Hi Westie,

...as the article say, a "character and a half", who spawned a legendary thread over on Sailing Anarchy, among other forums...

Flyin' Hawaiian sailboat builder jailed after fight with Loch Lomond harbor master

By Paul Liberatore
Marin Independent Journal

Posted: 08/13/2013 06:13:04 PM PDT

James "Hot Rod" Lane's dream of building a boat and sailing to Hawaii is turning into a nightmare.

Instead of being aboard his "Flyin' Hawaiian" catamaran on his journey to a new life in the shadow of Diamond Head, Lane was cooling his heels Tuesday in the Marin County Jail.

The 52-year-old jack of all trades was arrested Monday after he got into a fight with Pat Lopez, harbor master of San Rafael's Loch Lomond Marina, and bit Lopez's right middle finder "almost to the bone," according to San Rafael Police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher.

The bloody scrap came during a heated argument over Lane's continuing use of the marina's facilities even though his 65-foot-long, twin-hulled boat left Loch Lomond in June.

Since then, the eight-ton beige behemoth, which Lane built in the Loch Lomond parking lot with his 28-year-old son, Michael, has been stuck in the mud off Spinnaker Point southwest of the yacht harbor.

The early afternoon altercation at Loch Lomond erupted after Lane became upset over his key to the marina's showers and docks being deactivated. He was taken into custody and booked on an outstanding arrest warrant from the Sutter County Sheriff's Office for failing to appear on a charge of driving with a suspended license as well as a mechanical violation. He was being held on $11,000 bail.

His legal troubles could soon get worse. Due to the extent of the harbor master's wound, the Marin County District Attorney's Office is reviewing the case and is considering filing a felony charge of battery with a serious injury, Rohrbacher said.
Advertisement

The fight marks a violent turn in a story that has been the talk of the sailing community. A self-described "new mariner," Lane and his homemade boat have been the subject of more than 5,400 posts on the website Sailing Anarchy, most of them ridiculing his "Home Depot" materials, do-it-yourself workmanship and lack of sailing experience.

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_23856338/flyin-hawaiian-sailboat-builder-jailed-after-fight-loch

best regards,

Jon