Neighbors are pushing for removal of sinking boat in Charlotte Harbor

Reporter: Erika Jackson
Published: Updated:
A derelict boat is sinking in Charlotte Harbor. (CREDIT: WINK News)

Neighbors are pushing for a derelict sailboat to be removed from Charlotte Harbor.

Dozens of boats float atop of Charlotte Harbor, but the sailboat, which is close to shore, is sinking.

“A couple weeks ago it was tied to the dock and suddenly someone must’ve let it go,” said Robert Hallberg, who lives in Deep Creek. 

Hallberg said he stops by the park with his dogs nearly every day.

With each visit, he’s watched the boat sink deeper and deeper.

“That’s as low as it can go the water ain’t very deep out there,” Hallberg said. 

Scott Collins, of North Port, said it doesn’t bother him.

“A lot of the times, the problem is, is there gas in there,” Collins said. 

The Punta Gorda Police Department thinks the boat sinking is a problem and wants it removed.

But that is not as easy as it seems.

First, officers need to track down the owner, who then has three weeks to fix the derelict boat.

But the city’s last citation sent to this boat owner came back undeliverable.

“This port is like 7 feet,” Collins said. “You can almost walk across it. At low tide. But yeah, it probably should be removed.”

The police department can eventually remove the boat if officers prove they tried to make contact.

The bill? That falls on the owner.

The city will send them a demand for repayment. And they won’t be able to register another vehicle until payment is made.

Charlotte County’s Marine Patrol is working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to take care of derelict boats in county-owned waters.

There is one on the other side of Charlotte Harbor which is being handled by FWC.

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