Fort Pierce resort faces damage and losses from abandoned sailboat
An abandoned sailboat in Fort Pierce is damaging property and costing a resort significant business, but state law prevents them from moving it
FORT PIERCE, Fla. —
A Fort Pierce resort says an abandoned sailboat that washed ashore three weeks ago is damaging property, slamming into other boats, and costing them thousands in business, but state law prevents them from moving it.
“This is a danger to people and personal property,” said Joe Zebrowski, general manager of Dockside Marina and Resort.
The sailboat washed ashore near On The Edge Bar and Grill, and Zabrowski and his team quickly secured it. However, Zabrowski said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) informed him that the boat cannot be moved. The agency is giving the owners 60 days to claim the vessel, and the resort is also prohibited from moving it.
“I did a good deed, but no deed goes unpunished,” Zebrowski said.
The FWC used a chain to secure the sailboat, but Zebrowski said it hasn’t stopped the vessel from causing problems.
“It kept it from floating away but didn’t keep it from whipping back and forth,” he said.
Zebrowski explained that the sailboat has slammed into a docked boat, destroyed a piling, and forced the restaurant to block off several tables near the vessel, which has significantly impacted their revenue.
“These are our prime tables. They probably cost us about 25 percent of our overall business for the past month,” Zebrowski said.
According to state law, moving a boat that has washed ashore onto private property without proper permission can expose individuals to legal liabilities or even charges of theft.
“There needs to be a carveout in however the law takes care of situations like this that takes care of people who are innocent and stop protecting an owner who has abandoned his boat that I don’t think is registered or has insurance,” Zebrowski said.
The FWC confirmed to WPBF that no one can touch the boat except its owners.
WPBF is working to contact the owners of the boat for comment.
The FWC is working on providing a more detailed statement.
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