Abandoned Boats

THESE VESSELS ARE NOT FOR SALE OR CLAIM - This process is open only to the Party with Standing, the vessel owner, and any bona fide lienholder or holder of a security interest.  The vessels listed below are not available to the general public for sale or for claim.  
NEW: DEEP offers the following clarification regarding the presumption that a vessel   “left at a storage facility, repair facility or other commercial facility for more than one year since receipt of the last full payment by such facility” is abandoned in accordance with Section 15-140c(a)(4) of the Connecticut General Statutes (“CGS”). 1. The presumption must be supported by an initial and final certification or affidavit from the party with standing further establishing the facts of the reported abandonment.  The Commissioner may seek financial information, including invoices, proof of payment, account status etc. from the party with standing that filed the Notice of Abandoned Vessel or from the vessel owner.  

2. A vessel owner may rebut the presumption of vessel abandonment by (1) notifying in writing both DEEP and the Party with Standing that the vessel owner did not and does not intend to abandon the subject vessel and, (2) establishing that any account balance with the Party with Standing that filed the Notice of Abandoned Vessel is not more than one-year past due at the time the Notice of Abandoned Vessel was filed or at any time prior to the ownership transfer date of the vessel as established by the Commissioner pursuant to Section 15-140c of the CGS.

3. The vessel owner and the Party with Standing shall notify DEEP of any attempted or accepted payment.  Should DEEP determine that such payment or offer of payment was valid and that such payment or offer of payment was or would have been sufficient to bring the balance owed on the vessel to not more than one-year past due, DEEP shall consider the matter closed and shall not reconsider a subsequent filing for abandonment for the same vessel due to non-payment of storage fees until six months have elapsed since such closure.  

Vessels presumed to be abandoned at a mooring will be handled in a similar manner to determine whether a mooring payment is more than 60-days past due in accordance with Section 15-140c(a)(3) of the CGS.

Initial Certification
Final Certification

The Abandoned Boat Process

Under Section 15-140c of the CGS, an aggrieved person, or “Party with Standing”, submits a Notice of Abandoned Vessel along with a fee to the DEEP.  The DEEP will make all the necessary checks and contacts required under the law.  In general, if the vessel is not removed from the property of the Party with Standing within 45 days, the law will award ownership of the vessel to that person.  The Party with Standing is then responsible for the disposition of the vessel. - NO MORE THAN THREE VESSELS AT ONE TIME:  Any person, business or other organization may have no more than three abandoned vessels in process at any given time, and users are asked to allow all three to finish processing before submitting additional abandoned vessels.  The Department will return to the applicant any application that exceeds the three vessel limit.   - VESSELS ARE NOT FOR SALE:  This process is open only to the Party with Standing, the vessel owner, and any bona fide lienholder or holder of a security interest.  The vessels listed below are not available for sale.
When is a vessel considered abandoned?
In Connecticut, a vessel is considered abandoned if it is: • Left on someone’s property for more than 24-hours without the property owner’s permission; • Found free floating and unattended on the waters of the state for more than 24-hours (you should note the position of the vessel and notify DEEP Emergency Dispatch at 860-424-3333 before taking the vessel into custody); • Improperly registered and left on the waters of the state for more than 24-hours (this provision is intended for police or government use); • Left at a mooring for more than sixty days since payment for the mooring became overdue; (this provision is intended for municipal or harbormaster use) • Left at a commercial facility for more than one year since payment for storage became overdue; or,
• Found during a declared public emergency in a public right-of-way.
Who has the right or "standing" to submit a Notice of Abandoned Vessel?
The law designates the following as having standing:

• The owner of the property where the vessel was abandoned OR any person that the landowner designates to complete the abandoned vessel process;
• Any harbormaster, police department, municipality or agent of the state that agrees to process the abandoned vessel;
• Any emergency responder who is responding to a declared emergency; or,
• Any licensed motor vehicle dealer or marine salvager who is engaged by one of these persons to tow or transport an abandoned vessel.
How do I submit a Notice of Abandoned Vessel?
To submit a Notice of Abandoned Vessel you must:

1. Have standing as designated by statute and described above,
2. Fill out a Notice of Abandoned Vessel form and have it notarized, and
3. Submit the notarized form and any required attachments including photographs to the DEEP with a $20 non-refundable fee.
 
If the abandoned vessel is not removed from the property where it was abandoned within approximately 45 days after information about the vessel’s abandonment is posted on the DEEP website, the Party with Standing will be awarded ownership of the vessel. The Party with Standing may then keep, sell, or otherwise dispose of the vessel.
 
