UPDATE: Beached boat back on West Seattle shore

| Seen at sea | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

8:57 PM SATURDAY: Thanks to everyone who’s sent tips about and photos of that sailboat at Constellation Park. Comparing photos with this one we published last Monday, we’re confident in saying it’s the same boat. According to archived SFD radio, their Rescue Boat 5 checked it out twice this afternoon in the 2 pm vicinity, found no one aboard, consulted with the Coast Guard, and notified dispatch it’s a “derelict boat.” As for what happens next, we’ll be inquiring – disposition sometimes takes a while, as you might recall from this saga last year.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Thanks to Ted for the photo of the boat this morning. No official updates yet on how this will be addressed.

Monika August 2, 2026 (8:40 am)

Free Sailboat! As-is, where-is. First come gets it!
No title, no trailer.

GLH August 3, 2026 (9:08 am)

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There’s no such thing as a free boat.
Kathy August 3, 2026 (4:16 pm)

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I believe the standard definition of a boat is “a hole in the water into which you pour money”

An August 4, 2026 (8:30 pm)

Can someone explain what is wrong with this? Is it just bad for the boat? Or is there something harmful it does to the beach ecosystem?

WSB August 4, 2026 (9:09 pm)

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Well, for one, it’s apparently abandoned.
North Admiral Cyclist August 5, 2026 (11:15 am)

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There are various potential issues with an “abandoned” boat like this left on the beach. As far as hazardous waste concerns, the boat likely had a portable gas tank for the outboard. There is the outboard motor itself, and often sailboats of this size also have a “house” battery for lights. The house battery is typically a lead acid type similar to a car battery. None of these are good for the beach environment. In the past, many times boats left like this get stripped down and left as a mess on the beach. However, the biggest potential threat could be vandalism, as we saw less than a week ago where four porta-potties were set ablaze around the corner at Alki Beach. That would leave a huge mess to clean up.
WS Res August 7, 2026 (10:51 am)

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Abandoned boats can leak gasoline and other chemicals, for one thing.

Herongrrrl August 4, 2026 (9:16 pm)

Folks in the area may notice the boat has been tied off to shore. It hasn’t been claimed, the line is just to prevent it from drifting out into the water at night without any lights or radar reflector.

Jolene August 5, 2026 (12:58 pm)

My husband walked around the entire thing yesterday. In addition to the outboard being non-operationa and serious issues with the rudder/keel he said it appears that someone is “living” on it as there was a fresh loaf of bread and other food items sitting out on the table inside. Weird.

North Admiral Cyclist August 5, 2026 (4:00 pm)

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OK, I think it is time to go Agatha Christie on the derelict sailboat at Constellation Park. 1) We have sails dropped to the deck, but not stowed. 2) We have an outboard motor with the cover removed – as if someone had trouble getting it started. 3) We have the companionway hatch wide open, as if someone had been onboard. 4) Now we have lunch prepped and left out on the table. I worried the boat owner was sailing along at lunch time a week ago, the wind died, they had trouble getting the outboard started and gave a hearty tug – falling overboard in the process. Did anyone see a soaked sailer wade ashore last week?

Rob Carpenter August 7, 2026 (8:53 am)

This is Friday, and the boats still beached. This is the 2nd time this has happened. Several weeks ago the same boat came loose from its bouy or anchor and was pushed to shore by high winds and the tide coming in, then beached when the tide went out (not as badly as this time). Someone showed up at high tide the following day and paddle boarded out to it, then sailed it back out to where they anchored it again. Not well enough apparently. We Live in Harbor West so we can see it every day from our living room. Unfortunate for the boat. I’m sure it must be sustaining damage to the hull and keel. My only thought is that the owner either travels and doesn’t know about it again yet or it’s just too badly beached and he has decided to give it up. Huh, beach life…

WSB August 7, 2026 (9:31 am)

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It’s definitely on officials’ radar. But we haven’t been able to get anybody to tell us yet about a plan to deal with it.