Abandoned boat ?

[aneng]

Hi,

I live next to a tidal estuary and there are a few boats moored in the bigger channels in the marsh. I've lived here for eight years now and have never seen this one move, nor seen anyone work on it in all that time. It just appears to be deteriorating and as far as I can make out, it is abandoned. I hate seeing things left to rot and it bugs me that it's sat there doing nothing.

Does anyone know how I might go about trying to establish if it is abandoned or not ? Obviously, I have no desire to steal the vessel if there is a legal owner, but equally, it would be nice to do it up and get it back on the waves where it belongs.

There are no local boating clubs nearby to enquire at, and the boat doesn't seem to have a name on it, though I've not ventured out into the estuary to check it over.

Anyone have any suggestions as to what make it is too ?

Many thanks !

 

[Anthony]

Check with your local authority they may have a list of registered moorings, although chances are if they do then a ground rent would be payable if the owner had not paid it in the 8 years you mentioned the boat would have been disposed of.

 

[Matt341]

If that is the boat & location that I think it is (90% sure), Penclawdd river? Then we used to have a mooring behind the boat. I vaguely knew the guy who owned it 17 years ago but don't know whether he still owns it. His first name was John, could be worth asking in the Royal Oak pub whether anyone knows info on the boat and whether a guy called John still owns it. He did used to live in Penclawdd so someone might point you in his direction.

Ian

 

[landlockedpirate]

I know the boat doesent look in great condition and you have never seen anyone on it, but I'm not convinced its abondoned.

After only a couple of years with no care it would have a lot more fouling than it has.

I would not try and claim unless you can speak to the actual owner. Good luck with the search.

 

[aneng]

Well, we're a couple of years down the line and the boat is now in a sorry state... she's broken free of the stern mooring line and the accumulation of rainwater and any leaks has her sitting very low in the water when the tide is in. I'd give her no more than another month before she sinks. Such a shame.

 

[Zzindbad]

Can not you report this to the police? If the boat sinks, someone will have to pay the cost of salvage and scrapping. Offer that you take over the boat as a find. Perhaps the authorities are active and determine that there is no owner, and leave it to you.

Tom

 

[mad_boater]

Well, we're a couple of years down the line and the boat is now in a sorry state... she's broken free of the stern mooring line and the accumulation of rainwater and any leaks has her sitting very low in the water when the tide is in. I'd give her no more than another month before she sinks. Such a shame.

I have often thought it would be an interesting project to do one of those abandon boats up,in fact it would make a great running article for MBM.One of the problems when a boat has been open to the elements especially grp is the stringers rot out making it very expensive along with all the other things.Would make a good read with the right boat though.

 

[MYStargazer]

I have often thought it would be an interesting project to do one of those abandon boats up,in fact it would make a great running article for MBM.One of the problems when a boat has been open to the elements especially grp is the stringers rot out making it very expensive along with all the other things.Would make a good read with the right boat though.

+1

 

[Seastoke]

If its two years later you must have found some info on it surely

 

[aneng]

No.....I've been busy.

 

[Seastoke]

no.....i've been busy.

not that keen then

 

[aneng]

That was a joke. But... It's not my ideal craft to be honest, I just don't like to see things being neglected.

 

[superheat6k]

If the boat is slowly sinking then it would be completely legitimate for someone to board the boat to pump it out and then move it to a place of safety, making that person the Salvor.

The next stage would be to immediately declare the salvage action to the receiver of wrecks, which would establish their claim. I am no expert here, but I would expect that some effort to find the owner would then be required, and he would have to recompense the salvor the value of the boat, or (perhaps) just give them the boat, but in this case beware of liens of others over the vessel, e.g. unpaid mooring fees. You could go to huge efforts to act properly to save this boat only to then find once you have re-established it has a value and now an owner to find someone knocking on your door claiming a lien over the boat for prior debts.

However, if it were to be me I would request the observance of someone from the local area of repute to act as witness to my actions, after all a would be salvor could leave themselves open to suggestions they were trying to present themselves as salvor having earlier caused the vessel to take on water.

May be worthwhile researching how the salvage rules really work in practice and where your local receiver of wrecks resides.

If you end up owning the boat please come back here with your full story.