'Ticking time bomb': abandoned boat menaces Fort Myers docks ahead of hurricane season

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)  - For many residents living along the Caloosahatchee River, the water is the primary draw of Southwest Florida. But for homeowners near McGregor Boulevard, that scenic view has transformed into a "ticking time bomb."

A derelict, abandoned boat is currently drifting in the river near the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, inching closer to private docks with every passing tide. For neighbors like Mike Carlino, the sight of the vessel isn't just an eyesore— he says it’s a threat to his livelihood.

"It's moved probably 50 feet from where it was a week ago," Carlino told Chief WINK Investigates Reporter Chorus Nylander. "We’re approaching hurricane season."

A History of Destruction

This isn't the first time homeowners in this stretch of Fort Myers have faced down wandering vessels. Carlino, a lifelong resident, has been forced to rebuild his dock three times. During past storms—including Hurricane Ian in 2022 and another surge just two years ago during Milton—it wasn't just the wind or waves that caused the damage. It was abandoned boats acting as "battering rams."

His neighbor, Dr. Ding Lin, shares the same frustration.

"In 2024, our dock was actually not taken out by the waves. It was actually taken out by a boat that someone had left," Lin said. "This is our third dock in five years."

Despite the looming danger, homeowners say they are legally paralyzed. While the boat has been stickered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), state law prohibits private citizens from touching or moving the vessel while an investigation is underway.

Legislative Red Tape

The delay in removal stems from a slow investigative process that can often take months or even years.

WINK Investigates looked into House Bill 1103, a piece of legislation designed to allow counties to empower local Code Enforcement to speed up the removal of such vessels. However, Lee County officials say their hands are tied.

County Communications Director Betsy Clayton told WINK Investigates that the county has not initiated the process because the bill has not yet been signed by the Governor.

The Waiting Game

For now, the responsibility lies solely with the FWC. If the owner fails to move the boat, the state may eventually intervene, but residents fear the bureaucracy won't move as fast as the weather.

"It's gonna take out something," Dr. Lin warned. "I don't think there's anything good that could be said about a boat that's sitting out there unattended."

While Lin says he is hesitant to rebuild his dock yet again, Carlino remains defiant, refusing to let the derelict vessels drive him away from the river he calls home. "I'll rebuild it every time," he said.

The FWC says the vessel could be removed once the investigation is complete, but offered no specific timeline. WINK News will continue to track the vessel's location leading up to the start of the 2026 hurricane season on June 1.