Mooring lines cut - what's your take?

[35mm]

I have a fore and aft drying mooring on my local creek. I recently moved my boat off the mooring to a near by quay to do a bit of work on it. A couple of days later I returned to the mooring to find the bow buoy missing. I picked up the stern buoy and grabbed the line that joins the stern line to the bow line, hauled and found it had been cut. Bow line was somewhere below on the creek bed. So I returned the boat to the quay side.

I went down this morning at low tide armed with a pair of wellies and a length of rope. Replaced the joining rope and moved the stern buoy to the bow line. When I found the bow line I noticed that the old buoy had been cut off - knot still intact.

Now, there is some background to this. I was allocated the mooring at the end of the summer/early autumn by the harbour authority and have paid them the annual licence fee, supplement and dues. The way it works here is the mooring belongs to the harbour authority/crown, you rent it off them and you are supposed to contact the previous mooring holder and negotiate buying the tackle off them or getting them to remove it so that you can provide your own. I contacted the previous mooring holder a while ago and asked him what he wanted for it. "Undred quid mate." he said. I thought that seemed a bit steep and told him I'd have a look at it, decide what's what and get back to him. For one reason or another, I haven't got back to him yet.

It doesn't seem that any other moorings have been randomly cut, and I can't think of anyone who would have malicious intent against me, other than, perhaps, the previous mooring holder. I suspect he might be p**sed off with me for not getting back to him yet. And he might have good reason to be slightly narked with me as I have left it for a couple of months, and I accept that I am not blameless there. However, he could have got my phone number from the harbour master and called me or even left a note on my boat or on the mooring if he wanted to chase things up. I don't know who the guy is as he lives in another village. I just have his name and number.

Of course I have no proof it was him, but no reason what so ever to suspect anyone else. I assume it has to be him for the reasons above, and due to the fact that the main lines seem fine, but ropes were cut in such a way as to sabotage the mooring, making it unusable and causing inconvenience rather than great expense, but it seems like a totally bloody minded, and malicious thing to do. I'm slightly weary about putting my boat back on the mooring in case he strikes again, and I'm really not keen on the idea of calling him and paying his full asking price of "Undred quid" now.

I'm not too sure how to deal with this one, so any suggestions are welcome. I'm not the sort of person who likes stirring up trouble and making enemies, but equally I will stand up for my self if needs be. I'm not sure if I should report the incident to the Harbour Master, while probably keeping my suspicions as to who did it to my self. While the mooring is now mine, I guess the tackle is still his, so he probably has the right to cut it about if he wants - providing no boats gets damaged as a result, but is that a reasonable thing for him to do? Have I got what I deserved for not getting back to him sooner? Should I still pay him the "undred quid"? I guess I can't really accuse him and offer to pay less due to the damage he's done. Or should I?

 

[stevebrassett]

If I read this correctly, you are now using his mooring tackle without having paid him for it. Whilst his methods might stink (if it is him that has done it), then I can uderstand he might be upset that you have started negotiations and then ignored him and used his tackle anyway. I would just pay the hundred quid and put it down to experience, Otherwise, will you sleep easy thinking about him planning revenge?

You will no doubt receive the opposite advice as well.

 

[lw395]

As you say, you are a bit at fault for not getting back to him.
I think in your position I would make him an offer as if nothing has happened.
Around here we did have a situation where payments were made notionally for ground tackle but really as some sort of payment for 'rights' to the mooring, but the clubs have largely kicked that into touch. The tackle must be worth something, as you have used it. £100 doesn't get you a lot.
You owe him something, you should settle amicably if you can and move on.
Whether you want to barter down a bit depends on the state of the gear I suppose.

 

[prv]

If I read this correctly, you are now using his mooring tackle without having paid him for it. Whilst his methods might stink (if it is him that has done it), then I can uderstand he might be upset that you have started negotiations and then ignored him and used his tackle anyway.

