 hour rate) based on my overall boat length. Other than through my Boats US discount I've never gotten anything at a reduced rate at a marina anywhere.

Here?s the situation: The weather is was bad so you tied off to the dock for about 12 hours to wait it out. (Everywhere I've ever been the transient rate applies for a 24 hour period.) If you're only there for 12 hours should you try to negotiate a pro-rated rate? Would that be considered being a cheapo? Keep in mind that at full price the spot is yours for 24 hours (around here check in/out times are around 3pm give or take an hour or two).
Here?s the Question: What would you do? Would you pay full price even though you were only there for 12 hours without even asking for a reduced rate?

Although I would never do what I?ve questioned in the other iboats thread, I think part of being a seasoned boater is knowing where and when it?s appropriate to ask the merchant for a better ?deal?. When I?m shopping at home (on land) I do that when choices are abundant. On the water where choices are generally very limited would I be considered ?cheap? if I tried to negotiate if I did not get the full benefit of the services? Is this bad boater etiquette? If so why? Am I making sense?

 

[mscher]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

Seems pretty simple, at least to me.

If he's "riding the storm out", thats one thing, but if he needs to early set his alarm clock early, to "hightail it out", then he is spending the night there and should pay whatever fees were applicable.

 

[mscher]

Re: Your opinion: Is this Legally / Morally right or wrong???

I think we all pretty much agree that this was not good advice.

l would like to offer my own twist and ask for your opinion. I ask this question because on fishing trips I often arrive late in the evening to a prepaid slip at the marina. I'm generally there from about 9 pm until 6 the next morning. No more than 10 hours. They always charge me full price (the 24 hour rate) based on my overall boat length. Other than through my Boats US discount I've never gotten anything at a reduced rate at a marina anywhere.

Here?s the situation: The weather is was bad so you tied off to the dock for about 12 hours to wait it out. (Everywhere I've ever been the transient rate applies for a 24 hour period.) If you're only there for 12 hours should you try to negotiate a pro-rated rate? Would that be considered being a cheapo? Keep in mind that at full price the spot is yours for 24 hours (around here check in/out times are around 3pm give or take an hour or two).
Here?s the Question: What would you do? Would you pay full price even though you were only there for 12 hours without even asking for a reduced rate?

Although I would never do what I?ve questioned in the other iboats thread, I think part of being a seasoned boater is knowing where and when it?s appropriate to ask the merchant for a better ?deal?. When I?m shopping at home (on land) I do that when choices are abundant. On the water where choices are generally very limited would I be considered ?cheap? if I tried to negotiate if I did not get the full benefit of the services? Is this bad boater etiquette? If so why? Am I making sense?

Not fair, IMO.

If the spaces are rented in 24 hour slots, then you get that slot when you want it, during that time frame. It's not availabe to anyone else.

If you only use half of the time and only want to pay for that time, then is the dock owner, supposed to find someone else, who is willing to rent it for the other 12?

If you used it for 1 1/2 hours, while a large storm passed, that might be a different thing.