Avaricious Parasites, Riviera Beach Marina

[boatpoker]

Riviera Beach Marina Charged our Credit Card $2816.51 for Five Nights !

April 20, 2018. On our way home to Ontario from the Bahamas we sustained significant damage as we were dangerously waked in the Lake Worth inlet by a 60’ sportfisher. We limped our way to anchor and called Riviera Beach Marina to try and get a slip as we desperately needed help with repairs. They told us we could have a slip in about four days and asked for a credit card to secure it. We stayed at anchor for four days til’ we could get a slip and begin the search for help and parts.

We informed the marina that we did not know how long we’d need the slip as we didn’t know how long repairs would take but that we’d book for a month and adjust later. They immediately billed our credit card for $2,568US and the following day another $248.51 ! This is four days before we even got there !

JAS Marine helped us get parts and repairs in an amazing 5 days. We checked out of Riviera Beach after only 5 nights and asked them to adjust our bill to the credit back the months payment and charge us the daily rate for the five days and return our $1,284 US security deposit. They responded that we’ll get our security deposit back in 2-3 weeks and told us there would be no credit for the month they charged us for. We obviously complained and were told by Harbour Master “Lee”, “that’s the way it is”.

These avaricious people take advantage of people in distress.
They charged our credit card $1,532.51 US for a five night stay and we still don’t have our $1,284 security deposit back.

Give these people a credit card at your own peril.

 

[CaptRonn]

Riviera Beach Marina Charged our Credit Card $2816.51 for Five Nights !

April 20, 2018. On our way home to Ontario from the Bahamas we sustained significant damage as we were dangerously waked in the Lake Worth inlet by a 60’ sportfisher. We limped our way to anchor and called Riviera Beach Marina to try and get a slip as we desperately needed help with repairs. They told us we could have a slip in about four days and asked for a credit card to secure it. We stayed at anchor for four days til’ we could get a slip and begin the search for help and parts.

We informed the marina that we did not know how long we’d need the slip as we didn’t know how long repairs would take but that we’d book for a month and adjust later. They immediately billed our credit card for $2,568US and the following day another $248.51 ! This is four days before we even got there !

JAS Marine helped us get parts and repairs in an amazing 5 days. We checked out of Riviera Beach after only 5 nights and asked them to adjust our bill to the credit back the months payment and charge us the daily rate for the five days and return our $1,284 US security deposit. They responded that we’ll get our security deposit back in 2-3 weeks and told us there would be no credit for the month they charged us for. We obviously complained and were told by Harbour Master “Lee”, “that’s the way it is”.

These avaricious people take advantage of people in distress.
They charged our credit card $1,532.51 US for a five night stay and we still don’t have our $1,284 security deposit back.

Give these people a credit card at your own peril.

Call your credit card provider and put in a complaint. Unless you signed something that states that once you pay the month's premium but don't use it, it's non refundable, then you have a case. As far as them holding a security deposit, that's a major no go, again file a complaint with the credit card holder.

Welcome to South Florida and boating.

 

[Benthic2]

Definitely tell your credit card company. They will reverse the charge and make the marina justify it. I would also send an email to the BBB and the Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce. Their address is:

http://business.palmbeaches.org/contact

 

[drillguy]

And post on Active Captain, or threaten to, who would want that kind of attention?
Hopefully you got the sport fish's attention and they are making restitution?

 

[CaptRonn]

And the other part of disputing with the CC provider, is that they will not release the funds to the marina until the dispute is settled.

This get's the marina's attention.

 

[psneeld]

Sorry to hear that.

In my experience, many marinas have lousy communications between service, dockmaster, billing and everyone else. Good ones figure it out and take care of you.....even with outrageously stupid billing upfront.

Just had a similar situation last fall with my tranny repair, fortunately the service manager caught it and called me for clarification...great service in the long run.

Bad marinas need to be identified and I would be willing to call and make a complaint if not resolved reasonably.

 

[geoleo]

Riviera Beach Marina Charged our Credit Card $2816.51 for Five Nights !

April 20, 2018. On our way home to Ontario from the Bahamas we sustained significant damage as we were dangerously waked in the Lake Worth inlet by a 60’ sportfisher. We limped our way to anchor and called Riviera Beach Marina to try and get a slip as we desperately needed help with repairs. They told us we could have a slip in about four days and asked for a credit card to secure it. We stayed at anchor for four days til’ we could get a slip and begin the search for help and parts.