All vessels that are reported as abandoned will be listed in the abandoned vessel table.  The table will identify, among other things, the last date the vessel may be claimed by the owner or by someone with a lien on the vessel or a security interest in the vessel.  If one of these persons commits to removing the vessel but cannot do so by the “Last Date to Claim Vessel”, that person has the right to ask for the date to be extended. In addition, the Commissioner may extend the date if more time to process a case is necessary. If this happens, an explanation as to why an extension was granted will be added to the table on the DEEP website.

Vessel Liens and Security Interests

Please note that there are safeguards built into the processing of abandoned vessels to protect the interests of lien-holders or holders of security interests.  These safeguards require that various contacts be attempted or made if the abandoned vessel is subject to a lien or security interest.  Posting of an abandoned vessel on the DEEP website may be delayed while these contacts are attempted.  

- VESSEL OWNERSHIP TRANSFERS ARE FINAL: Persons who are considering submitting a Notice of Abandoned Vessel are advised to be prepared to receive ownership of the abandoned vessel and to deal with any associated complications arising from acquiring ownership.
 
- BOAT TRAILERS ARE NOT PART OF THIS PROCESS:  This process does not deal in any way with abandoned vessel trailers.  For information about abandoned trailers please contact the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Special Rules for Vessels That Are or Were USCG-Documented:

“Documented” vessels are vessels that are or were numbered (registered) with the Coast Guard. They are larger vessels that will likely have a name and hailing port painted on the back of the vessel, and are unlikely to have a “CT” registration number on the front but they may still display a Connecticut registration decal.  There are special rules for dealing with an abandoned vessel that is or was documented.  If you are unsure if the vessel you are dealing with is or was documented, feel free to call us at (860) 447-4354.

In order to process a Notice of Abandoned Vessel for a vessel that was previously documented with the United States Coast Guard, it will be necessary for you to obtain an Abstract of the Title from the United States Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). The Abstract of the Title will cost you $25 and will take a week or two to receive. Please obtain the Abstract of Title prior to submitting your Notice of Abandoned Vessel, then contact us at (860) 447-4354.
 
An Abstract of Title can be ordered through the NVDC at www.uscg.mil/nvdc/
The NVDC can be reached by telephone at 1-800-799-8362- CURRENTLY DOCUMENTED VESSELS: This law cannot be used for abandoned vessels that are currently documented with the United States Coast Guard, except that the owners of these vessels can still be fined for abandoning the vessel. It is unnecessary to file a Notice of Abandoned Vessel in this case. Contact your locate police. The fine for abandoning a vessel is $440.00. 

- FEDERAL TAX LIENS: From time to time an abandoned vessel is found to be subject to a federal tax lien.  The DEEP Boating Division has no authority to discharge a vessel from a federal tax lien through the abandoned vessel process.  The DEEP Boating Division will notify a party with standing if an abandoned vessel is found to be subject to a federal tax lien.  Parties with standing seeking to take ownership of an abandoned vessel that is subject to a federal tax lien will be responsible for working with the IRS upon transfer of the vessel to formally discharge the vessel from the lien.   Parties with standing will be required to sign an acknowledgement of the lien prior to transfer.   A party with standing may choose to withdraw a vessel from the abandoned boat process at any time prior to being issued a Notice of Assumed Ownership.


Notice of Abandoned Vessel

Abandoned Vessel Law - Public Act 14-57 

Section 15-140c of CGS
Vessel Liens:
Section 49-55s of CGS
UCC Filing Form
UCC Filing Online
Vessels Reported Abandoned *This table may not be visible on some mobile devices.
 
