So here is the story. I re-deployed to the eastern Pacific (Navy) in late January after a couple of weeks in Mayport for some mid-deployment maintenance. The first Sunday in March I get the following email from my wife:
"Did you give someone permission to sea trial the boat? If not, it has been stolen.
Let me know ASAP so I know if I need to call the cops."
The boat had been stored on the trailer in a "secure" boat and RV storage lot. Needless to say, I had not given anyone permission to take the boat out. My wife called the police and it is soon discovered that the boat has been towed. In reality, the boat had been stolen, stripped of engines and some electronics, and then abandon beside the road south of Jacksonville where it was later towed.
Luckily the thieves didn't vandalize the boat and besides the stolen equipment there was no other damage. I had taken everything off that was 'mobile' before I left. I also have full replacement cost insurance coverage which has paid off. I will say that the people at Progressive have been great, maybe not the fastest, but no issues with their coverage. There shouldn't be since my boat insurance is 3 to 4 times my homeowner's insurance!
The boat is now back at Bluewater in Hampton, VA where it was purchased and originally rigged. Progressive even covered the cost of having it towed up to VA. Having Bluewater in VA do the job vice someone in FL means that I don't have to worry at all that the fix won't be as good as new. When Bluewater in VA is done with the boat they are going to get it down to Bluewater in Wanchese so that it is ready to go for the Fun Fest in June. The bad news is that there were no new 2006 F250s available, so I have to settle for new 2007s.
Here are some pictures for you that my wife took in the tow yard.
Boat Stolen
Linear Mode
