Ask a Maritime Attorney: What is the significance of a slip license?

Question: I recently received a letter from my marina, asking me to sign a new rental agreement which they are calling a “license” (the previous agreement was called a “wharfage contract”).  Can you explain the legal significance of a slip “license?” The terms of the two agreements are similar, except for a new provision that allows them to rent out my slip and keep all of the rental income if I go cruising. On a similar note, I have observed that many marinas are being re-configured to eliminate slips for smaller boats. This seems like a form of discrimination, especially in light of the fact that marinas use federal and state tax dollars to construct and operate their facilities. This has a direct impact on an entire class of boat owners who pay taxes like everyone else. Do the effected boat owners have any recourse for this type of discrimination? Answer These questions are actually a compilation of several emails that we have recently received from readers.  People are frustrated with the direction that the slip rental market is going, and they are looking for legal and political tools that will help to give boat owners a voice in that market. The best...