Registration
Number and/ or Hull Identification Number *
(Select the photograph to view larger image)
File
Number
Make/ Model 
Length
Primary
Color 
Town and
Waterbody Nearest
Vessel
Location
Start Date/
Last Date for Owner to Claim Vessel
 CT8867AC /
HUN54854M81A
22-005   Hunter /
H27
27'  White  OLD SAYBROOK /
CONNECTICUT RIVER
 Jan. 24, 2022 /
March 10, 2022
 CT 3653 BJ /
PFWMS045A414
image of abandoned boat
 22-014  Four Winns /
TS222
 20’5”  Orange  NEW MILFORD /
CANDLEWOOD LAKE
 Feb. 14, 2022 /
March 31, 2022
CT 7729 BE /
BVKA15EVK394 
image of an abandon boat
 22-028 Bayliner /
4788 
47’4”   White BRANFORD /
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
March 24, 2022 /
May 8, 2022 
CT 6698 AL / TRJ072760177
imageofanabandonboat 
22-080  Trojan / F-36  36'  White  OLD SAYBROOK/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
July 25, 2022/
Sept. 8, 2022 
 CT 2324 AC / 316228
imageofanabandonboat
 22-088 Alglass / Flybridge  31'   White WESTBROOK/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
August 9, 2022/
Sept. 23, 2022  
CT5193BE / SERF36281182
imageofanabandonboat 
 22-100  Sea Ray / 340SB 34'  White   CONNECTICUT RIVER/
SOUTH GLASTONBURY
 October 6, 2022 /
Nov. 20, 2022
 CT979AJ / WHO00815B686
imageofanabandonboat
22-112  Wahoo / 16.2 Twin Console  16’2”  White  COS COB/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
Dec. 19, 2022 /
Feb. 2, 2023 
 UNKNOWN / UNKNOWN
imageofanabandonboat
22-114  UNKNOWN / Sailboat   42' White   SOUTH GLASTONBURY/
CONNECTICUT RIVER
 Nov. 14, 2022 /
Dec. 29, 2022
 PA0186CS / NJZ27603HULL
imageofanabandonboat
 22-115 Unknown / Trawler  40'  White  SOUTH GLASTONBURY/
CONNECTICUT RIVER 
 Nov. 28, 2022 /
Jan. 9, 2023
“USA 2807” / none
imageofanabandonboat 
 22-118 Unknown / J24  24  White   STAMFORD/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
HOLD
US632712 / HUN37208M81C
imageofanabandonboat
 22-121 Hunter / Sailboat   37' White  STAMFORD/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
Jan. 1, 2023 /
Feb. 15, 2023 
NH0240BL / Unknown
imageofanabandonboat  
 22-126 Boston Whaler / Unknown  13'  White   EAST HARTFORD/ CONNECTICUT RIVER Jan. 24, 2023 /
March 10, 2023 
NY7394GS / Unknown
imageofanabandonboat 
23-001   Morgan / Sailboat 36'  White 

NORWALK/
LONG ISLAND SOUND

Jan. 24, 2023 / 
March 10, 2023

 None / QJE22240B718
imageofanabandonboat
23-002  Clearwater / Mist Kayak  8’6”   Red  STRATFORD/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
Jan. 9, 2023 /
Feb. 24, 2023 
 None / None
imageofanabandonboat
23-003  Hobie / Catamaran   14' White  STRATFORD/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
Jan. 9, 2023 /
Feb. 24, 2023 
CT485AV / GPCLP892B888
imageofanabandonboat 
23-004  Glassmaster / 187BR   17'5"  White  NEW BRITAIN/ BATTERSON POND Jan. 24, 2023 /
March 10, 2023 
 CT1451BN / TRJ090140479
imageofanabandonboat
23-005   Trojan / F32 32'   White

