Boat dilemma

Ok, the law maybe different in NZ, I don't know for sure, but I just thought I would get some opinions from the .org

There is this little tinny boat sitting behind my place next to a boat ramp. It has been there since I moved in (about a year ago) and my landlord (who was living in the property prior) said that it belongs to someone who used to rent another house in the street, but has sinced moved on and left it. He also said that he hasn't seen it move since the guy moved out a year or so earlier.

So, I'd really like to use/claim this boat. It has been sitting on public property for over 2 years and hasn't moved. I don't own it and so far my attempts to find the owner has turned up nothing. What is the legal standpoint here? I don't own the boat, but given the time period, it is safe to say it has been dumped. How can I go about claiming it?

I would need to buy an outboard for it, and I don't want to have to shell out $1k+ on one, only to find out I have stolen the boat! I would also need to buy a trailer which also adds to the cost

This is a similar boat to give you an idea:



and here is the location (you can see the boat next to the white one which has also sat there for years!) The path, boat ramp and rocks where the boats sit are all public areas.




Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Thanks
Luke

well i know if you find lost property in the uk and hand it into the police they keep it for a while and if no one claims it you can have the item , this may work for you

Originally Posted by davepreston

well i know if you find lost property in the uk and hand it into the police they keep it for a while and if no one claims it you can have the item , this may work for you

Yep - same in NZ. But is it lost? And I can't really go and hand a boat in over the counter!

[BanannaMan]

In the US only boats which have had petrol powered motors are registered.
Once the boat has been registered it has numbers put on the bow.
These numbers stay with the boat for life.
If it has only been used with an electric motor or paddles/oars there is no record of it's serial number anywhere and could be registered as a "powered boat" by anyone. Unless it had been reported stolen..... not likely if it's been there that long.

In the US no trailer and no numbers means no records, so there would be no paper work on the boat and you could say you've just bought it and are going to register it.
And if it did happen came up stolen you could say you don't know the seller as no paperwork or records would have had to be involved.

Not sure the laws there.

[Viney]

Ask the local government offical or the police where you stand.

DP was almost right In the UK if you inform the police that you have found something you don't need to "Hand it in" You can inform them you have it, retain it but not make use of it for six months,while they or yourself have make a reasonable attempt to find the owner.
Failing to do this is LARCENY BY FINDING. What the law is in NZ????? take advice from the local authorities or find out the law concerning "Finding"

[Mr Speirs]

I'd just use it if I were you. Stick a motor on it, if someone comes and says 'Oi that my boat' just give it back to them and claim ignorance.

[punyXpress]

. . . but make sure you keep the motor!

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

I'd just use it if I were you. Stick a motor on it, if someone comes and says 'Oi that my boat' just give it back to them and claim ignorance.

Haha, that's what most of my kiwi friends tell me! I'm going into the police today to keep it above board(pun intended)

Bill - no numbers on this one, so I assume it has only been used with oars! However, looking at other boats, it seems only those with fixed motors are numbered

Cheers for the replies
Luke

Ok, just in case anyone was anxiously awaiting the outcome of this...

I tracked the owner down! Had a meeting with the landlord to renew our tenancy and they brought up the boat. Said it belong to a guy who moved out 4 years ago and he gave it to the owner of next door. She has also since moved out and rents the place so she said I could take it.

Now I just need an outboard....

Does anyone know how you decide what power output motor you need for a given sized boat?