Here’s What I Know About the Dumped Boat on 195 West in Dartmouth
I can't even tell you how many times I have driven past that boat on 195 heading westbound.
Every day I leave work and head back toward Westport, It always sticks out like a sore thumb.
"Who dumps a boat?" I would say out loud. "Especially on the side of a highway where everyone will see you. How dumb can you be?"
Finally, I decided to take a good close look at the abandoned sea vessel and just as I expected, it was pure garbage. Water was dripping through holes in the hull and the inside was gutted out with a soggy mattress and filled with trash:
The serial number was scraped off the side of the boat and there were no signs of ownership anywhere. The motor was removed, and oddly enough, the keys were still in the ignition.
Here's where it got weird.
Technically, I've only noticed this boat for about a week, but according to the Massachusetts State Police, that boat was dropped off sometime around four months ago. Apparently, the boat was hidden behind piles for dirt from the construction site that widened up the off-ramp that led to Faunce Corner road and people are just starting to notice it.
Three things could have happened with this boat:
1.) It was abandoned by a construction worker.
2.) It was dropped off by a litterbug who ended up keeping the motor but couldn't afford to fix the boat.
3.) It was stolen for the purposes of keeping the motor and left to rot.
Honestly, with no serial number or info on the ownership of this boat, there's no real telling of how it ended up there or who dropped it off.
The State Police is well aware of it and unfortunately, the tow-truck companies want nothing to do with it since it will cost them money to remove it.
Until then, the Massachusetts State Law of for an abandoned vessel states that following:
"If a vessel meets the definition of an abandoned vessel (as defined under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 91 § 39), and is not under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, a claimant wishing to obtain a title can apply for title with the Massachusetts Environmental Police pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 91 § 40." -NOAA Marine Debris Program
In other words: I'M THE CAPTAIN NOW.