New Jersey Yacht Owner Faces Florida Maritime Lien Foreclosure Over $245K in Unpaid Yacht Necessaries
In a newly filed action that underscores the power of maritime liens in luxury yacht litigation, Florida-based vessel services provider Seaworthy Club, Inc. filed a Verified Complaint on April 22, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, seeking to foreclose a $245,422.14 maritime lien against the 64-foot Viking yacht Reboot (formerly Water Hog III).
Seaworthy Club, Inc. Initiates Luxury Yacht Maritime Lien Foreclosure in Florida Over 64′ Viking Sportfish Reboot
The vessel, documented under U.S. Coast Guard Official Number 1220195, is owned by Water Hog LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company based in Morristown. According to the Verified Complaint, Seaworthy Club provided dockage, marine repairs, maintenance, and parts—classified under federal law as “necessaries”—to the vessel while berthed in Dania Beach, Florida. Despite repeated demands for payment, Water Hog LLC allegedly failed to remit the sums owed, prompting Seaworthy Club to seek the vessel’s arrest under Rule C of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims.
This in rem maritime lien foreclosure proceeding, filed as Seaworthy Club, Inc. v. Vessel Reboot, Case No. 0:25-cv-60779-RLR, requests judicial authorization for the U.S. Marshals Service to seize the vessel, paving the way for a public auction to satisfy the outstanding debt.
Legal Analysis: Vessel Arrest and Maritime Lien Foreclosure for Yacht Services Under Florida Admiralty Law
Seaworthy Club’s Verified Complaint exemplifies the steps maritime service providers must follow to enforce their rights under the Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens Act (CIMLA), codified at 46 U.S.C. §§ 31301–31343. Under this federal statutory framework, suppliers who furnish necessaries to a vessel are entitled to a preferred maritime lien, enforceable through an in rem action directly against the vessel.
Here, Seaworthy Club alleges it delivered services and materials qualifying as necessaries, properly documented its invoices, and that the vessel remains within the territorial jurisdiction of the Southern District of Florida. These elements satisfy the threshold requirements for vessel arrest and foreclosure proceedings.
Potential defenses available to Water Hog LLC could involve contesting Eugene Kesselman’s authority to engage Seaworthy on behalf of the vessel or disputing whether certain invoiced items truly constitute necessaries. However, the absence of a recorded preferred mortgage significantly strengthens Seaworthy Club’s claim to priority in the event of a judicial sale.
An experienced Florida maritime lien attorney would recognize that, without prompt settlement, the likely outcome is a court-ordered sale of the Reboot free and clear of all subordinate claims.
Trend and Policy Analysis: Surge in Maritime Lien Foreclosures Against Luxury Yachts in Post-Pandemic Florida
The Seaworthy Club case highlights an increasing trend where Florida maritime attorneys aggressively pursue foreclosure remedies against high-value yachts for unpaid necessaries. As luxury yacht ownership has expanded post-pandemic, so too have disputes over unpaid services, fueling a marked rise in vessel arrests and judicial sales in jurisdictions such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Dania Beach.
In today’s enforcement climate, maritime lienholders are encouraged to act quickly. Courts routinely grant expedited Rule C warrants for vessel arrest, recognizing the inherently mobile nature of yachts and the potential for dissipation of assets. Moreover, suppliers who document their claims properly—such as Seaworthy Club did—are well-positioned to achieve full recovery through the judicial process.
This case serves as a warning to yacht owners: neglecting to pay for services exposes even multi-million-dollar vessels to swift seizure and auction.
Call to Action
If you have provided dockage, repairs, maintenance, or marine services to a yacht and have not been paid, you have legal rights under federal maritime law. Contact a Florida maritime lien foreclosure attorney today to discuss your options for vessel arrest and recovery.
