I just do not understand why some one would buy a boat pay for the slip and leave it for what has to be years there and never come back to it. I am in a nice marina and there must be 20 boats that I believe the owners have died and must still be having there cc charged for the slip. The boats have years of weather to them and some have the doors rotted in. Why do they do this? I am tempted to ask the marina for address and will take it off their hands for the slip cost. Is this everywhere and if it is have you ever seen one of the walking dead.
I see dead people in the marina
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Everywhere
You are not alone, it's everywhere. Here in Ca. have a cleanup fund for trashed and or sunk pleasure boats. Fair Winds AL
You are not alone, it's everywhere. Here in Ca. have a cleanup fund for trashed and or sunk pleasure boats. Fair Winds AL
Not so easy
I think about this all the time also. Why they do it, I don't know, but there are tons of them around here. There's a Morgan 41 in a yard by a restaurant I go to, that needs lots of work. It had not been touched for at least 5 years ( I notice these things ). Spoke with the yard thinking they migh have a lien, and it turns out the $ 300 a month is paid every month. They confirmed no one has touched the boat for about 5 years. They wouldn't give me a name or number, but I found it through some "sluthing" and called the person. Asked if they wanted to sell ( never mentioned a price ), and they just said no thanks, not right now. I thought it would be rude to ask why, so that was that. I think these types of situations would make a great story for a magazine..... everyone at every yard wonders why that beautiful old boat has been left to sit for years.
I think about this all the time also. Why they do it, I don't know, but there are tons of them around here. There's a Morgan 41 in a yard by a restaurant I go to, that needs lots of work. It had not been touched for at least 5 years ( I notice these things ). Spoke with the yard thinking they migh have a lien, and it turns out the $ 300 a month is paid every month. They confirmed no one has touched the boat for about 5 years. They wouldn't give me a name or number, but I found it through some "sluthing" and called the person. Asked if they wanted to sell ( never mentioned a price ), and they just said no thanks, not right now. I thought it would be rude to ask why, so that was that. I think these types of situations would make a great story for a magazine..... everyone at every yard wonders why that beautiful old boat has been left to sit for years.
Even at what must be some of the most expensive
marinas in the country in So. Calif. there are not only perfectly good (some new) boats sitting & rotting but also boats that would be a hazard if not tied to something taking up space. And somebody is paying $10 / foot year round.
marinas in the country in So. Calif. there are not only perfectly good (some new) boats sitting & rotting but also boats that would be a hazard if not tied to something taking up space. And somebody is paying $10 / foot year round.
Yep, everywhere....
...sad but in another perspective it may be goodness because if those slips were empty and not producing revenue we would all be paying higher slip fees.
...sad but in another perspective it may be goodness because if those slips were empty and not producing revenue we would all be paying higher slip fees.
One story
Among the several seemingly abandoned boats in our marina is an old Cal 25. Decks turning black, canvas rotting, the usual deterioration. This boat was used pretty regularly years ago, but has sat untouched for at least 10 years. Then a few weeks ago I saw a couple of guys pressure washing it and cleaning some junk out of the interior. I couldn't help but ask what the story was, thinking that maybe they just bought it cheap and were cleaning it up. The guy said the owner, pointing to the other guy, had gotten married and had children, and just quit sailing for all those years. But he figured his 7-year-old daughter was old enough to maybe appreciate sailing, so he decided to get the boat back in shape. His wife also told him to use it or get rid of it! I don't know if the guy has money to burn or what, but I couldn't pay moorage year after year for an invisible boat. But apparently some can and do.
Among the several seemingly abandoned boats in our marina is an old Cal 25. Decks turning black, canvas rotting, the usual deterioration. This boat was used pretty regularly years ago, but has sat untouched for at least 10 years. Then a few weeks ago I saw a couple of guys pressure washing it and cleaning some junk out of the interior. I couldn't help but ask what the story was, thinking that maybe they just bought it cheap and were cleaning it up. The guy said the owner, pointing to the other guy, had gotten married and had children, and just quit sailing for all those years. But he figured his 7-year-old daughter was old enough to maybe appreciate sailing, so he decided to get the boat back in shape. His wife also told him to use it or get rid of it! I don't know if the guy has money to burn or what, but I couldn't pay moorage year after year for an invisible boat. But apparently some can and do.
