Derelict and abandoned boats are one of the most frustrating and alarming issues faced by British Columbia’s coastal communities today. Reaching the end of their usable life cycle, with current disposal options being prohibitively expensive and no way to track ownership, old sail and powerboats are being left to rot on their moorings in public anchorages and bays in staggering numbers.

Not only do these vessels clog up BC’s most prized destinations and waterways but they often end up drifting onto beaches and into public property—costing taxpayers and communities millions of dollars in damage and environmental clean-up each year.

The Documentary

After covering this issue in Pacific Yachting, we continued to monitor the problem and heard from many people in the boating community that this was a growing concern. In the fall of 2019, we were presented with an opportunity from Sportsman Channel Canada to share the story as a documentary.

Abandoned Dreams looks into the root causes of this abandoned boat epidemic, from social issues like the rising cost of living and lack of marina space in BC, to administrative issues like tracking and enforcing responsible boat ownership, and finally take a look at the new government program and the future plans for accessible and safe boat disposal and recycling in BC. The documentary features footage from Salt Spring about the work being done by the community and the Dead Boat Disposal Society.

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