A derelict motor yacht still ashore on Beer Can Island as fines mount

Daily fines have now increased to $1,400 for an abandoned vessel — the maximum $1,000 fine allowed by Hudson’s new city ordinance plus $400 in court costs — but city officials say owner Grayson McNew of Afton has no plans to remove it.

“This guy was advised by his lawyer not to touch it,” said City Administrator Brentt Michalek. “That’s pretty bad advice from a lawyer. If all this is true, we don’t know.”

McNew did not return a call seeking comment this week.

The city estimated it would cost about $6,000 to remove the 54-foot Bluewater Intercoastal from its site, and that cost would cover installing a crane on the barge and ferrying it to the island, lifting the boat out of the water to allow it to drain. , fixing the leak and then rafting back to the wharf for lifting from the river and going into storage.

It became something of an annual nuisance for Hudson. In the past few years, three boats have already been pulled from the river at the impoundment site after the owners tried to leave. In September, the city council said enough was enough and passed a new ordinance that provides for daily fines.

Earlier this month, McNew, 26, said his first boat had become a nightmare after a water leak occurred this summer while docked at the popular island. Now it is half sunk, and there are still deckchairs on the roof. Apparently the boat was uninsured and McNew had to cover the cost of hauling it away. He said neighbors chased him over the boat and he claimed he received death threats.

McNew previously said he had sold the boat, but Police Chief Jeff Willems determined McNew still owned it.