Here in Va also
I'm going through this question now. I just bought a 19" Excell pleasure boat my first and was watching this 23" AMF PACESHIP just float out here behind my home in our waterway so it finally reached to close to my pier so we tied it up. This has been sunkin and come back up, but my thought was why put that much money into buying something and letting it just sail away, i know after buying mine i sure will not let mine be that way. But i had to find this owner and short story the game and fisheries dept found him and he sold 11 yrs ago and it now he will be signing paperwork over to me because it was never registered so i have a job for me now. But i will enjoy....So i got to save one tired abanded friend.
I'm going through this question now. I just bought a 19" Excell pleasure boat my first and was watching this 23" AMF PACESHIP just float out here behind my home in our waterway so it finally reached to close to my pier so we tied it up. This has been sunkin and come back up, but my thought was why put that much money into buying something and letting it just sail away, i know after buying mine i sure will not let mine be that way. But i had to find this owner and short story the game and fisheries dept found him and he sold 11 yrs ago and it now he will be signing paperwork over to me because it was never registered so i have a job for me now. But i will enjoy....So i got to save one tired abanded friend.
Sinking feeling
What's worse is when one of those dead boats goes down and no one knows to whom it belongs. There's one down in our marina that's been under for about two weeks. The Harbor Master records show that the slip is empty and no one knows the owner. So, there it sits, a mast laid back about 45 degrees and a now U Boat.
What's worse is when one of those dead boats goes down and no one knows to whom it belongs. There's one down in our marina that's been under for about two weeks. The Harbor Master records show that the slip is empty and no one knows the owner. So, there it sits, a mast laid back about 45 degrees and a now U Boat.
Emotional Attachments
I personally know two owners who have each had their boat over 30 years and both are no longer physically able to sail. Both acknowledge they can no longer use their boat but both say they are very emotionally tied to them. I am sure they will continue to pay the slip fees until the boats become an estate sale. In their defense both pay a service to periodically wash the topside and clean the bottom so both boats continue to look good. One of the owners has been a widower about 5 years and still has joy ocassionally sitting aboard at the dock. So, there are owners out there who are seldom seen and would never think of selling their boat.
I personally know two owners who have each had their boat over 30 years and both are no longer physically able to sail. Both acknowledge they can no longer use their boat but both say they are very emotionally tied to them. I am sure they will continue to pay the slip fees until the boats become an estate sale. In their defense both pay a service to periodically wash the topside and clean the bottom so both boats continue to look good. One of the owners has been a widower about 5 years and still has joy ocassionally sitting aboard at the dock. So, there are owners out there who are seldom seen and would never think of selling their boat.
In San Diego
I see it all the time. Especially on the mooring bouys in the bay. There are some pretty ugly boats that are on their last leg. SD harbor should take them out and scuttle them for fish and diving habitat.
I see it all the time. Especially on the mooring bouys in the bay. There are some pretty ugly boats that are on their last leg. SD harbor should take them out and scuttle them for fish and diving habitat.
Some of these boats are the ones you want to buy
A couple who wrote a book about cruising called these boats "disposable boats." These boats are great to purchase if you want something structurally sound and are willing to put a lot of elbow grease into. These couples would frequent marinas and put offers to purchase on the boat. Eventually they would get phone calls from some. Basically if you are on a budget and want to go on extended cruises, "disposable boats" are the ones to buy. Amidst them all are some good deals.
A couple who wrote a book about cruising called these boats "disposable boats." These boats are great to purchase if you want something structurally sound and are willing to put a lot of elbow grease into. These couples would frequent marinas and put offers to purchase on the boat. Eventually they would get phone calls from some. Basically if you are on a budget and want to go on extended cruises, "disposable boats" are the ones to buy. Amidst them all are some good deals.
John, your right,
it would make a great story! In my own marina, I have often wondered why we dont see more boats on the water. hundreds of boats in the marina and the moorings, and nobody sails. Mentioned to a friend the other night, glad they dont all sail, as it would be one crowded lake. But then, I'm just now ready to sail. Maybe they look at me and wonder what the story is!
it would make a great story! In my own marina, I have often wondered why we dont see more boats on the water. hundreds of boats in the marina and the moorings, and nobody sails. Mentioned to a friend the other night, glad they dont all sail, as it would be one crowded lake. But then, I'm just now ready to sail. Maybe they look at me and wonder what the story is!
