FWC flags 'ghost boat' beached on Sanibel shore

SANIBEL, Fla. —

A sailboat that’s been drifting up and down Sanibel’s coast for months is now officially under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FWC officers placed a bright red sticker on the sailboat Friday, signaling the start of a derelict vessel case. It’s the first visible step in what neighbors along Lighthouse Way hope will finally lead to its removal.

The boat, now lying sideways in the sand just feet from seawalls, has become an eyesore for residents. Some have been tracking its slow, storm-fueled movements for months, watching it drift, sink, resurface, and now beach itself directly outside their homes.

"It was like stop-action," said neighbor Dana DiCarlo. "One day it was further out, then closer, then suddenly grounded right in front of us."

According to FWC, the 31-foot sailboat was first reported in November 2025. At the time, it wasn’t yet classified as derelict. Officers issued a warning to the owner and provided information on how to bring the vessel into compliance. The agency also offered the owner a chance to surrender the boat through Florida’s Vessel Turn-In Program — a free option aimed at preventing boats from becoming hazards.

By December 2025, FWC received new reports that the boat had sunk offshore. Working with the owner and Sanibel Police, FWC helped connect them to a marine recovery company to have it refloated.

Then, in January 2026, the sailboat washed partially ashore near Lighthouse Way. With the vessel now grounded, FWC says it has launched a formal derelict vessel investigation.

"We had a couple of boats that tried to pull it out, but it is firmly stuck in there with the keel," said Eric Jackson, public information officer for the city of Sanibel.

For neighbors, the red tag is a long-awaited sign of progress.

“Somebody has to be responsible,” Dicarlo said. "Maybe the person who owned it couldn't afford to do the repairs. But I think the neighbors all think it's an eyesore."

FWC says the timeline to remove the boat isn’t exact. It could take a few months, maybe even up to a year, depending on the situation.

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