Ask a Maritime Attorney: What are my rights as a liveaboard?

Question: I am having a dispute with my marina. I am a legal liveaboard and I have been in and out of the hospital a lot over the past year, but I have paid my monthly slip fees like clockwork. Last month I received a 30-day notice to vacate my slip but no reason was given for the eviction. I know I have rights as a liveaboard, but I would think they would need to give a reason for the eviction regardless of my liveaboard status, especially in a case like mine where I am not delinquent with my slip rent. What are my legal options in a case like this where my rights have obviously been violated? Answer I have authored this column regularly since 2006, and during that time I have been asked to address this question over and over. The answer remains the same. The bottom line is that our reader can’t do anything to protect his rights because, based on the information provided, nobody is doing anything to violate his rights. It may be time for a refresher. The concept that people seem to have the most trouble grasping is the characterization of a slip rental agreement as a...