if i no for certain that an old boat has been abandoned and an owner can not be sourced (i've been trying for 12 months now). how do i go about trying to own it? it is moored/sunk on public land! so nobody can claim it though unpaid fees (which is quite common these days). The Truro & Penryn harbour master Capt Andy Brigden advised me in September 06 to report it as abandoned property with the local police which i did but does this give me a legal right to the boat as nobody has claimed it? To save the boat from deteriating any more, a team of us raised it, patched the holes in the side and secured it with new ropes. that was in august 06, i then nailed a 4' square notice to the mast in the hope of someone passing knowing something about it. Now i dont know what else to do. Nobody knows who owns this boat! I would be grateful of any advise.