Fleet Of Abandoned SF Bay Boats Swells
CBS Channel 5 News
June 25, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO BAY (CBS 5 / KCBS) ― The proliferation of abandoned boats in the San Francisco Bay is prompting harbormasters, environmental groups and law enforcement to come together to brainstorm how to keep owners from just dumping their toys.
"As the economy worsens, more and more people are abandoning their boats which are luxury items," said Sara Aminzadeh of San Francisco Baykeeper. "There are floating junk yards out there."
The boats are more than just an eyesore. They can leak oil and other toxins. Lead from the hull paint can chip off into the water.
And it can cost as much as $12,000 to remove one sailboat, money these public agencies don't have right now.
In the first quarter of this year, the Coast Guard reports finding as many abandoned boats as in all of 2008.
Baykeeper has spotted large clusters of unwanted pleasure boats in Richardson Bay, Redwood City and Clipper Cove at Treasure Island...
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