Boat abandon at the dock

[J & J]

I would like to know if anyone has any experience with this. I found a boat sitting at the docks (city docks) she has been stripped of all paperwork and not a sign of regestration and is not listed in the US Documentation records. The boat is getting ready to sink and only the hull is good. If any one knows how to aquire a vessel that is in this shape and yet the owners will not respond to letters nor have they been seen in about four years I would like your imput. I have contacted the dock master and sent a letter to the owner through him. I have ask many people in the area nothing. Soojn she will be on the bottom and I guess they will pay more attention then. Their must be a written law that says save this boat and place a lein on it or something. I never understood why people do this and just let the boat go to the bottom.

[gonzo]

The dock master can put a lien on the boat and then sell or auction it.

[rickc]

there may be something in maritime law that allows you to take possession of an abandoned vessel. where I live (waterford NY) a tug boat that was abandoned in the canal was aquired in such a way.

RichC

Thanks Gonzo I got ahold of the owner and we got the boat from him for nothing but take it away. It is a Hudson Force 50 in need of a compleat refit but worth saving. Thanks for your post

[gonzo]

That's great, congratulations. Post some pics.

[Robert Gainer]

Originally Posted by rickc

there may be something in maritime law that allows you to take possession of an abandoned vessel. where I live (waterford NY) a tug boat that was abandoned in the canal was aquired in such a way.

RichC

If that is the tug that went to Rondout on the Hudson it cost the salvage company a lot in legal fees before it was all over. They did prevail in the end, but they really wanted the boat a lot.
Robert Gainer