Missing boat

svtfocus2cobra

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Go after the church! It is their responsibility after borrowing it so they need to either return it or pay for it. You obviously have exchanged messages which proves your side of the story and proves they lost it, so I dont see why LE or the law would not side with you. If the pastor is being dishonest about it then he deserves everything that is coming to him.
 

FJohnny

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A couple of thoughts about this:

Sometimes a simple letter can get amazing results. Send it by registered mail because having to sign for it freaks people out and makes them pay attention.

You are writing to inform the church that despite repeated attempts you have been unsuccessful in resolving the loss of your boat. Your only recourse at this point is to go to the police about the trespass on your property and the theft of your boat. You will also be pursuing damages for the loss of the boat in civil court.

This letter is being sent as a courtesy prior to taking action to allow the church to present their side. You look forward to hearing from the church in hopes of resolving the matter.

With the prospect of police involvement and possible court costs, embarrassment, etc many people will become suddenly much more ready to discuss and negotiate.

OR

Make an appointment with the minister. Take a brochure/ad with price of a similar boat (the expensive one) to the church. Explain the whole situation to the parson. If he can't get your boat back perhaps you can talk to him about getting an official tax receipt (assuming it's a legit church) for the value of the boat showing it as a donation from you to the church. The vicar is out nothing and you at least get something back in the form of a tax credit for your generous gift to the church.

Sure sounds like your sister borrowed the boat from you and then the church borrowed it from her. She may be the only real culprit here.
 

VenomousDSG

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Is a $1000 boat really worth that much to you? Obviously it's going to take a lot of time and effort to get it back.

I'd make sure your sister doesn't touch any of your shit ever again, and i'd let people know how that church treats people's property when stuff is lent to them. Not to mention their lack of caring to make things right.
 

CV355

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Go to the preachers house. Look in drive way. Hook up and bring it home.

This, to an extent.

More than likely, someone in the church community had sticky fingers and ran off with the boat, probably while waving, saying "see you next week" and making people think they're "just helping." There are a lot of very fake people who prey on churches and the generosity/trusting nature of the church community.

My advice would be not to condemn that specific church on the whole. Most people there probably haven't even given it two thoughts and actually go for the right reasons.

Try to schedule a time to meet with the preacher, explain the situation. Unless the preacher was in on it, I would almost expect them to make an announcement asking for help to find the boat.

Unsolicited CV355 Story Time: ~6 years ago, my sister was working at Ruby Tuesday's. She hated working Sundays because the same church group came in, treated her like crap, and left pamphlets instead of tips. She'd go home with less than $50 for a full shift because parties limit the number of tables you can serve. She posted a picture on social media of the pamphlets and big fat 0 for tip and explained she can't pay for college with them (warned her to be careful...). It gained local attention, and before too long, emails were going back and forth with the church. The church reached out to my sister, apologized profusely, did an entire sermon on generosity and "God's Money," and even took up a collection to help her out with college. Not what I expected to happen.

Point is- give it a shot, but don't get nasty about it. You never know, they may surprise you.
 
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IronSnake

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This.

More than likely, someone in the church community had sticky fingers and ran off with the boat, probably while waving, saying "see you next week" and making people think they're "just helping." There are a lot of very fake people who prey on churches and the generosity/trusting nature of the church community.

OH, Look at this "Community Boat", I will take it home to "share it" with the good people of my church, while I drink beer on my vessel.
 

CV355

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OH, Look at this "Community Boat", I will take it home to "share it" with the good people of my church, while I drink beer on my vessel.

Oh it happens for sure. I'm not condemning the whole church community- absolutely not.

I know someone quite well (do not associate with) who, for about 20 years straight, would bounce from church to church becoming "part of the community." She would write flattering letters to the elderly church patrons and explain that she was struggling financially. I was told by a family member that this individual was bringing in hundreds per week by preying on the generosity and naivety of some of the elderly churchgoers. If she started getting ousted, she'd move on to another church.
 

PaxtonShelby

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Did you mention the boat would be really easy to identify because of the “DICKS OUT FOR HARAMBE!” bumper sticker on it?

Seriously, if your sister let the church borrow the boat, the church needs to be accountable for returning the boat to her possession. I have not heard enough evidence to believe the church has made enough of an effort to locate the boat, and that is quite sad.
 

FJohnny

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The church admitted to using the boat but they have no idea what happened to it after they used it inside the church for the week. That is the crazy thing, a 16 ft boat just does not disappear.

Is it true that the church has a 16 foot water filled baptismal pool sunk into the stage behind the pulpit?

Probably just a coincidence.
 

Revvv

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Without pointing fingers at anyone, the main focus is the boat. There are shady people everywhere. I have had a lot of equipment grow legs and walk off at churches, sports bars, studios, and other various venues. I can give church stories from a pastor's perspective that will make you sick. People do strange things.

My main question is not to diminish the missing boat. I believe you should have your property returned to you. That is the right thing to do. However, I cannot help but to ask why you, or your sister, did not stay on top of things and pick up the boat as soon as the church was finished with it?

The pastor may or may not have a clue where the thing went. It is possible that it was placed in storage, or outside. It then sat for a long period of time with no one claiming it. I'm not justifying the missing boat, but there are endless ways that it could have gone missing. The fault lies with all parties involved if the boat was not outright stolen after the event. Trust me when I say that there is an endless list of odd things left at churches.

In your case, your sister, and the person that was utilizing your boat should have contacted you to tell you they were finished with it. Whoever carried the boat to the church should have immediately returned it to your home. That is the correct answer in this situation.



As for registration; a boat without a combustion engine does not necessarily need to be registered (this is true in GA and SC if I remember correctly).

Sent from my [toilet] using the svtperformance.com mobile app
 

Double"O"

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There would be dead people everywhere if someone took my boat without permission...and my pos is 20 years old lol

Seriously I'd be on your sisters ass for payment and return first
 

FJohnny

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Seriously I'd be on your sisters ass for payment and return first

That's far and away the best suggestion yet. Make her tattoo (permanent) a good sized Double "0" on her backside.

I'm sure we can get 150 SVTP members to pledge $10 each to make it happen. I'm in for a sawbuck.

Note: photo proof and in person verification by a mod will be required.
 

Zemedici

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Fighting for 2 years over a $1500 boat is asinine.

Just get another boat and don’t let your sister borrow any of your possessions.

She didn’t get it back? Is she 14? What is that?

Sounds like your sister owes you half a Jon Boat.
 

BJCobra99

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Sorry this happened to you, but it is probably time to cut your losses and move on. I live on a lake and see people's kayaks, canoes, and small boats go missing all the time. If you leave something like that overnight, it will probably be stolen by morning. It is sad people cannot respect property that isn't theirs these days.
 

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