JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- Broken, busted and beat up. That's how neighbors describe a group of vessels in the Trout River. They've been there for years, and don't appear to be leaving any time soon.
"I'd like to see them gone. I'd be nice to look out there and not see something sunk in my backyard," James Allen said.
We took a boat out on the water to get a closer look. We found two boats stuck in the shallow mud, and two more underwater. No one has claimed them, though, or taken responsibility.
Allen, manager at Fisherman's Marina, says the vessels pose all kinds of risks.
"Anything could happen, a storm could wash them offshore into one of our marinas," he continued.
Since the homeowners weren't getting any answers, we did some checking and found out JSO's Marine Unit and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission are investigating.
They're working to find the owners and looking into possible environmental dangers: like batteries, diesel fuel or hydraulic liquid.
Allen says that's a little bit of a relief, but he's not holding his breath.
"I'd either like a salvage company to come in and remove them or make the Florida Wildlife pay for who put them there."
The Coast Guard keeps a list of abandoned boats in the state of Florida. If you suspect one has been left behind, call marine authorities.
