Jan 29
Legal Leeward Pt. III - Abandoned Boat on 'Beer Can Island' Prompts New Minnesota Law
- Scott Way
- Jun 26
- 3 min read
As of August 1st, 2025, abandoning a boat in the state of Minnesota that requires the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to remove it will result in misdemeanor charges.
A new law in Minnesota inspired by a yacht named Sweet Destiny will make it a criminal offence to abandon a boat.
The saga has been documented by The Minnesota Star Tribune for months, eventually forcing the local legislature to take up the cause and enact a policy to reduce the problem of abandoned boats on Minnesotan shorelines.
The 54-foot Sweet Destiny was left on Beer Can Island on the St. Croix River in the fall of 2024 and quickly became a local, then statewide, and then national news story. The vessel was eventually removed by volunteers, but the public drama and the resources required to dispose of it became the catalyst for legal intervention.
For the duration it was beached, the boat's owner claimed to be hounded by neighbors and locals -- so much that he sold the vessel to an anonymous buyer and is making plans to move out of state, according to The Tribune.
Beer Can Island, as the name suggests, is a popular hub that's well-known for attracting yachts, houseboats, and overnighters -- many of whom stay anchored up for days or even weeks at a time.
The new law, approved by the Minnesota Legislature, has been signed by Governor Tim Walz and will go into effect on August 1st, 2025.
“I’m super pleased,” said Sen. Judy Seeberger, DFL-Afton, who authored the bill, to The Tribune.
The law gives the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the responsibility and legal authority for removal and disposal of abandoned boats. The legislation provides $262,000 in annual funding for two years to support the effort.
Any person who abandons a boat on a Minnesota waterway, state park, roadside, or other public property will be subject to misdemeanor charges. They will also be required to pay for removal costs. The misdemeanor charge carries fines and up to one year in jail.
According to the DNR, approximately 40 boats are abandoned in public each year in Minnesota.
Seeberger’s initial proposal included a provision to suspend any DNR-issued licenses to the boat's owner, which may also include hunting and fishing privileges, until the boat is removed. However, that measure was dropped during legislative negotiations.
The legislative push began when Hudson, Wisiconsin Mayor Rich O’Connor publicly expressed his frustration over the city’s recurring need to intervene with derelict boats on the river. The St. Croix River, which was the focal point of the Sweet Destiny saga, runs through Hudson, WI as well. A similar bill is under consideration in the Wisconsin Legislature.
A similar story has also been playing out in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as local authorities have struggled to deal with the Deep Thought, a 46-foot Chris-Craft yacht abandoned on the city's popular Bradford Beach in October 2024. After constant back and forth with the boat's owner, salvagers, and city officials, Deep Thought wasn't removed until April of this year.
The public attention surrounding Sweet Destiny helped build the momentum for Seeberger’s bill. As a continual back-and-forth played out between the boat's salvagers, the authorities, and local government, Seeberger kept colleagues updated on the boat’s fate.
The vessel became stranded on Beer Can Island due to a leak, which quickly caught attention while sitting on one of the region's busiest waterways. Hudson officials continually sought its removal and levied tens of thousands of dollars in removal costs against the owner.
Ultimately, Sweet Destiny was removed by a professional salvaging team after Rick Arndt, a carpenter and volunteer committed to restoring the boat, paid $6,300 to cover the costs of its removal. The vessel was transported to Hager City, Wis., where it was taken out of the water.
“This has been the public interest story in my district,” Seeberger told The Tribune, noting that one lawmaker couldn’t resist repeatedly saying “Beer Can Island” during formal legislative discussions.
Abandoned boats have become a growing problem in several major waterfront cities not only as an eyesore, but also an environmental hazard. The issue has been well-documented in boating hubs like Venice, Italy, while Canada has begun to crack down in its major waterfront cities. Prince William has even chipped in to deal with the increased number of derelict vessels on England's shorelines.
You might also like:
Comments