Abandoned Jet Ski

[BananaDan]

I bought a beach property recently and it came with a free jet ski (Yes, those are rock-n-roll air quotes). Hurricane Sandy carried it over and left it on the property I bought and has remained there abandoned. It has registration stickers and reg numbers on it and the demo guy that demo'd the house said he can't take it away legally because it is/was registered. I know I can't "give it away" because it's not mine to give, but my options right now seem to be:

1. Try to identify the previous owner myself and demand him to remove it.

2. File a police report of an abandoned vehicle, they'll find the owner (or attempt to) and hopefully it gets removed or I can then take ownership and junk it.

3. Post on craigslist "I found your jet ski.  Please come get it." with pictures and maybe a creature of the night will just make it disappear.

Any other ideas?

[4cruzin]

Option 2 would be how I would handle it.  When I find abandoned houses with vehicles, I have to have the police deal with it and have it removed.  They will actually take the vehicle to an impound lot until the owner either doesn't want it or comes to get it.  If he doesn't want it, then if there is any value, they will auction it off.  Hope this helps! 

[BananaDan]

That's what I'm afraid of.  I would have to take a day off of work though because it's a 90 minute drive from me and they will only let me file the report in person.

[Tilar]

I doubt they have a title and Insurance has already paid for it. If you can get it running, register it in your name and have fun.

[draftingmonkey]

Unless you want to waste your time and money I would go with a fourth option.

#4. Move to the curb and mark as FREE.

[mopar0166]

I'm guessing this is in Jersey,  first thing I would do is call the NJ state marine police, they can answer that question for you.  Also you can call them for salvage rights to dispose of it since it has been over a year since that storm.  I would just make sure you get all the info from the ski and let them help you get it removed.   

[mopar0166]

map

[bill440rt]

Nice bonus, Dan.
Or, if you're able to keep it & get it running you could always paint it orange, slap on some 01 stickers & jump waves with it. 

[b5blue]

  Dan it's a bigger liability more than anything else, call the marine patrol and report it lost/abandoned on your property. What if it was stolen at some time in the past or anything shady? If it was ever registered (As you said.) then it has an owner. It should not be a big deal just to get it off your property legally.
  Down here in Florida the # on any boat are just as big a deal as any car, it's a can of worms for even a small boat with no motor. They can end up as a hazard to navigation or EPA nightmare liability quickly just by sitting on your property unsecured. Cover your butt! 

[stripedelete]

Definitely a liability.

Put it along side the road (down or across, from your property) like an abandon vehicle.  The local municipality will take it away. 
They will cut through the red tape and dispose of it. 

[AKcharger]

...Plus it may be haunted!

[RallyeMike]

Hook a chain on it and drag it out to the street and walk away. One way or another, soon it will be gone.