Florida Anchoring Law

[Captain Smollett]

Collier County Judge Rob Crown, handed down a ruling declaring the much discussed Marco Island anchorage regulations to be inconsistent with Florida State Law.

Read the Full Article

[AdriftAtSea]

Hopefully, this decision doesn't get overturned on appeal.  If it doesn't get overturned, I am hoping it will act as a legal precedent to help bring sanity back to local anchoring restrictions, both in Florida and other states.  However, only time will tell if it sticks.

[AdriftAtSea]

Capn Smollett started a thread on this already.  http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=1282.0

[AdriftAtSea]

Thanks for combining the threads. :D

[s/v Faith]

The new statute that regulates anchoring (and regulates municipalities from limiting anchoring) has become law.

It is not bad, actually may help curb some of the 'rougue' cities in the East.

  Here is a link to the story in Clayborne's Cruisers net.

Here is a link to the statute it's self. (PDF Warning)

[newt]

I was in factory bay off marco island yesterday (where this whole thing started) There were two small cruisers anchored, and they were unmolested by anyone. (in front of the house where things started)
I think things have calmed down.
No derelicts anywhere.
and alot less crab pots out on the gulf. But that is a different story.

[Lynx]

Yea!! I wonder if I can find work in Marco Island as a livaboard anchored out?

Here in Key West there is inspections and anybody who does not pass will get towed in time.

Dinghy's are being stoped amd hit for EVERYTHING!!

Anybody have a list for what is needed on a dinghy? Oar locks? Dim numbers, ......

[AdriftAtSea]

If you're not a sailboat in transit, under navigation, the liveaboard rules will kick in and you'll get hammered. 

[newt]

I was talking to a few other sailors-they said do not call yourselves liveaboards. You are cruisers. As long as you are "cruising" in Florida you are welcome. But they said nobody calls themselves liveaboards.That is when the police start paying attention. I can just see them now with their oversized dingy and 400 hp engine idleing along and saying "move along now, your squatting on good ocean"
And they seem to be serious about the law. Just saw an Allied Ketch given to a marina. The owner had left it moored in the bay too long at Ft. Myers. It had been stripped by someone, then called a derelict and given to the marina to fix up and sell. At what point are they acting on boats? This one had been on the water for more than a year (still no osmosis) but probably less than 2-3 years. (large amounts on sea growth)
Just FYI Lynx.

[Lynx]

Thanks, I am not seeing that in the Keys if somebody is on board. Some areas are more prone to theft than others.

Leaving your boat on the hook for a few days can be bad. Check the areas.