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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/21/2008 : 19:08:17

At this months meeting of the gulfstream sailing club we had a review of current political issues on the ballot and under consideration.

I'm posting these as a regular member to all forum participants in case they are of interest or if unheard of but affect some of us both within florida and in other states.

On the ballot at this general election there is an Ammendment to the Florida constitution #6. it is basically to allow waterfront businesses to be taxed at their current use value rather than at their best use value.

The florida Mairine Industries of South Florida is strongly in favor of supporting this ammendment. After discussion at the sailing club, so am I. Basically, if the amendment does not pass, then local cities and counties can tax waterfront businesses as though they were condos! ie. Encourage them to get out of the marine business and sell to condo devlopers. This will cost south florida millions of dollars in marine business.

Please consider this ammendment carefully. I voted for it.

Another issue is probably more scary, but is not on the ballot.

Currently being considered is a legislation that will allow cities to limit anchoring in waterways within their domain to 3 days (that's 2 nights!) consequtively and 10 days annually!!

If this ever gets passed then we will proably have to sell our 250!
Why? Because we trailer sail and often drop anchor in the same area, we would blow both of those limits within 3 months.

Not only would it directly affect 250 owners in florida, but it would also dramatically affect the marine businesses by virtue of the fact it would deminish the number of boats of all sizes from visiting florida. This issue was a very hot topic at the sailing club and was researched by some members that have a strong history in public administration.
There's a link below to the request for comments so that you can read about it.

An important point here is that if florida eventually puts this one on the books, then other states will have 'precedence' to call upon.

It could affect your ability to trail your boat to florida and enjoy our beautiful sailing!

Please visit the site and perhaps you'll post comments there.

I would be very interested to learn from other members if/how this kind of legislation would affect them in their locality.

Of course, there is an open invitation for all members to come sail in sunny south florida.... while you can!

Please visit http://www.myfwc.com/boating for the draft document and to read comments posted by others. This is just starting to get promoted down here, expect more comments.

If you would care to comment on this issue then you can send an email to Anchoring.Mooring@myfwc.com.

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - britinusa on 10/22/2008 17:43:54

Kendall
Navigator

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146 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2008 : 21:25:57

I live in the Greater Lake Worth/Boynton Beach Area. The closest quote unquote boating communities are Fort Lauderdale(1+Hr drive) and Rivera Reach(45min ride, where our boat currently is located).Within the city of Boynton, there is a grand total of four marinas: one private condo marina(valet only), one rack storage only marina, one forty foot plus powerboat only, and one severely overcrowded public marina/boatyard/rack storage/mechanic/dealership. There are none in Lake Worth.
So, how does the average middle income family with a small boat enjoy it? Trailer it. So you need a Trailer, those are hard to come by for a sailboat. And a Truck, which burns a ridicules amount of gasoline, and if you can use another car for daily purposes than its a waste of garage or driveway space, not to mention an eyesore banned by some HOAs. Where are you going to put the boat on the trailer? Most HOAs dont allow boattrailers. Not to mention a two hour set up for any sailboat.
Suddenly that two hour drive doent look so bad, even if I live fifteen minutes from the intra coastal.
If this amendment passes, there is accompanying legistration to provide marina space which is available to the public at large. Obviously, I am strongly in favor of the proposed ammendment #6.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2008 : 22:28:09

re: mooring/anchoring

I trailer to Florida for several months each winter, the problem I see is not requiring scientific evidence for harm to public health, welfare, etc.
It appears that a political determination of risk is all that is required to enable a jurisdiction, with FWC certified adequate mooring, to limit anchoring. That kind of language will lead to widespread limits to anchoring near anybody with money.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2008 : 08:00:35

Boy, I thought we were moving the other way with respect to mooring. I understand the want to deal with the DV situation but this is taking the easy way out without consideration to responsible boat owners. Fl needs to adequately define the DV and make provisions to regulate <i>them</i>, not make a blanket rule that penalizes everyone.

Edited by - on

KD4AO
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2008 : 08:32:12

In Punta Gorda, the city has granted permission to a downtown hotel to develop a mooring field off shore of a city park. This is something local boaters have been pushing for a long time. Sounds like Ammendment #6 would probably intefere with it. And it would likely raise trouble for Ft. Myers and Sarasota mooring fields. A good way to keep up with these problems is to go to http://southwindsmagazine.com/ and read the monthly magazine.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2008 : 17:27:56

Quote:"Currently being considered is a legislation that will allow cities to limit anchoring in waterways within their domain to 3 days (that's 2 nights!) consequtively and 10 days annually!!"

Floreeda can kiss my cruiser backside if that passes - although it is not only unconstitutional - AS IF WE USE THAT DOCUMENT LATELY - it is also a violation of international maritime law. Vessels transiting an area are allowed to anchor outside of channels pretty much wherever they want to. The problem is the derelicts that have ruined it for everyone. Oh and the rich guy that wants to be able to look at the water, but doesn't want sailboats and trawlers disturbing his view because he can't swim or was the victim of intentional drowning by his family who were trying to exorcise his mean streak!

I have a great book called "Your right to anchor." I'll be happy to send anyone excerpts and instruction to anyone for the "if confronted by the authorities" scenario. My wife and I spent a fortune in Floreeda this past winter, and we intend to do so again. If they make it any harder, we will simply go to Walmart in Jax or St. Augustine, cross the Gulf stream and get the hell away from Amerika for awhile.

And it's not going to get better - fuel is expensive and the trawlers aren't picking up docks like they used to. A lot of Flooreedians don't have docks or moorings for their boats, just anchors. Some of these folks are part of the problem, but boating in general needs to be embraced by flooridians....

Then again, I have heard of folks building floating barges out of crap and just living there forever...

BTW - take your outboard off and you are now a barge. Can't make you move! CG regs! Throw it on the dink...

Subvert the dominant paradigm - be as Patriotic as you can be - fight to be free - contact someone today. I've contacted both Prez candidates and the Obama people said they would get back to me on an international policy review to cover anchoring in territorial waters, and the McGain guy laughed at me even though I stated and am a registered Republican.

Sten

DPO Zephyr - '82 C25, FK, SR
SV Lysistrata - C&C 39 - Norfolk VA - headed south

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2008 : 17:32:59

this discussion reminds me of one of my all time favorite quotes by Will Rogers

"It's a good thing we don't get all the government we pay for"

I live in Knoxville and will be retiring in about 5 to 7 years. One of the places that I do really like is Punta Gorda, or actually Charlotte harbor. That's where I came to buy my Ericson 32. But I'm not so sure of the anti boating sentiment in Florida. You only have to follow Southwinds sailing to keep up with all of the political crap going on affecting boating.
Not to mention how can one afford a slip in Florida, and insurance if you can get it. But I'm straying off topic.

Good luck to our friends in Florida. Keep up the good fight.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2008 : 18:05:42

I hope that you'll all send email comments to the link in my earlier post above.

Originally this was titled Florida Sailing and Politics, no one posted! I guess we have boats to escape Politics, but if we don't act, then these types of legislation will hit us and our buddies in other states too.

Please consider sending an email comment to Anchoring.Mooring@myfwc.com.

FYI, I knocked on the doors of all the English speaking neighbors near me and helped them understand the Amendment #6, my first foray into politics

Paul

Edited by - on

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