Practice area
Marinas live at the intersection of real property, maritime, environmental, and small business law. We speak all of those — and we’ve spent enough time on docks to know the difference between a slip license and a lease.
How we help
Acquisition & ownership
Whether you’re buying your first marina or restructuring a family operation, the diligence is unusual — submerged leases, permits, fuel systems, environmental history, and a slip register that may or may not match reality.
Operations & slip agreements
Tight, enforceable slip license agreements, liveaboard policies, fuel and storage terms, and waivers that actually do what they say. We update marina paperwork that hasn’t been touched since the dock was new.
Disputes & abandoned vessels
Lien enforcement, abandoned and derelict vessel removal, insurance coverage fights, and the occasional storm-damage claim. We help marina operators resolve them without losing the season.
Vendor & Access Agreements
Preferred vendor agreements and access agreements that keep marina operations running and relationships clear.
Authority Agreements
Communication with state and local authorities on concession agreements, water leases, and similar sovereign agreements.
Is a slip license the same as a lease?
No. Slip licenses generally grant revocable use rights with fewer tenant protections than leases, but the wrong label in the agreement can flip the analysis. Drafting matters.
How does a marina remove an abandoned vessel?
State and federal procedures differ. Most paths require statutory notice to the owner and lienholders, an opportunity to cure, and judicial or administrative process before sale or destruction.
Do you handle marina acquisitions?
Yes — including diligence on submerged leases, permits, fuel systems, environmental history, and slip registers.
Marina issues move quickly. Get practical guidance before a dispute hardens.
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