Free 26D - Please come and take it

[warren631]

No one has taken my free boat yet! I abandoned my MacGregor 26D sailboat 60 days ago. Its still floating in its slip at 120 53rd street, Ocean City, MD 21842. Between two candy kitchen stores. The only sailboat there. Its in good condition, it floats and the motor runs good. Has a mast and sails. I just need someone capable of handling a boat and with either a suitable trailer or a slip or dock to take it away. There is a public ramp at 64th St. I'm too old and I sold the trailer. One guy took it but he found no place to keep it so he brought it back. Others didn't know anything about boats, others came with little trailers only big enough for a small row boat, others wanted me to transport it for them. Come take a look anytime. I will be staying at the condos near the boat from 10/25 to 11/1. My phone number is on the boat so call me when you get here if you are ready and able to take it. Message me when you are coming. First come, gets the boat - if you can take it away.

I have chained and locked the boat so you have to show me your DL and to prove to me you have a slip or dock or a trailer big enough before I will unlock it for you to take. I don't want it to come back again! This is not a scam. You can see my title and registration. You can apply for an abandoned boat title and registration - search "Abandoned Boat Title" on Google. My slip lease is up and the owner does not want it rented anymore. I don't have the trailer. I sold it.

[Russ]

Sorry to hear of this "problem".

Have you tried to list it on Craigs list?
Facebook Marketplace?

You can place an ad here on this site, but it seems you need local takers fast.

Hope you find a resolution. Keep us posted.

[leefrankpierce]

wonder if this guy can get it.
https://macgregorsailors.com/forum/view ... 47cb586399

[Wyb2]

Sometimes it’s better to to list something for a low price than for free. The people the look for free stuff on Craigslist or Facebook can be interesting characters. Fine if it’s something you can just put on the curb and let disappear, but potentially a headache for something that requires logistics and paperwork.

I was getting rid of a bunch of stuff once, would list it on CL as free-on the curb, come and take it. I woke up at 4 am one morning to someone trying to load a large snowblower into the back of an old station wagon. Eventually they failed and drove off.

You have a title and registration. Just sell the boat for $500, transfer the title like any other sale. This abandoned boat scheme is unusual and is going to scare away buyers. You seem to recognize that when you say “this isn’t a scam” (which coincidentally, is something scammers often say).

You seem to be focused on it getting moved, but why? You and the buyer can communicate with the marina, and they can end your slip contract and start a new one with the buyer. This is very normal for boats that are too big to trailer.

Edit: I missed the sentence “My slip lease is up and the owner does not want it rented anymore.” Sounds like this is not a marina, so that explains the bit about needing it moved.

[Stickinthemud57]

+1 to Wyb2's advice. I gave a boat away on Craigslist only to find that rather than fix it up for his buddies at the station as he claimed he would, he sold it. I started getting toll charges for the trailer and had to call him and insist that he contact his buyer to get title transferred. Selling it for a small amount helps assure a serious buyer.

[Wyb2]

I edited my post above, sounds like this is a private slip that you are renting, which explains the need to move the boat.

You say the boat is chained to the slip right now, presumably with a padlock. Here’s what I would do.

1. I’m assuming you have some (20’?) of chain on your anchor. Remove it. (Otherwise, go buy 20’ of inexpensive chain)

2. Sell the boat for cheap the normal way, with a bill of sale (2 copies) and title transfer. Make clear that it needs to be moved. Be there when the boat is taken away.

3. Run your anchor chain across the slip and padlock it.

4. Settle up with the slip owner. Show them your copy of the bill of sale. Get some sort of written proof that the contract is terminated.

5. Remove chain.

At this point if the new owner tries to return to the slip, it’s not your boat, and it’s not your slip, so it’s really not your problem.

[Seth08321]

email sent to the OP , will see what happens.

[Seth08321]

Update, I have not heard from the "seller" so I assume he found someone to take his boat Hope it found a good home.