Abandoned boat on Wisconsin River for months racks up $44,000 in fines
- This abandoned boat has been stuck on Beer Can Island, Wisconsin for months
- No one wants to move it and everyone is at a stalemate
- It’s racked up $44,000 worth of fines so far
Published on Mar 07, 2025 at 4:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Mar 07, 2025 at 5:38 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This 54-foot abandoned boat, left on a river in Wisconsin for months, has received tens of thousands of dollars worth of fines.
The 1981 Bluewater Intercoastal, named Sweet Destiny, was sailed out to Beer Can Island in the St. Croix River near Hudson, Wisconsin and left there.
The local government asked the owner to move the boat, but their pleas fell on deaf ears, with the owner saying he’d actually sold it.
Because the boat is slowly sinking and has a leak, it’ll cost $6,000 to remove – so the City of Hudson wants to change state laws thanks to the abandoned boat.
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The abandoned boat is frustrating the people of Wisconsin
The existence of this half-sunken 54-foot abandoned boat beached on the edge of Beer Can Island in the St. Croix River is upsetting not only the locals of the City of Hudson, Wisconsin, but it’s also very frustrating to the local city government.
The boat is a 1981 Bluewater intercoastal, named Sweet Destiny.
And it’s been sat half-crashed on the beach of a little Wisconsin island for months, racking up $44,000 in fines.
The owner, Grayson Talbot McNew, abandoned the boat when it sprang a leak and now the boat is slowly sinking.
City officials in Wisconsin have fined McNew from $100 to $1,000 for every day it’s been there.
But the owner is refusing to pay.
Abandon ship!
The problem of the abandoned ship looked as though it could have been solved.
The vessel was sold to treasure hunter Bill Warren, who intended to refloat and restore it.
However, Warren pulled out.
So responsibility for the fines reverted back to McNew – who refuses to move it or pay up.
It would cost the City of Hudson $6,000 to remove Sweet Destiny and it looks like both sides have reached a stalemate while the boat continues to sink.
Hudson city officials lobbied state legislators to consider criminalizing boat abandonment, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future.
But at the moment, it seems that Sweet Destiny‘s destiny is to live abandoned on Beer Can Island.
Daisy is a technology journalist, covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, digital business, and emerging technologies. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral tech hacks and the latest developments in the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex technology stories into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work focuses on the products, platforms, and innovations that are transforming the way people work, communicate, and interact with technology. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