NEW LONDON /
THAMES RIVER

Jan. 27, 2023 /
March 13, 2023

 None / CPY00178F485
imageofanabandonboat
 23-006 Capital Yacht / Newport   42' Green   BRANFORD/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
January 30, 2023 /
March 16, 2023 
 CT4835BD / GFS37113M79A
imageofanabandonboat
23-007  Gulfstar / 37  37'  White  BRANFORD/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
January 27, 2023 /
March 13, 2023 
CT7568X / 916
imageofanabandonboat 
23-008  Catalina / Sailboat  26'  Red  BRANFORD/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
 Feb. 27, 2023 /
April 3, 2023
CT1695BK / OUXDA625H304
imageofanabandonboat 
23-009   MACKEIL / Cruzer  32'  Blue BRIDGEPORT/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
 HOLD
 CT2003AP / SSUW5014E393
imageofanabandonboat
23-010  Pursuit / Unknown   25’6”  White  NORWALK/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
 Feb. 2, 2023 /
March 19, 2023
 CT5736AX / SHA22529C393
imageofanabandonboat
23-011  Shamrock / Unknown   22’3”  White  BRIDGEPORT/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
HOLD
 CT1934BE / TAR371171978I
imageofanabandonboat
23-012  Tartan / 37   37' Blue  BRIDGEPORT/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
 March 20, 2023 /
May 4, 2023
 CT6765BM / BUJ86882B898
imageofanabandonboat
23-013  Bass Tracker / Nitro 640 LX   16'  Silver  NORWICH/
THAMES RIVER
Feb. 7, 2023 /
March 24, 2023 
 None / GSSVD081I304
imageofanabandonboat
23-014   Sea Swirl / 2101  21'  White NORWICH/
THAMES RIVER 
Feb. 27, 2023 /
April 13, 2023 
 CT4620AG / None
imageofanabandonboat
23-015  Larson / Unknown  8'6"   White  NORWALK/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
Feb. 24, 2023 /
April 10, 2023 
None / XDYB4937M83_
imageofanabandonboat 
23-016  O'day / Javelin 14   14' White  NORWALK /
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
 Feb. 24, 2023 /
April 10, 2023
DO273233 / none
imageofanabandonboat 
 23-017  Main Ironworks / Workboat  49' White / Black  BRIDGEPORT/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
 Feb. 25, 2023 /
April 11, 2023
CT1362AD / CCHMD1150274
imageofanabandonboat
23-018  Chris Craft / Sedan  33'  White  CHESTER/
CONNECTICUT RIVER 
March 20, 2023 /
May 4, 2023 
 None / ONK85043I001
imageofanabandonboat
23-019   Necky / Kayak 9’6”   Yellow NIANTIC/
GORTON POND 
March 10, 2023 /
April 24, 2023 
 CT8414BA / CRS24336M83B
imageofanabandonboat
23-020   Cruisers Yachts / Villavee 288 28’8”  White  MILFORD/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
March 16, 2023 /
April 30, 2023 
 CT9352AW / LAR63594A101
imageofanabandonboat
 23-022  Larson / SEI180 17’6”  White   SOUTH WINDSOR/
CONNECTICUT RIVER
March 20, 2023 /
May 19, 2023 
 MS9215WE / LAR08984I687
imageofanabandonboat
23-023  Larson / Unknown37   15' Blue  SOUTH WINDSOR/
CONNECTICUT RIVER 
March 18, 2023 /
May 2, 2023 
FL2620RT / MSZ00126D999
imageofanabandonboat 
 23-025 Correct Craft / Ski Nautique  16'   White HIGGANUM/
CONNECTICUT RIVER 
May 2, 2023 /
June 23, 2023 
 CT8537AD / SDB001390483
imageofanabandonboat
23-026  Stur-Dee / Amesbury Dory  15’1”  White   EAST HAVEN/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
April 14, 2023 /
May 29, 2023 
CT502BG / MRKP0635I687
 imageofanabandonboat
23-028  Mako / 25   26'  White NEW LONDON/
THAMES RIVER 
April 8, 2023 /
June 9, 2023 
 CT0535AA / MYN28096M79E
imageofanabandonboat
23-029  Mariner / Mariner 28   28' White  GROTON/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
 April 21, 2023 /
June 5, 2023
 CT0669BM / SFRCY313M74L
imageofanabandonboat
 23-031  Seafarer / MK 1 31'  White  GROTON/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
HOLD
CT7477AK / NB0AA661I889
imageofanabandonboat 
23-032  Marathon / Unknown   21’8”  White  MONROE/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
 April 24, 2023 /
June 16, 2023
DO298147 / “CHERUB”
imageofanabandonboat 
23-033  Cheoy Lee / Sailboat  29'  White   MYSTIC/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
 May 11, 2023 /
June 25, 2023
 Unknown / “SEABIRD”
imageofanabandonboat
23-034  Unknown / Sailboat  25'  Blue  MYSTIC/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
May 11, 2023 /
June 25, 2023 
 CT1145AK / Unknown
imageofanabandonboat
23-035  Puma / Unknown   23'  White GREENWICH/
LONG ISLAND SOUND 
 May 13, 2023 /
June 27, 2023
NY1513KW / BWCHC240G697
imageofanabandonboat 
23-036  Boston Whaler / Dauntless  15'  White   SALISBURY/
WONONSKOPOMUC LAKE
May 13, 2023 /
June 27, 2023 
D0679092 / BL2A51EK0584
 imageofanabandonboat
 23-037 Bayliner / 3270EK  32’1”  White   BRIDGEPORT/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
May 17, 2023 /
July 1, 2023 
CT9233AY / CCBAX314E888
imageofanabandonboat 
23-039  Chris Craft / Seahawk  21'  White   NORWALK/
LONG ISLAND SOUND
May 20, 2023 /
July 4, 2023 
None / EWVA055IA203
imageofanabandonboat 
23-040   Walker Bay / Unknown 10'  White  LYME/
UNCAS POND 
May 16, 2023 /
July 3, 2023 
CT5390AX / 4WNMJ614A888
imageofanabandonboat 
23-046  Four Winns / Sundowner 20'  Black   COLCHESTER/
BABCOCK POND
May 31, 2023 /
July 15, 2023 
* The hull identification number, documentation number or vessel name and hailing port may be shown in lieu of a registration number.
Contact DEEP regarding a listed vessel by email or phone 860-434-8638.

Content last updated June 2, 2023