We informed the marina that we did not know how long we’d need the slip as we didn’t know how long repairs would take but that we’d book for a month and adjust later. They immediately billed our credit card for $2,568US and the following day another $248.51 ! This is four days before we even got there !

JAS Marine helped us get parts and repairs in an amazing 5 days. We checked out of Riviera Beach after only 5 nights and asked them to adjust our bill to the credit back the months payment and charge us the daily rate for the five days and return our $1,284 US security deposit. They responded that we’ll get our security deposit back in 2-3 weeks and told us there would be no credit for the month they charged us for. We obviously complained and were told by Harbour Master “Lee”, “that’s the way it is”.

These avaricious people take advantage of people in distress.
They charged our credit card $1,532.51 US for a five night stay and we still don’t have our $1,284 security deposit back.

Give these people a credit card at your own peril.

Riviera Beach Marina is the old Mafia s Marina They have always been scummy s there. Is it still full of all white Sportfishers?

 

[guy with a boat]

How was your boat damaged by being waked?

Sorry to hear about the marina experience.

 

[boatpoker]

How was your boat damaged by being waked?

Sorry to hear about the marina experience.

Transom under water, saloon door in cockpit was open, flooded engine compartment, engine partially submerged, engine mis-firing, water in the air intake, numerous shorts in the engine harness, ruined starter and solenoid.

 

[Lou_tribal]

Transom under water, saloon door in cockpit was open, flooded engine compartment, engine partially submerged, engine mis-firing, water in the air intake, numerous shorts in the engine harness, ruined starter and solenoid.

Jeez that is scary, how closed was passing by the other boat and at what speed? From what you described it was all of a wake.
Sorry for you though.

L

 

[Comodave]

Maybe file a complaint with the state attorney general. Don’t know how good Florida is about situations like this but worth a shot.

 

[Comodave]

Just noticed you said on April 20, 2018 this happened. Are you sure about that date?

 

[healhustler]

Holy crap, Poker. I’ve been waked by many a sport fisher in Miami and the ICW, but never sustained damage! How could a stern as boyant as yours get swamped. Such a report is frightening. Maybe the Sport Fisher was the same Mafia guy as the Marina owner. Certainly have the same attitude.

 

[Capt.Bill11]

Transom under water, saloon door in cockpit was open, flooded engine compartment, engine partially submerged, engine mis-firing, water in the air intake, numerous shorts in the engine harness, ruined starter and solenoid.

The wake rolled over your stern, went in an open door and flooded you engine space.

How did all that water get into the engine space?

Were the floor boards open? Through vents of some kind?

What happens when you’re in a following sea?

 

[Woodland Hills]

The wake rolled over your stern, went in an open door and flooded you engine space.

How did all that water get into the engine space?

Were the floor boards open? Through vents of some kind?

What happens when you’re in a following sea?

I would suspect that the companionway door would be closed in that situation, also a following sea would probably not be as steep as a worst case scenario wake in otherwise calm waters. Water in a salon has got to drain through to the bilges and the pumps somehow and engine hatches in the salon floor are a logical path..... As to a boat being proof against this sort of event: thats what bluewater ocean crossing boats are for, not coastal cruisers on the ICW. And thats why we have regulations making people responsible for damage caused by their wake. I'd be looking to the operator or owner of the offending sportfisher for redress.

 

[Capt Kangeroo]

Sorry to hear of your difficulties BoatPoker, I hope the rest of your journey is uneventful. I agree with Psneeld and the others. These places ripping us off need to be identified /published in as many places as possible to save others the same grief. It seems more and more marinas these days are getting ruthless at squeezing every possible dime from their customers. A posting over at Active Captain will certainly cost them considerable business.

 

[geoleo]

...change squeezing to stealing..............

 

[BruceK]

Sympathies to you Boatpoker. Our decision to leave Sydney Harbour was reinforced by taking green water over the transom from a close overtaking 40-50ft cruiser.
To have your transom put underwater demonstrates serious misconduct by the other vessel which could not be reasonably anticipated. Further misconduct by the marina compounds it, hope it all works out, disregard "blame the victim" attempts.

 

[boatpoker]

Jeez that is scary, how closed was passing by the other boat and at what speed? From what you described it was all of a wake.
Sorry for you though.

