The man whose houseboat was seized by the city after the floating residence overstayed its welcome on a spit of land that juts out into the Halifax River, showed up at the City Commission meeting on Tuesday night and threatened to sue.
Robert McGary, whose houseboat became stranded on the small sandy plot of land last October after a storm pushed it there, said he will sue Police Chief Mark Barker and City Manager Jim McCroskey because his home was stolen from him “unlawfully.”
The 52-foot, 60,000-pound houseboat was pulled off the small island on Feb. 9 after McGary could not pay to have it towed. McGary had been living on the vessel.
The city said McGary can have his home back if he pays the salvage and storage fees incurred by the city…. read more
Ahoy!
I am not happy about Robert McGary’s Problem. But if you are going to claim the authority of commanding a 52′, 60,000# vessel; you should also accept accountability for it. If you choose not to carry insurance to clean up your mess, you had better be damn sure you won’t need it! One of the basic forms of insurance is adequate ground tackle, and seasoned sailors spend a lot of time, effort and money for it. If he had taken the trouble to do this, he would not have dragged anchor, QED.
The result of this incident is not only his personal tragedy. but probably a loss of anchoring area for anyone wanting to use it in future. (As well as general good will.) Take a look at the photograph of the notification that begins “ATTENTION BOATERS Your input is needed on a proposed Boating Restricted Area at or near this location”.
Cheers, Alaska Dave