Boats afloat
I have a question, how do they stay afloat if they are neglected for so long? If you're in warm waters I imagine you keep your boats in year round. Rain water and tiny leaks usually start to gather in the bilge. Unless these boats have auto. bilges and are check on on a regular basis, I don't know why they wouldn't go down!
I have a question, how do they stay afloat if they are neglected for so long? If you're in warm waters I imagine you keep your boats in year round. Rain water and tiny leaks usually start to gather in the bilge. Unless these boats have auto. bilges and are check on on a regular basis, I don't know why they wouldn't go down!
Plugged into shorepower with auto bilge
pumps, out here (like the song says) "it never rains, but when it does it pours" this year we got 37 inches in a couple months. If a boat makes it thru the rainy season, when cheap blue tarps appear on many boats, it'll be good for the year.
pumps, out here (like the song says) "it never rains, but when it does it pours" this year we got 37 inches in a couple months. If a boat makes it thru the rainy season, when cheap blue tarps appear on many boats, it'll be good for the year.
Here's one for ya.
At the marina we're in now, back in 1973 was an old Dufor 27. It was seemingly abandoned. The mainsail cover was rotted off. A buddy was rounding up people to form a partnership. We needed four partners to approach the owner. We would offer to haul the boat and clean it up for free in exchange for being able to take a mold off of it and build four of our own boats. We would then put the Dufor back together, all nice and pretty, for the generous, neglectful owner. Alas, we only came up with three partners and the deal fell through. The Dufor? It's still there! Same shape, only with 33 years more neglect.
At the marina we're in now, back in 1973 was an old Dufor 27. It was seemingly abandoned. The mainsail cover was rotted off. A buddy was rounding up people to form a partnership. We needed four partners to approach the owner. We would offer to haul the boat and clean it up for free in exchange for being able to take a mold off of it and build four of our own boats. We would then put the Dufor back together, all nice and pretty, for the generous, neglectful owner. Alas, we only came up with three partners and the deal fell through. The Dufor? It's still there! Same shape, only with 33 years more neglect.
Come to Lake Lanier, GA!!!!!
Your observations are really a national epidemic in disguise! If you came to Lake Lanier just north of Atlanta and walked the docks of several nice marina's (Sunrise Cove, Aqualand and Holiday) you would see more boats left to rot then used on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. I have a Sidelman 29 on one side of me, an Ericson 27 in front of me and an Ericson 25 on my otherside. I will not talk about the other 35 boats on my dock or hundreds throughout the marina and thats just one marina!All the boats are probably 80's vintage. One already had to be pumped out, they are all covered with dirt, mold and probably have interiors that may be beyond restoration. Its a sad sight. You'll find this everywhere you go. WHY?! Why is it that these owners will pay 2k plus a year in dockage and yet they will leave these vessels rotting away without even concern about condition? For years no less. I do not have the answers. All I know is that for a prospective buyer, these are indeed the boats to pursue for purchase. The GA registration numbers can be taken off the boats, the DNR database will yield the owner info. and your a phone call away from a possible buy of the century. Hundreds and hundreds to choose from here and all fresh water preserved. Bob
Your observations are really a national epidemic in disguise! If you came to Lake Lanier just north of Atlanta and walked the docks of several nice marina's (Sunrise Cove, Aqualand and Holiday) you would see more boats left to rot then used on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. I have a Sidelman 29 on one side of me, an Ericson 27 in front of me and an Ericson 25 on my otherside. I will not talk about the other 35 boats on my dock or hundreds throughout the marina and thats just one marina!All the boats are probably 80's vintage. One already had to be pumped out, they are all covered with dirt, mold and probably have interiors that may be beyond restoration. Its a sad sight. You'll find this everywhere you go. WHY?! Why is it that these owners will pay 2k plus a year in dockage and yet they will leave these vessels rotting away without even concern about condition? For years no less. I do not have the answers. All I know is that for a prospective buyer, these are indeed the boats to pursue for purchase. The GA registration numbers can be taken off the boats, the DNR database will yield the owner info. and your a phone call away from a possible buy of the century. Hundreds and hundreds to choose from here and all fresh water preserved. Bob
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