Actually I lean even further on the side of the mooring owner here. Remember, he didn't do anything to the OP's boat. The gear he cut was his own, which the OP had no right to be using, and he did it while the OP was moored elsewhere so no possibility of harm. I can quite understand his position of "sod you, if you ain't gonna pay for it, you can damn well stop using it". Not saying I'd definitely have done the same, but I find it hard to blame him.

Pete

 

[35mm]

Pete, still a bit malicious though when he could have just contacted me. However, I do accept your point and the opinions of the other posters. Although of course, as the guy in my position who probably has a bias opinion, I don't really think he did the right thing. Very much the sort of thing a fisherman would do, but I'm friends with all the local fishermen and he's not one of them.

The way I see it as well, is that if I phone him right now, it seems that I'm giving into intimidation. If he'd phoned me, I would have just said, "Oh yea. Sorry for the delay. Here's undred quid."

I suppose the best thing to do is phone him in a day or two, say that I noticed he's removed his buoy. Hope he says, "Yarp I did that", appologise for not getting back to him sooner, then ask him what he wants for his tackle again? When he says, "Undred quid." I'll suggest that if he replaces the buoy and the rope he cut, I'll give him undred quid. Hopefully that'll be diplomatic and avoid directly accusing him of being a malicious sod.

 

[pete]

If you don't want to buy his tackle remove it and replace it with your own then tell him he can come and collect it whenever he wants. If you can't remove it all pay him for what you cannot remove.

I don't suppose he really wants it but that should hopefully placate him.
He probably thinks you are just taking advantage of him.

Pete

 

[fireball]

If you don't want to buy his tackle remove it and replace it with your own then tell him he can come and collect it whenever he wants. If you can't remove it all pay him for what you cannot remove.

I don't suppose he really wants it but that should hopefully placate him.
He probably thinks you are just taking advantage of him.

Pete

+1

 

[MASH]

Pathetic behaviour when all he had to do was call and remind you about the "'undred quid". He sounds a complete ignoramus.

Don't beat yourself up about it, a bit of forgetfulness is hardly a crime. But I do agree with the tip above. Personally I wouldn't even bother removing his tackle, I'd just add mine alongside it and leave his lying on the bottom - he can come and retrieve it if he wishes and if he damages yours in any way get the Police + harbour master involved.

 

[rob2]

I find myself on both sides, here!

In his place I can see he may be thinking that you're not intending to pay him. Whether he has anything to do with disabling the tackle is another matter. You said you'd get back to him and you didn't.

In your place, you really need to accept that even if he were responsible then that's his perogative. I would re-open negotiations with "Sorry, I kept forgetting to call. I was going to buy your gear, but would you believe some oik has cut it away! Where do we go from here?"

Rob.

 

[oldvarnish]

Boat went through with a rope cutter on it's prop?

 

[sailorman]

I find myself on both sides, here!

In his place I can see he may be thinking that you're not intending to pay him. Whether he has anything to do with disabling the tackle is another matter. You said you'd get back to him and you didn't.

In your place, you really need to accept that even if he were responsible then that's his perogative. I would re-open negotiations with "Sorry, I kept forgetting to call. I was going to buy your gear, but would you believe some oik has cut it away! Where do we go from here?"

Rob.

Its only 100 squids, thats a cheap mooring, even if you have to replace it

 

[longjohnsilver]

You are making an assumption that he cut it, could have been anyone or as OV says a rope cutter or someone trapped by your mooring line, or, more accurately, his mooring line.

Just phone him up!!

 

[prv]

You are making an assumption that he cut it, could have been anyone or as OV says a rope cutter or someone trapped by your mooring line, or, more accurately, his mooring line.

That was my first thought, but he described the buoy having been cut off leaving the knot behind, which sounds like it means directly under the buoy. Not sure how you'd do that with a rope cutter.

Might be a useful face-saving fiction to pretend it's what happened, though

Pete

 

[stevebrassett]

The trouble is that he knows where your boat is, so you can't be too antagonistic, or you'll just worry.

