People who abandon their boats in Wisconsin could face prison time under new bill
MADISON - Any boat owners who abandon their watercrafts for longer than a month could face prison time under a new bill two Wisconsin lawmakers are proposing in response to "Deep Thought," a deserted boat stuck for months near Milwaukee's Bradford Beach.
State Sen. Rob Stafsholt, R-New Richmond, and state Rep. Shannon Zimmerman, R-River Falls, are circulating a bill among their legislative colleagues that would ban anyone from abandoning a boat in state waters or on adjacent land.
"Unfortunately, there are those who do not respect our waterways," the lawmakers wrote in a memo released Friday to colleagues.
More: Anonymous donor paying for Deep Thought's removal from Milwaukee shoreline
Stafsholt and Zimmerman cited "Deep Thought" and a 54-foot yacht that was abandoned in the St. Croix River in 2024. "When boats are left abandoned, they become eyesores for local communities. Worse, they become environmental risks as they deteriorate and rust," the lawmakers wrote. "Any abandoned boat may be carrying fuel that can leak into a body of water."
If a law enforcement officer determines a boat has been abandoned, the officer must notify the owner, who then must remove the boat within 30 days. If the boat is not removed by then, the owner faces up to nine months in prison and up to $10,000 fines, under the proposal.
At that point, the owner must complete a safety course and receive a certificate of satisfactory completion from the state Department of Natural Resources in order to operate another boat in Wisconsin waters.
Now somewhat of a Milwaukee icon with its own entry on Google Maps, Deep Thought became stranded on Oct. 13, 2024, when its owners, Richard and Sherry Wells of Mississippi, ran out of gas. The couple bought the boat in Manitowoc and intended to stay at McKinley Marina for two nights before navigating home.
However, Richard said inadequate directions caused him to miss the entrance to the marina and the boat to get stuck.
In October, U.S. Coast Guard officials said they wouldn't immediately try to remove the boat because no lives were in danger and the vessel didn't pose a risk of pollution or floating away. Officials said it would be the boat's owners' responsibility to pay a commercial towing and salvage company to remove it.
As the months passed, Deep Thought became lodged deeper in the sand between McKinley Marina and Bradford Beach, then encased in ice sheets over the winter. Now, its exterior and interior are covered in graffiti, and most of its electronics have been picked over or destroyed.
Jerry Guyer, owner of local salvage company Jerry's Silo Marina, has been trying to assist with the boat's removal since the fall. However, strong winds and eventually winter weather repeatedly delayed the process. The Wellses had been communicating with Guyer, but after several initial conversations, communication has gone "radio silent," Guyer has said.
The proposal will be circulated for support until May 2 before being formally introduced.
Claire Reid of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin lawmakers introduce bill to ban abandoning a boat
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