Boat abandoned at Mukilteo’s Lighthouse Park to be moved

Update, 11:25 a.m. Wednesday: The boat was not moved Wednesday morning, according to Mukilteo Mayor Jennifer Gregson. Plans now call for the boat to be towed to the Port of Edmonds (not the Port of Everett) on Thursday morning.

——————————-

MUKILTEO — A 25-foot sailboat abandoned at the boat launch at Lighthouse Park is scheduled to be towed away early Wednesday morning.

The plan called for the boat to be moved at high tide, 2:43 a.m. and towed by a diving and salvage company to the Port of Everett, Mayor Jennifer Gregerson said.

It will be stored for 30 days and then disposed of by sale, transfer of ownership or salvage, she said.

The boat has been attracting crowds since last week. It was tied up at the end of boat launch April 20, came loose the following day and ended up on the beach, she said. “We’re pretty sure the owner was just not real interested in dealing with the boat any more,” Gregerson said.

The Port of Everett has had a history with the boat, and with its owner, dating back to 2010, said spokeswoman Lisa Lefeber. The problems include suspected and possible theft of boating-related items, providing alcohol to and inappropriate contact with a minor, and an unauthorized person living aboard the boat, she said.

Other problems occurred in 2014 and 2015, she said, including failure to pay for using marina space, failure to register the boat, suspicious drug activity and causing a nuisance, she said.

“He hasn’t been a permanent tenant in the marina,” Lefeber said. “It’s more of a guest moorage visitor.”

On April 18, the port told the owner that the boat would not be allowed on port property. The following Monday, the port’s security reported that the vessel had been untied and was drifting south down the Snohomish River channel, she said.

Meanwhile, in Mukilteo the abandoned boat has become a tourist attraction. “It is funny to go down there,” Gregerson said. “There are always at least 10 people milling around and taking pictures of it.”

People have called 911 to report the abandoned boat and some people called interested in taking the boat off the city’s hands. But they backed away after being told to give the state’s Department of Natural Resources a call, which takes responsibility for abandoned boats. “There’s definitely a ton of curiosity about it,” Gregerson said.

The city decided to act quickly on getting it moved, in part because Saturday is opening day of boating season. “Our public works director was definitely worried about the boat launch,” she said. “We know a lot of people will want to come out and use the boat launch. Having that boat in the launch is something we want to avoid.”

The boat is registered to an Everett man, but police found no one living at the address they had for him, Gregerson said.

The cost of pulling the boat off the beach, towing it to the Port of Everett and storage is estimated at $5,240, plus staff time, Gregerson said. The Department of Natural Resources is expected to pay 90 percent of the costs. The state agency has disposed of more than 500 abandoned boats since 2006. That includes seven boats that the agency’s Derelict Vessel Removal Program salvaged from waterways in the Everett area last fall.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

The Washington State University Snohomish County Extension building at McCollum Park is located in an area Snohomish County is considering for the location of the Farm and Food Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Year-round indoor farmers market inches closer to reality near Mill Creek

The Snohomish County Farm and Food Center received $5 million in federal funding. The county hopes to begin building in 2026.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.