Stealing or Salvaging?

[tager]

I have found a dinghy, on public land, neglected... I found it in the bushes, 2 months ago. The cheap poly tarp covering it was suffering from sun rot. The paddles inside are stolen from the local yacht club, the life jackets have been torn apart by the raccoon that was living inside the overturned hull. The seat is rotting, the woodwork uncared for, it leaks in 2 places and it needs repair and painting.

Her name is Scrimshander.

My question is, would I be stealing if I brought her back to life? Or salvaging? From the condition it is in, I would say it has been there 3 years, and probably neglected even before being put there.

It does have state reg. numbers, but no tabs displayed.

[tager]

Upon further investigation, as of 2006 there was a yacht named Scrimshander hailing from Vancouver Island. Anyone know the owner?

[poopdeckpappy]

If it was me and I knew the oars were stolen from the local club, I would go to the local club, with the oars and tell them the same story as you told here.

You wouldn't be steal either way, but you'd hate to put time & money into it and have someone say " hey, that's my dink "

[tager]

Upon Further investigation, I have found the email of the (presumed) owner. The yacht is a Martin 242, a 24 ft one-design race boat. I asked if the emailed wanted to claim the dinghy.

Is this stealing or salvaging? I feel a lot better after trying to contact the owner.

[eoffermann]

It's Liberating!

Seriously though, I vote salvage.

[HermitScott]

Some one probably left it for dead. I'd rename it Lazzarus and ressurect it.

[tager]

Yeah, it does need glasswork. I can see how a rich yachtsman could leave it for dead.

[tager]

Thank-you, but the dinghy is not mine. It likely belongs to Jack Miller,
who is a dentist in Victoria, the previous owner of my "Scrimshander", and
whose current cruising boat, I believe, is also called Scrimshander. I don't
have Jack's address etc, but I know he is a member of the R. Victoria Yacht
Club. I would doubt if he will want it back, given it's condition, but of
course, I can't speak for him!

Ken Mann
Nanaimo, BC


An email I just received. I will now try to contact this guy. I also sent out an email to the local Yacht Club listserv.

[Rockter]

tager :

If it worries you, then just go the the law and report it. I think that you are allowed 6 months before it's yours. certainly check for the current owner. I would be more than a bit angry if my stolen? dingy showed up alongside your boat.

[AjariBonten]

It also may have been stolen, THEN abandoned. If you CAN find the owner, more than likely he'd give it to you if it's in the condition you describe. And even if not, good karma dude.