Florida Statute 327.32 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIV
VESSELS

Chapter 327
VESSEL SAFETY

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F.S. 327.32

327.32 Vessel declared dangerous instrumentality; civil liability.—All vessels, of whatever classification, shall be considered dangerous instrumentalities in this state, and any operator of a vessel shall, during any utilization of the vessel, exercise the highest degree of care in order to prevent injuries to others. Liability for reckless or careless operation of a vessel shall be confined to the operator in immediate charge of the vessel and not imposed upon the owner of the vessel, unless the owner is the operator or is present in the vessel when any injury or damage is occasioned by the reckless or careless operation of such vessel, whether such recklessness or carelessness consists of a violation of the provisions of the statutes of this state, or disregard in observing such care and such operation as the rules of the common law require.

History.—s. 3, ch. 59-400; s. 1, ch. 65-361; s. 5, ch. 84-188; s. 11, ch. 85-81.

Note.—Former s. 371.52.

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Amendments to 327.32

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 327.32

Total Results: 7

Rindfleisch v. Carnival Cruise Lines

498 So. 2d 488, 1987 A.M.C. 944

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 4, 1986 | Docket: 2450515

Cited 10 times | Published

friction test. Plaintiffs/appellants argue that section 327.32, Florida Statutes (1981), places a higher degree

Bradley v. Guy

438 So. 2d 854

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 11, 1983 | Docket: 1731734

Cited 5 times | Published

that Florida Statute 371.52 (now known as section 327.32, Florida Statutes (1981)) places a higher degree

Feagle v. Purvis

891 So. 2d 1096, 2004 WL 2964929

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 23, 2004 | Docket: 1704468

Cited 4 times | Published

and demise. This is of significance because Section 327.32, Florida Statutes (2002), entitled "Vessel

ARTHUR SAGER v. MADALINA BLANCO AND RICARDO F. BLANCO

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 12, 2022 | Docket: 65417127

Published

a vessel operator unless the owner is present, § 327.32, Fla. Stat. (2022), limiting the liability of

ARTHUR SAGER v. MADALINA BLANCO AND RICARDO F. BLANCO

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 15, 2022 | Docket: 63385757

Published

a vessel operator unless the owner is present, § 327.32, Fla. Stat. (2022), limiting the liability of

Estock v. Krstic

526 So. 2d 768, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 1401, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 2490, 1988 WL 59452

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 14, 1988 | Docket: 64635308

Published

breached the highest degree of care imposed by section 327.32, Florida Statutes (1981), on an owner-operator

Boland v. Suncoast Rent-A-Scooter, Inc.

439 So. 2d 916, 1983 Fla. App. LEXIS 21789

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 21, 1983 | Docket: 64600274

Published

favor, in spite of appellant’s argument that section 327.32, Florida Statutes (1981), is not designed to