Coast Guard Rules

[bateau beau]

I'm having a heated debate with the yard where I keep my 43' Motor Yacht. They claim that my slip is capable of handling a 60' boat, which is absurd. My 43 footer is just comfortable in the slip, but I'm willing to accept that the slip might be suitable for a 50 footer. The guy next to me has a 48' sport fish, and his swim platform lines up with the end of the finger pier with his pulpit right at the edge of the dock. When I thought I was getting a 58' motoryacht, they told me it would not fit in my slip, but now they're saying that a 60 footer will.

I plan to do a scale drawing showing how a 60 footer would extend at least 10' into the Mystic river which is already a narrow waterway. My question: Is anybody on the forum knowledgeable about the Coast Guard regulations on matters like this? Surely, there must be some rule that says a boat can't stick 10-12' into a waterway....

 

[Capt K]

As far as I know, it all has to do with the permits that the marina has with the DEP. They supposedly do a "fly-over" every once in a while to photograph the marinas to verify that they are in compliance.

We have had this discussion at our marina in Westbrook, in the past.

Capt K

 

[bateau beau]

Good tip. It never occurred to me to talk to the folks at DEP.....

 

[waymaker]

I was told by a dock builder that they take the full width bank to bank then you are allowed a certain percentage of that. I dont' remember for sure. I wanted to say 25% but just looking at some of the marinas most everyone would be over. Maybe it is different for a marina than for a canal. Please let us know what you find out.