Abandoned boats in car park

[Telstar26]

So there are these two boats that have been left - maybe abandoned - in the church hall car park:

They've been there over a year. The owner(s) never asked permission and haven't made themselves known to the Parish Church Council, who own the car park. Facebook posts haven't produced any responses.

So what steps can the PCC take to get rid of them? Post a notice on them, put an ad in the press, and then put them on eBay in 3 month's time? (Not that the trailers are roadworthy!) But is that legal?

PS. The yacht could possibly be an Achilles - triple keel, but seems less that 24'.

 

[Stemar]

They aren't registered vehicles, nor are they on any sort of mooring/boatyard to be covered by maritime law, so I reckon they're litter. I would put a warning on them for a month first.

(Not a lawyer, so follow my advice at your own risk!)

One more serious thought - do they have any sort of registration or serial numbers? If so, and they were ever on SSR, they may be able to help you find an owner

 

[Telstar26]

One more serious thought - do they have any sort of registration or serial numbers? If so, and they were ever on SSR, they may be able to help you find an owner

No, nothing to identify them, not even a name!

 

[Praxinoscope]

We had similar case in Aberaeron, boat left on Council Ca r park at end of season then all contacts with owner failed, Council put a notice on it that unless the owner contacted the Council by a specific date the boat wold be disposed of by sealed auction.
A lovely couple successfully put a bid in on the boat, spent several months working on it and now have a nice yacht.
But I assume the Council took legal advice on the options open to them.

 

[NealB]

I'm not sure on the legal bits, but I think the yacht is a Hunter Europa (triple keeled Hunter 19).

 

[Telstar26]

I'm not sure on the legal bits, but I think the yacht is a Hunter Europa (triple keeled Hunter 19).

That looks about right thanks!

 

[AntarcticPilot]

So there are these two boats that have been left - maybe abandoned - in the church hall car park:
View attachment 146618View attachment 146619
They've been there over a year. The owner(s) never asked permission and haven't made themselves known to the Parish Church Council, who own the car park. Facebook posts haven't produced any responses.

So what steps can the PCC take to get rid of them? Post a notice on them, put an ad in the press, and then put them on eBay in 3 month's time? (Not that the trailers are roadworthy!) But is that legal?

PS. The yacht could possibly be an Achilles - triple keel, but seems less that 24'.

Your diocesan office should be able to get legal advice from tame lawyers - there will be at least one on a retainer; there are posts in the non-clerical diocesan hierarchy that require legal expertise. Your Archdeacon would be the first port of call; their position means that they have to be savvy about land, and have access to advice.

Worth bearing in mind that land belonging to the church can come under different rules to land owned by secular agencies. However, that depends on the exact nature of the holding. In some cases, the relevant law is ancient!

 

[NealB]

That looks about right thanks!

Designed by one of Burnham's finest, Oliver Lee.

 

[Ribtecer]

I think the yacht is a Hunter Europa (triple keeled Hunter 19).

It is a Hunter, but not a Europa, just a triple keeled 19, such a shame as they're lovely sailing boats.

 

[Sandy]

Do any of the villagers own a chainsaw?

 

[DownWest]

Nice

Designed by one of Burnham's finest, Oliver Lee.

Nice guy, I used to make trailers for his boats.

 

[NealB]

It is a Hunter, but not a Europa, just a triple keeled 19, such a shame as they're lovely sailing boats.

I'm no expert, and I'm sure it doesn't matter, but isn't the 'Europa' just a slightly later name for the '19'?

Or is the 'Europa' only the last ones built that had the same hulls and rigs, but a slightly redisgned coachroof?

 

[Ribtecer]

I'm no expert, and I'm sure it doesn't matter, but isn't the 'Europa' just a slightly later name for the '19'?

Or is the 'Europa' only the last ones built that had the same hulls and rigs, but a slightly redisgned coachroof?

Europa had a different top moulding and a self draining cockpit, all of them were lovely little boats, Oliver Lee was a gentleman.

I met him at the SBS after I bought a H19 that had sunk and lost its rudder in the process, he was most helpful to a 19 year old me to help get that boat sailing again.

Happy days

 

[NealB]

Europa had a different top moulding and a self draining cockpit, all of them were lovely little boats, Oliver Lee was a gentleman.

I met him at the SBS after I bought a H19 that had sunk and lost its rudder in the process, he was most helpful to a 19 year old me to help get that boat sailing again.

Happy days

Thank you!!

I've loved the H19's since I was a teenager, but have never sailed one: crewed on several Squibs, over the decades, though.

Anyway..... back to the OP's PCC!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Do any of the villagers own a chainsaw?

I wish I could laugh more at this, but sadly, it’s a serious comment. It’s not worth anyones while to take either of those away. They are scrap, and have been dumped for that reason.

 

[wombat88]

Is there not a formal process clarified by the RYA for taking ownership of dumped boats and getting rid of them? Someone in a yacht club would know.

 

[penfold]

The cuddy thing should be easy enough to shift, even with a knackered trailer; impecunious angler types aren't going to pay a lot but they're popular enough even if repairs are needed. The yacht is perhaps another matter, dependent on whether the rig is intact; if there are missing bits it becomes another incomplete project in a market with too many tired old end-of-life boats that are still complete.

Sabre saws are less hazardous for chopping up GRP than either stihl saws or chain saws and not much slower; TBH a skip and the nearest farmer's digger will see both off in an hour or so.

 

[st599]

The RYA have written guidance on how to legally dispose of abandoned veseels. (Now hidden behind the club support section of their website)

You have to take multiple steps to find the owner, if you can't then get multiple quotes, sell it, and keep the funds in escrow for the owner. Expect it to take 6 months or so.

 

[Telstar26]

Thanks everyone, useful advice which I'll follow up.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Do any of the villagers own a chainsaw?

A rather pedantic point, but despite the "Vicar of Dibley", Parochial Church Council's are entirely different and separate from Parish Council's. The former is responsible for the management of the church and churchyard and is part of the hierarchy of governance of the Church of England; the latter is part of the hierarchy of local government. The former is elected by members of the church only (which is open to anyone over the age of 18, but isn't automatic); the latter by all registered voters.