Abandoned Boat.. can it be salvaged?

Jims5543 · 07-15-2009, 10:17 AM

Long story short my BIL told me about a boat in his neighborhood. It is behind a abandoned home. Today we were working near it and stopped by the house to look.

I went to the front door and knocked, the door swung open, unlocked and the house was empty.

This boat was left behind.

So my question is, can I salvage it? It will need some serious TLC, by my estimate about $2-$3K worth if I do all the work myself and do it right.

How would I go about doing this legally? Can I just pull it out of there and re-register it? Register it as a home built?

I did some searching and the house has not been foreclosed on. The owner of the home lives in another home about 2 miles from this one. Which makes this more confusing.

I am going to go put a card in the guys door of the other home and see if he calls me. I will offer him a few hundred to pull it out of there.

Anyone ever do anything like this?

This would make a great first boat for us then I could sell it cheap when I am ready for a bigger one.

'

VincentVega · 07-15-2009, 10:31 AM

If the guy couldnt pay the mortgage, what are the odds he owns the boat? I assume the bank would repo it if there was note but you never know. Make sure you get a legit title before you do anything.

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

What's wrong that needs 3K worth of work?

Jims5543 · 07-15-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhoward

What's wrong that needs 3K worth of work?

Worse case scenario.

Motor would have to be tore down and cleaned up to run. I am sure it is al tarnished up from the sitting gas.

Someone jacked up the dash, probably stealing the electronics from it. Dash will have to be rebuilt and electronics replaced.

Finish where the sun is hitting is beat up bad, it "might" come back after a compound and waxing. It might need to be refinished.

Gonna need at least a Bimini top.

Trailer looks solid, probably will need wheel bearings and tires.

It will all add up.

I guess I will track down the owner of the house and go from there. He might jump at a chance to sell it off or he may be greedy.

My plan was to purchase a boat at the end of the summer when sellers will be more desperate facing the prospect that they will sit on them all winter for sale.

My budget for a well sorted used boat is in the 15K range but if I can grab this one up it will satisfy the itch for now.

Rot 911 · 07-15-2009, 10:50 AM

I've seen plenty of abandoned boats around here, but never seen an abandoned Johnson motor. Makes me think maybe not abandoned.

lendaddy · 07-15-2009, 10:56 AM

Why do you assume it's abandoned then? The house is not in default and the owner lives near by, right???? Sounds like that's just where he's storing it.

stevepaa · 07-15-2009, 11:00 AM

seems you are contemplating theft and apparently you already have trespassed on private property

Jims5543 · 07-15-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Why do you assume it's abandoned then? The house is not in default and the owner lives near by, right???? Sounds like that's just where he's storing it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevepaa

seems you are contemplating theft and apparently you already have trespassed on private property

You guys are truly azholes.

The thought of taking it without permission never crossed my mind.

I asked if there was a LEGAL way to go about this.

I was hoping someone could tell me how to run the FL# on the boat so I could trace the owner down.

If the owner of the property told me he wanted it gone and it was not his and we could work out something where a bill of sale could be produced I will exmplore that route.

As for stealing it?

Maybe you would think of doing that but I can go out tomorrow and buy a boat cash. I just thought it would be fun the rescue this one and name it 3rd Chance and bring it back to life with my kid.

But thanks for the help. I posted in this forum (where I rarely post anymore because of the high azhole content) because I felt it would be the best place to get a solid answer as to how to go about this.

Thanks again for your valuable input.

m21sniper · 07-15-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jims5543

You guys are truly azholes.

You're just now figuring that out?

If you get hold of the property owner, and he says it doesn't belong and contracts you to remove it, after so many days of storage(typically 30), you can apply for a new title of an unclaimed vehicle.

lendaddy · 07-15-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jims5543

You guys are truly azholes.

Take a breath there professor, you obviously took my post in a way not intended.

VincentVega · 07-15-2009, 11:14 AM

This might lead in the right direction http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/faqboat.html

Quote:

When a vessel has been sold to a purchaser and the owner is no longer available to provide proof of ownership, how do I, as the purchaser, get owner information in order to contact the titled owner to obtain the certificate of title or an executed bill of sale?

