El-Amin says that after a judge ordered him to pay back dock fees two years ago he asked the marina’s attorney to place the boat in a “neutral” zone while he paid off the debt. He says he didn’t want to accrue any more dock fees. Moreover, he says the “legal responsibility to maintain the boat” falls upon the marina.

“I don’t have any authority to go down there,” El-Amin says. “I warned them that any boat not tied up to electricity is going to cause the boat to sink.”

El-Amin owes the marina $600, which he says he is paying back. “Once that happens I can sell the boat,” he says. Until then, he says, the marina has him strapped. “They’re holding the boat hostage.” — B.W.