The directors finally met Nov 18 2010 for the first time since we arrived back after the summer.

The first order of business was to establish a layout for the web presence and determine how to make best use of the Internet.

The directors then started discussion of a variety of topics that affect the liveaboard community.

The topics included :

The importance of anchoring rights and how the growing trends affect the safety and security of liveaboards.

What are the laws around mooring rights on docks. What are the rights of a person living on a boat in a marina. And what are the obligations of marina owners as spelled out in the contracts between the federal government, marina owners, provincial government, and civic governments.

Currently some communities are employing local security in place of the R.C.M.P. to police the harbours. These forces are demanding, in some cases, what appears to be unreasonable access to people’s homes. What is the legal role of the police and do they have the right to board a vessel, someone’s home, at anchor without a warranted reason.

There was also discussion of danger of mooring balls, official or otherwise, to liveaboards and to the boating public in general. What can be done to manage these moorings and protect the few safe places that one can anchor in inclement weather or an emergency.

The discussions above led us all to the conclusion that what is needed is research into the laws regarding living aboard.

To this end we are asking the members for assistance.

We ask for any knowledge that anyone has or any researcher that they may be able to provide.

Participation from our members is paramount so please contact us and help us out to make all our lives safer and more secure.