Report Review
The boat I chartered had a malfunctioning anchor windlass, which the marina owner, Jon Buck, claimed I had broken. He deducted the $700 repair from my security deposit, and refused to return it even after the head of the boatyard that fixed it emailed me, "The windlass itself was VERY dry and dirty. Obviously it had not been opened up and inspected or cleaned in a long, long time. In my opinion, there is nothing you could have done to this windlass or even a brand new windlass, that would cause a broken tooth. They are designed to withstand bringing the anchor up to a full lock, even if you hold the up button too long. It was broken because of age and lack of maintenance."
In addition, the boat was neither registered by the state nor documented by the Coast Guard, causing the Maine Marine Patrol to do a thorough investigation of Buck's fleet. Other charterers have had multiple mechanical problems with his boats, which a highly-respected yard nearby says are poorly maintained.