You asked, so we asked: When will notorious near-shipwreck be removed from Don Armeni parking space?

A reader who didn’t know the backstory of that boat, sitting ashore in a Don Armeni Boat Ramp parking space, sent that photo today, and he was not the first to ask us this week how long the boat will remain there. If you missed the backstory too, the boat drew multiple emergency responses in early September, first off Beach Drive, then at Don Armeni ater it was towed there. A man who identified himself as its owner put it on a trailer – and then was arrested for allegedly stealing the trailer. (We checked court records, and it does not appear charges have been filed. He subsequently said his truck, which he was going to use to tow the trailer and boat, was stolen.) So the boat remains parked, toward the southeast side of Don Armeni. We asked Parks what the plan is for removing it, if there is one; spokesperson Rachel Schulkin replied, “We’re still working on setting a date for the contractor to come pick up the boat. From there we’ll seek reimbursement through the WA state derelict boat program.”

Dysfunction October 8, 2025 (6:19 pm)

How about the boat owner paying for it? I’m guessing state derelict boat program is taxpayer funded. Why should we pay for it when they have a owner? So stupid this area is too quick to rely on taxpayers for everything. Just like the growing trend of courts not making criminals pay restitution the last 10 years.

WSB October 8, 2025 (6:55 pm)

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No guessing needed, it was a quick google result.
https://dnr.wa.gov/aquatics/recovering-derelict-vessels/derelict-vessel-inventory-and-funding
- Guy Olson October 8, 2025 (10:01 pm)
  
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  It’s so crazy how you can look things up yourself on the internet! You don’t even need to guess anymore.
Derp October 8, 2025 (10:14 pm)

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Pretty quick to jump to conclusions.
- WS Person October 9, 2025 (12:53 pm)
  
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  As I read what is in the link WSBlog posted $14M of the $17M budget is from taxes, so I don’t think anyone “jumped to conclusions”.
  - K October 9, 2025 (5:10 pm)
    
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    Mostly taxes on maritime vessels, so not something we’re all paying into. Only 6 million is from the general fund.
Robert m October 9, 2025 (6:25 am)

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Can’t squeeze blood from a turnip. The good news is it’s not in the water, that’s when salvage costs go up 30x.
Dad October 9, 2025 (7:28 am)

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The point remains – why should other boat operators have to pay for his negligence? Where is Mr Gooey Duck? He commented on the last article with his explanations, now he needs to man up and pay for his mess.
GH October 9, 2025 (8:44 am)

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I doubt the owner has the money to pay for the removal, and even less has it now after the legal consequences of his recent boating expedition. Obviously he’s liable, but I can hardly blame the city for not wanting to go through the legal expense of suing someone for a judgement they are extremely likely to ever collect on.

aRF October 9, 2025 (6:39 am)

The Parks Department might have to put it back in the water in order to legally get funding from the derelict vessel fund. The fund is intended for removing vessels from waterways, and the owner already went to the trouble of doing that. This boat is no longer threatening the waterway.

Rod October 9, 2025 (7:47 am)

Some of the remaining value of the boat is being taken radio, etc. I suggest that salvage rights be established. The radar may be next. The sealed radar components may still be useful. The outdrive also has useful parts.

Neighbor October 9, 2025 (12:12 pm)

Why does it take so long to set a date with a contractor? Is it red tape? Availability? I’m sure there’s more to this than I understand but that boat has been there for a month and there’s no solution in sight? Why?

Gooey October 9, 2025 (7:29 pm)

As everyone jumps to conclusions, what if the city was preventing the owner from removing the boat even after their truck was stolen from police impound? What if there was more to the story than what you’ve read? 🤔

Neighbor October 9, 2025 (8:54 pm)

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Do you have any reason to believe there is more to the story? It’s easy to make things up but that doesn’t make them true or even likely. It’s a waste of energy to speculate. Why do you think the truck was stolen from police impound? Is that in the court record?