Lifestyle

John Madden, 84, retired Boston police officer, is not quite sure which way the wind blows these days after his condo association said his 22-inch motorboat he plays with in the lake behind his Margate complex might violate the city's code, resulting in fines up to $250 a day. 

Code compliance officers came to the property to get a reading of another boat he played with on the water, which neighbors complained.  But before officers could get a noise-level reading, it quit working.  The repairs were too expensive for Madden to incur so the question of who's right on the noise issue may still have to be contested.

He explained to CBS4 Reporter Joan Murray how he once owned a 32-foot cabin cruiser.  Things are different now. He said, "When I came down here, I couldn't afford a boat.  It's impossible, so the next best thing was to get one of these harbor boats."

The violation - if there were one - would be against the Coral Gate Condominium bylaws, according to one member, who said the documents specify no one may put a motorboat in the water. 

Doreen Zappala added that 17 other homeowners shared her view. She said, "It's a nuisance. It's against 718… that's Florida Statute 718, which says you are not allowed to impinge on another neighbor." 

Madden would like to keep racing his quieter, battery-powered 22-inch cigarette boat, but it will depend on whose patroling the waters.