Notify your local tax collector or license plate agency in writing stating the existing problem and furnish the Florida registration number of the vessel. The local tax collector or license plate agency will provide the name and address of the titled owner with the necessary instructions for transferring the ownership of the vessel.

pwd72s · 07-15-2009, 11:16 AM

Do you have any cop friends? They could probably run the license # for you...find out if there are lein holders, etc. If not that, a good private eye could get the info without leaving his office. Probably a pretty low fee.

Jims5543 · 07-15-2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m21sniper

You're just now figuring that out?

No I had it figured out a long time ago hence my lack of presence here. There are times when situations come up like this one where I "think" PPOT might have someone that would have a adult answer like yours.

Quote:

If you get hold of the property owner, and he says it doesn't belong and contracts you to remove it, after so many days of storage(typically 30), you can apply for a new title of an unclaimed vehicle.

Thank you!

I am going to leave a card int he homeowners door tomorrow. I hope I do not get popped for trespassing when I walk to his front door.

I will also look into the process you speak of.

I found this information doing a quick google search.

http://www.catfish1.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-3465.html

I will drop a card tomorrow and see how this pans out.

lendaddy · 07-15-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Do you have any cop friends? They could probably run the license # for you...find out if there are lein holders, etc. If not that, a good private eye could get the info without leaving his office. Probably a pretty low fee.

I could run it tonight but I'm feeling a bit like an......azhole right now

lendaddy · 07-15-2009, 11:22 AM

FWIW, every state is different but most(if not all) charge a small fee at the DMV/SOS to run a plate or reg on anything for anyone for any reason.

Jims5543 · 07-15-2009, 11:29 AM

My cousin is local LEO I am sending him a pic of the tag so he can run it and we can go from there.

Lendaddy - FYI the house has 4' tall grass around it, it was nearly impossible to get from the front yard to the back.

I survey abandoned foreclosed homes all day every day I am still surveying about 6 a day that are being bought for about 30 cents on the dollar from the bank.

This looks just like all of them. My BIL lives 3 blocks form this house and told me there has not been a person in the house for almost 2 years. The tag on the trailer expired in 2005 and the Boat regi expired in 2007. Its been sitting for over 2 years.

As far as trespassing is concerned, I knocked on the door with the intention of asking whoever was inside if they wanted to sell. When the door swung open I pulled it back closed.

While none of this is the topic at hand thank you for making me feel like I have to defend myself against accusations of trespassing and contemplating theft.

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

I love PPOT.

lendaddy · 07-15-2009, 11:40 AM

My point was only that I thought you were assuming way to much by calling it "abandoned". I didn't imply theft or trespassing, simply that I doubt it's abandoned as opposed to just neglected.

I know tons of people with boats/motorhomes/etc... that get left to sit for years at a time due to circumstance. That's all.

best of luck.

Jims5543 · 07-15-2009, 11:48 AM

A little why our Economy is tanking 101 for you.

The owner if this house is in a 2 year old home purchased in 2007. This house was purchased in 2001. It is a 1999 construction home best I can tell.

Seeing what I have seen these last few years, I am willing to bet this guy bought the house with the boat in the yard in 2001 and leveraged it to the max.

Then he purchased the new home in 2007, then walked away from the 2001 house leaving the bank to take it with a mortgage off the scales.

I am willing to bet this house will turn up foreclosed on very soon, I am also willing to bet there is a nice new boat outside the 2007 home.

The house I was standing at has been abandoned I am very sure of it. In a matter of time there will be a real estate sign out front with a foreclosed sign on it. This one will probably sell for 60-70K and it probably has 300K+ mortgaged against it.

The 2007 homes was purchased for 200K in 2007.

If I am wrong I will let you know but I have seen this scenario play out too many times.

stevepaa · 11:55 AM

Jim, sorry. I missed the later posting where you talk about finding the owner and buying it from him.

So there are lots of abandoned homes in Jensen Beach?