L

20' off my port side at an estimated 12-15knots

 

[JimW]

Another example of poor “seamanship” and a irresponsible “captain”, did you get the name and Port I’d Call of the sport fisherman. She probably came from that “welcoming” marina . . . Seems like they fit. JAS Marine (Jason) has been helpful for us in the past. What goes around, comes around . . . Apologies to you for the actions of both, smooth sailing to your return destination and thank you for sharing, that area is known for unprofessional operators of sportfisher boats!

 

[JohnEasley]

Damn, BP. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Not an auspicious welcome back. As others have said, that area is known for inconsiderate sportfishers. If you got the transom name and hailing port, I would recommend contacting the Florida Water Commission. He is responsible for the damage caused by his own wake and his insurance should be able to help.

 

[caltexflanc]

I know the following may sound insulting, but it is meant to help prevent future calamities.

Taking the posts at face value, the more I contemplate this, having seen, probably hundreds of times, this style of boat (sport fisherman) of all sizes and speeds going through inlets and narrow channels, and their wakes interacting with boats of all sizes and configurations, I have to question the seaworthiness of the OP's boat. It sounds like a watch was not in place to sight the offending vessel in time to orient the Benford to take the wave, but even then, that sort result shouldn't happen. Yes, this sort of maximum wake is very bad, but the open ocean can dish out much worse.

No comment on the marina, as I only have one side of the story.

 

[High Wire]

20' off my port side at an estimated 12-15knots

Overtaken or head on?

 

[healhustler]

Poker: The Cardude crew (aboard Bijou) and the Heahustler crew (aboard Bucky) were returning from a spectacular overnight anchorage in the Tampa Bay area when a huge 60 or so Marlowe caught up to us at the narrowest part of the GCICW. For whatever reason there may or may not be, he kept the boat at that point of highest squat, you know, just before it climbs on plane, creating absolute havoc behind us. I got on the radio to Cardude and warned him about the “wake machine” that was coming, but due to the narrow markers, there wasn’t room to pass. We held him in check for about 10 minutes, but we knew he was going to explode when the channel widened, and he did. I was first, and I went full throttle in hopes that he would be on plane by the time he caught me. No such luck. When I saw he couldn’t pull himself out of the pre-plane squat, I pulled it back to idle and waited for his stern to pass before I gave it full trottle, left rudder and bow thruster to spin my bow into the first wave, followed by the caverness trench left by his 1000 or so struggling horsepower. There just wasn’t enough channel width to get the boat turned in time. When it’s that bad and things are falling and spilling and rocking and rolling so much, all one can really do is hang on to something and hope he’s not towing a 30 ft. dinghy. Even with latched cabinets and fiddled surfaces, there was a lot to clean up. Wakes from sport-fishers are commonplace around here, but I was negligent in assuming I wouldn’t get mega-waked on the ICW. He got me, and now he was going for Cardude!

Ole Bill tried to do the pre-megawake set-up pretty much the same as I did. He was nearly against the starboard channel marker when the broadside hit. Bijou rolled over about 45 degrees to starboard while still heading up the first wave. I could see his entire keel and rudder as he slipped into the trench at that angle, still trying to turn into the wake. In the bottom of the trench the keel took hold and rolled him 40 or so degrees to port which was the position he was in when the 2nd wave hit him slightly forward of amidships, drenching the deck and turning the boat back to starboard, directing him outside the narrow channel. I could see him scrambling to get the boat turned back out of the shallows. She rolled several more times but the new sail kit he installed recently kept the boat from the quick snap-rolls it was known for before the kit was installed, helping Bill gather the helm again. The Marlowe just continued on in that full squat, never getting on plane for as long as we could see him. I doubt he ever looked back. Afterwards, Cardude says to me: “Too bad you didn’t get a video of that one.”

Sometimes irresponsible wakes hurt people. Sometimes there’s not space or opportunity to cope with them. Ours was a case where we knew it was coming and still couldn’t do much of anything about it. I’m really sorry your story has to face judgment and conjecture, but I’m particularly sorry you were kicked while you were already down. You’ve contributed many valid points in our discussions here on TF, and I’ve always sensed your impressions and arguments lucid.

 

[cardude01]

So you really saw my keel and rudder? I was heeled over that much? Sheesh.

I did feel a big load on the rudder as I was trying to hold the wheel. Glad the steering didn’t give way. I feel like I should have done something differently but don’t know what due to the limited channel width. We should have blocked his dumb ass so he couldn’t pass I think.

Also should have called the coast guard on him. He left a big group of violently bobbing smaller boats in his wake. It could have been dangerous.