abandoned boats

[Home Cookin']

I thought you all might find this interesting, especially since there seem to be a lot of buyers willing to jump on an unknown old boat as long as it's cheap. This is a list of abandoned boats that a local marina is selling in 30 days; you know they will go cheap.
FTR I am not involved in the sale and am not promoting it; it's a point of interest only. Not even giving the particulars
1997 23' sportcraft
1976 30' clipper
1974 31' uniflight
1985 30' catalina
1988 35' luhrs
2002 20' sea doo
1971 26' ranger
1984 39' adam price
1975 23' mako
1980 40' irwin
1957 26' harkers island

the last one is kinda sad. The mako is probably a good hull, and luhrs is a good fishing boat.

There is also a free Egg Harbor in mid-restoration, about 32' IIRC. The 25-30' cruisers are always around for next to nothing--and worth it!

 

[25thmustang]

Re: abandoned boats

It's all too familiar a site. Drive around to the marinas mid summer and see the boats sitting on the hard. Even that costs the owner money, and they are left no choice but to walk away. Sounds like there could be some decent boats, but they will all no doubt need a bit to be sea worthy. I'd be interested to hear what they sell for!

 

[hostage]

Re: abandoned boats

Why would someone leave a boat that would most likely still get some cash out of? Do they have major things wrong with it or did someone not pay for their slip, etc?

 

[scipper77]

Re: abandoned boats

Why would someone leave a boat that would most likely still get some cash out of? Do they have major things wrong with it or did someone not pay for their slip, etc?

Boats cost money to maintain. People often get in over there heads. If you can't afford the payment, and can't afford to pay the marina, then it's only a matter of time before the maintenance that you also can't afford depreciates the boat to the point of no return. Nobody wins here.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: abandoned boats

The answer is in your question "still get some cash out." The amount of "cash" they would get would probably not pay what is owed to the marina, so the owner says, why even bother. Some are being jerks, foisting their problems on others, but many are guys who lost a job struggling to feed and house the family, and the boat is his last concern.

I'll also bet that most of these 10 project boats started as projects. A guy spent his last $3000 on a boat that kinda ran OK and next thing he knows, he has to repower--and he didn't even keep enough back to pay for insurance, taxes and mooring.

We also have a lot of military here. With a transient population, lots of stuff gets left behind.

Around here, a boat that doesn't run won't sell except to bottom feeders--there are too many cheap old boats that do run (for now!). And people don't like to fix them up to sell them, if they even have the money to do it.

Why would someone leave a boat that would most likely still get some cash out of? Do they have major things wrong with it or did someone not pay for their slip, etc?

 

[jmarty10]

Re: abandoned boats

Abondoned boats are a big problem for marina owners. Owners store them for winter and disappear. By me it literally takes an act of God for the marina owner to prove abandonment and get the boat title in his name to get rid of it. Everytime I pay my marina fees the owner is very clear about abadonment and the cost to get your boat back becasue he had to waste space storing your boat. He cant sell it becasue he has no title.

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: abandoned boats

A few years ago I bought a 20' Sunrunner from the marina here on Long Island. It had been abandoned by the previous owner, who didn't pay the storage and repair bill owed to the marina. The cost to the marina to seize it was about $150. It took about a month. Papers were filed with the local sheriff and court; an ad was placed in a local newspaper, and after the set time of no-response from the owner, the marina was given title. It was then sold to me. I worked on the boat for about a year and totally refurbished it. I then sold it when we bought our newer, larger boat. If you enjoy doing the work, and know how, there are buys out there. Just check any marina this time of year. Hy

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: abandoned boats

In Virginia you can get a title (which is what this marina is doing) but it is cumbersome, expensive and time consuming. I haven't done one in a while but you have to give notice to the owner (who may have moved) research if there are any liens and notify tghe lien holder, it has to have been there 60 days or so, then you give 30 days notice, then you apply for the title and then you can sell it. I'm surprised they aren't just cut loose on an outgoing tide.

One low-end marina near me, up in a quiet shallow creek, drags them out of the slip and pulls them up on the mudflat or ties them against the bulkhead; at that point they don't care if the get banged up, but they know better than to set them adrift. I don't blame them.