MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — Madeira Beach City Commissioners unanimously passed a new ordinance on a second reading Tuesday — which makes it law — that restricts live-aboard boats in City waters to only a few days per month.
- Live-Aboard boat owners now must obtain $5 permit before anchoring
- Boat owners also required to pump sewage at City Marina
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"It's definitely needed," said John Apache, 72. "We're so concerned about the environment."
Apache lives in the Sea Towers condos that overlook the Intracoastal in Madeira Beach. At least a half dozen live-aboard boats have been anchored in that area for more than a year, according to Apache.
"They have to be dumping their sewage out in there because the boats never leave," he said. "Then the fact is that sometimes they have generators that run all night."
Apache said their condo custodian is constantly picking up trash from live-aboard boats. He's apparently has seen a woman shower nude on her deck and one man had a goat.
"A good size goat and he brought it here," said Apache. "He tried to graze on our grass and we said, 'no, that's private property.'"
Some of the boats are derelict and do not have functioning engines, according to Apache.
New law unfair?
The new law requires live-aboard boat owners to get a $5 permit before anchoring, which limits overnight stays to 72-hours in a 30-day period. The boats must be anchored at least 200 feet away from the shore, dock or seawall.
Boat owners are also required to pump their sewage at the City Marina, which will be free of charge.
Anthony Wade, 52, lives on a sailboat with his wife, who's a waitress at a restaurant in Madeira Beach. Wade anchors their boat in the Intracoastal and calls the new law unfair.
"I don't understand how they can do it when they don't own the water," he said. "I think it's crap. We've been living here for over a year and if we could afford to live on shore we would."
Wade said he became disabled in 2008, when he broke his back and gets a small check every month. The live-aboard boat owner worries how much money he will have to spend to bring his wife to work.
"Everyday it's going to cost me fuel running back and forth," he said. "Depending on where their zone ends up she could lose her job over it. We could lose everything."
It's a sentiment other live-aboard boat owners expressed at the City Commission meeting. They asked commissioners if they would rather see someone living on a boat or homeless on the street?
A background memo on the new city ordinance called live-aboard vessels a growing issue that "pose a threat to public health and safety."
Wade believes a handful of bad live-aboard boat owners ruined it for everyone.
"Don't punish everybody. What did I do? I'm following the law," he said. "I just bought a brand new sticker for my boat."