As summer comes into full swing, more people are getting out into the water on their boats ” and sometimes leaving them behind.
The problem of abandoned boats is growing across popular boating spots along the coast, especially in Mission Bay. According to the San Diego Lifeguard Service, the situation is worsening due to the closing of a free anchorage in south San Diego Bay.
The A-8 Anchorage near Chula Vista allowed many people to keep their vessels for a considerable amount of time at no cost. However, a large number of people were living aboard their boats without the means to properly maintain them, creating an eyesore and an environmental hazard, as human and mechanical waste was frequently dumped overboard.
The San Diego Harbor Police, wanting to clean the area up, consequently closed the anchorage, leaving many people to find an alternate location. No similar location exists in San Diego.
Moving the boats to other locations sometimes proves too far for dilapidated vessels. And due to the significant cost of salvaging, many people have simply abandonded their boats on public land and water.
The responsibility for clearing the boats is left to lifeguards, who impound them for 90 days before auctioning or destroying them.
Vessels deemed unsafe or beyond repair are emptied of their gas and oil, crushed and taken to the Miramar Landfill.
“There is a significant amount of manpower involved,” said Sgt. Bob Albers of the San Diego Lifeguards.
He said checking the water for abandoned boats is a daily chore. Guards patrol Mission Bay every night for boats that are left either floating in the water or left on land. Often, these vessels are sinking, presenting a hazard to other boat users.
Current laws stipulate that a vessel may only remain in Mission Bay for 72 hours before it is impounded, at which time registration numbers are checked and owners are contacted by mail.
But most often, people simply do not have a permanent address because of financial situations or, as Albers noted, they are involved with drug running and smuggling from Mexico and other countries. Other times, the owners heed the warning and move the boat for 24 hours, then return it to the original location ” only to repeat the process.
“It’s a constant cat-and-mouse game with them,” Albers said.
Currently, a committee of lifeguards, coast guards and other officials is trying to designate an offshore salvaging area. Unfortunately, this would only slightly decrease the enormous cost associated with abandonded boats.
While the issue at hand has not yet shown signs of improvement, lifeguards hope that people will take greater care of and responsibility for their boats if the issue is brought to light.
For more information, visit www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards.