Dockside Marina and Resort in Fort Pierce says an abandoned sailboat that washed ashore three weeks ago near On The Edge Bar and Grill is damaging property, slamming into other boats, and costing them thousands in business. Joe Zebrowski, general manager of Dockside Marina and Resort, said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 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.
Zebrowski and his team quickly secured the boat when it washed ashore. The FWC used a chain to secure the sailboat, but Zebrowski said it has not stopped the vessel from causing problems. Zebrowski said 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. Zebrowski said the blocked tables are the restaurant's prime tables and have probably cost them about 25 percent of their overall business for the past month.
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. The FWC confirmed that no one can touch the boat except its owners.