 

[35mm]

Definitely wasn't cut by a prop! It was cut right below the buoy eye, and the joining rope that was cut, would have been too deep. It could have been cut by someone else, but for what purpose? I can't think of anyone who would have a reason to do that. except maybe this guy.

I don't really have an issue with buying his gear. Saves me redoing it. It's hard to say what I am actually paying for as the blocks are shared with the other moorings in the line. It's partly a goodwill payment, but goodwill seems to have broken down some what.

I know I should have been more prompt in getting back to the guy, but I think he's handled it vary badly. If it was he who was taking over the mooring from me, I would have phoned him in the first instance, and that would have probably sorted it. If not, I would have phoned him again and told him that if he didn't pay up in one week, I'd go down and remove the gear, and if his boat's on it at the time, I'd move that to the quay, and if the HM charges him for using the quay, that would be his tough luck! Instead, this guy has skipped any diplomacy, hasn't tried to get the money off me and hasn't removed his gear. He's just assumed I'm not paying up and has cut the ropes out of revenge, not even told me or left a note to say it was him and why he did it, which is just malicious. He's basically done that rather than ask me for the money. I was happy to pay him for the gear, but his actions have left me somewhat bitter about it now. I intend to honour a payment to him for gear, but this does change things.

 

[Spyro]

I was happy to pay him for the gear, but his actions have left me somewhat bitter about it now. I intend to honour a payment to him for gear, but this does change things.

No you weren't you said it sounded a bit steep.

"Undred quid mate." he said. I thought that seemed a bit steep and told him I'd have a look at it, decide what's what and get back to him. For one reason or another, I haven't got back to him yet".

You didn't get back to him so he took what was his. you've been using his tackle for some time and he got a bit peeved about it. It's not how every one would react but it's how some would.
Sounds a bit harsh but that is the reality.

 

[rivonia]

Having read all the posts and the op's. I have thought long and hard about this. My view is if I was in your position I would make him an offer, say £85.00 and say sorry for delay in getting back to him.

I would think that you are quite concerned as if he did do the deed then he may do it again. Settle it ASAP and then you will sleep easy.

Good luck

Peter

 

[lw395]

Perhaps he has simply sold the buoy to somebody else who needed it as you made no move to buy it?
Can't really blame him for that, although I'd like to think I would have reminded you first, unless a friend needed a buoy in a hurry.
Make a deduction for the buoy, make him an offer, buy him a pint, be thankful you have a cheap mooring, cheer yourself up with some of the marina moan threads on here!

 

[prv]

You didn't get back to him so he took what was his. you've been using his tackle for some time and he got a bit peeved about it. It's not how every one would react but it's how some would.

Indeed. In case not everyone spotted it, the OP hasn't been delaying a few days or a week here, but "a couple of months". In my opinion that's an unreasonable time to decide whether or not to take up an offer.

Yes, perhaps the owner should have phoned up to chase - although it appears he didn't have the OP's phone number! He may have considered it "not my job" to put himself out tracking down and contacting someone who apparently couldn't be bothered to solve the problem themselves. He may even have been uncomfortable phoning up effectively to demand money; some people find any kind of confrontation like that awkward, and will make the point indirectly instead - that's why http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/ exists

Pete

 

[35mm]

No you weren't you said it sounded a bit steep.

"Undred quid mate." he said. I thought that seemed a bit steep and told him I'd have a look at it, decide what's what and get back to him. For one reason or another, I haven't got back to him yet".

You didn't get back to him so he took what was his. you've been using his tackle for some time and he got a bit peeved about it. It's not how every one would react but it's how some would.
Sounds a bit harsh but that is the reality.

Not true. I was prepared to pay something. At first I thought it was a bit steep and said I'd go and look at the gear and work something out. I priced up replacement gear. He was maybe making £20 pounds out of me, but I would have at least haggled. I didn't get back to him in the time frame anticipated because other things distracted me. Personal things and then the whole end of season thing.

He didn't take what was his. He could have done, but instead he just cut some ropes anonymously.