Clams Canino wrote:
Hi!

You all prolly remember when my old boat was hit by a drunk driver in late
July of 2003. As the story goes the insurance company paid us off for the
boat, left it with us, and I removed the outboard and then sold the boat for
something like $400 in August of '03 This was three years ago. All I
remember was that I gave the guy a bill of sale and that he was from
Londonderry NH. The name escapes us. He went away happy and that was the
last we've seen or heard of him and the boat.

Anyway.... about three weeks ago...... this same boat and trailer "appeared"
abandoned in the middle of a road in nearby Chester NH. So far thier
"minimal" investigation has not turned up the last owner and since the boat
and trailer was "wrecked" when I sold them I merely sold it with an "as is"
bill of sale.

Did you get the bill of sale notarized? That would help.

Another thing that would normally help is the insurance
company's notice that you sold the boat... wouldn't have
happened in this case...

Some states have very steep penalties for abandoning boats;
particularly Florida. Boats are expensive to put in a
landfill and when they are abandoned, it creates a problem
(and a burden on taxpayers).

Every time I sell anything... car, boat, trailer... I get a
bill of sale notarized & keep a copy of it in my safe
deposit box for at least ten years. I have one for every car
I've ever owned... I should check on the boats too, next
time I go in there.

Fair Skies- Doug King