Boat abandoned near Bradford Beach for nearly 2 weeks

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- An abandoned boat near Bradford Beach is still getting a lot of attention after nearly two weeks. Photos of the vessel began circulating online, starting a lot of chatter about how it ended up there. More than a week later, it's still there.

People have been stopping to take photos and get a closer look, as it's hard to miss. The multilevel vessel is stationed close to the shore near the intersection of E. Water Tower Road and Lincoln Memorial Drive.

"I was just walking and saw the boat. Obviously, the marina is over there, it shouldn't be here," said Hannah Ullberg, who noticed the boat as she was walking the lakefront with her morning coffee.

Another couple told CBS 58 they thought it might be part of a movie shoot. "I'd be curious to know what the backstory is," said Jared Defanti. Officials say it appears the owner ran out of gas and there doesn't seem to be any suspicious nature behind its abandonment. 

"I think that's the thing. When you go out on the water, you got to be prepared for anything -- weather, mechanical failure, what happens when things go wrong," said Kent Bredrup, who saw the boat while walking the lakefront with his wife Donna.

No word yet on when the boat will be removed, but the U.S. Coast Guard is reportedly leaving it up to the owner to do so.

State regulations call for the removal of any abandoned vehicles or boats within 30 days. That means the owner has just about two more weeks to take care of it, or they could face fines.