BigBendFishing.Net

Hear-ye, hear-ye.

In my search for a trailer for the Gheenoe my mom had wash up on her beach in early February, 2012 I was kindly (?) informed that I should perhaps pursue proper channels in claiming ownership of this boat. I've never registered a boat so I was unsure of the process - it turns out that in terms of getting it registered, I need to prove ownership...here's how that process has gone so far.

1. Called FWC - and was told that I should call the LCSO to file a "Found Property Report"
2. Called LCSO - was told that a Deputy needs to come out to look at the boat to confirm it has no registration or manufacturer's serial number in case it was reported stolen
3. The Deputy will then fill out a found property report which starts a clock (I assume 30-90 days) after which, if nobody claims it - we can be deemed legal owners, thus allowing us to register it properly in our name.

My mom has to be the one to call the LCSO since it is at her house - the guy I talked to on the phone asked how long it had been there and I said about a month, to which he replied "Yeah, I doubt you'll have any problem getting it..." He also implied that during the "waiting period" we'll most likely be allowed to drag it up into their yard by the house to discourage it being "stolen" - which I thought was interesting. Stolen found property...anyway, we'll see. I bet we just end up dragging it about half way up the beach and leaving it there for the allotted time.

I'll keep you posted on what I learn next...

Full disclosure - here is me trying to get a trailer for my ill-gotten Gheenoe.

http://www.bigbendfishing.net/phpBB3/vi ... =7&t=30260

WolfeMan wrote:Full disclosure - here is me trying to get a trailer for my ill-stolen Gheenoe.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=30260

Fixed it for you!

Hilarious, John...that your jar-head can't figure out that ill-gotten MEANS stolen.

Is it registered? Does it have numbers on it? Register it as home made.

WolfeMan wrote:Hilarious, John...that your jar-head can't figure out that ill-gotten MEANS stolen.

Maybe using your non-military dictionary that's true, Wolfe... but ask any Marine and they'll tell you HONEST gear drift = guiltless gear gift. Dragging a gheenoe out of someone's yard in the middle of the night doesn't meet my jarhead "drift" definition.

MarkM wrote:Is it registered? Does it have numbers on it? Register it as home made.

Nope, nothing.

If it is a Gheenoe it will have a HIN number on the transom top right side and FWC can run the number to see who it belongs to and they also have a Hidden number that the boat theft Investigator can find and check even if the transom has been replaced . If it is just a Gheenoe TYPE boat without any HIN numbers you may be able to register your stolen boat. This is a slippery slope . I would check with the local FWC officer not just someone who answered the phone may just be a dispatcher who is clueless. Good luck you will need it.

The process is started...I'll keep you posted...and all this fun talk about stolen boats is cute for a minute, but lets be clear - my parents didn't steal any boat.

I'm so happy you found my boat. When can I pick it up?

PM me and I will send you the address.

WolfeMan wrote:...and all this fun talk about stolen boats is cute for a minute, but lets be clear - my parents didn't steal any boat.

Wolfeman, now now... don't go getting all touchy-feely... Bman NEEDS you for all your "GOOD MORNING!" and "GOOD AFTERNOON!" love filled posts!

WolfeMan wrote:The process is started...I'll keep you posted...and all this fun talk about stolen boats is cute for a minute, but lets be clear - my parents didn't steal any boat.

If boat has been reported stolen, and it is currently sitting in your parents yard....................

Wonder how many times a LEO has heard the ole, "but officer, I didn't steal it, it was just laying there so I took it"

If the boat floats and there are no holes in it, chances are, it floated away from someones house.

If there were holes in the boat and only the floatation was keeping it from sinking, it may have been abandoned.

Good luck. I hope you get to keep it, get it registered and start catching fish and killing ducks out of it.

Eh, they know all their neighbors up-river and they are pretty close to the dam and nobody appears to be missing any boats - they have checked.

All I can think of, if it was in fact lost and not abandoned, is that it floated away from the camp grounds at the head of the river. They've contacted the management to be on the lookout for people missing a boat.

Other than that, it is possible it came from ACROSS the river some place, but that is all national forest for the most part. No homes. Campers over there maybe?

Im still betting its abandoned. The gunwale is pretty bent inward at the nose and the transom is partially rotten and the fiberglass is torn up - she has taken a pretty good beating over the years. Nothing that can't be fixed though.

There aren't any reports of missing BOATERS are there?