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HRS §200-52

When a boat is considered abandoned at a repair shop or marina

A boat is abandoned if the service is done, no more work is allowed, the owner gets written notice, and the boat is not picked up within 30 days. The notice must be sent by registered or certified mail to the owner and anyone with a recorded interest. If not picked up, the boat can be sold or disposed of.

The statute, as written — When vessel deemed abandoned on the premises of a vessel repair business, private marina, or yacht club

A vessel shall be deemed to be abandoned upon satisfaction of all the following conditions: (1) The service requested or required by a person whose vessel is navigated, towed, or brought to a vessel repair business, private marina, or yacht club, such as mooring, storage, towing, and rendering estimates of the cost of repairs, has been performed; (2) No authorization is given to perform any further service respecting the vessel, or to allow mooring, or storage, but the vessel is left on the repair business, private marina, or yacht club premises; (3) The owner of the repair business or private marina, or the owner's authorized representative, or the designated representative of the yacht club, has given notice by registered or certified mail, to the registered owner of the vessel at the address on record at the vessel repair business, private marina, or yacht club, and the address on record at the department or United States Coast Guard, and to any person with a recorded interest in the vessel stating that, if the vessel is not repossessed within thirty days after the mailing of the notice, it will be sold or disposed of. The notice also shall contain a description of the vessel and its location. The notice need not be sent to an owner or any person with an unrecorded interest in the vessel whose name or address cannot be determined and, absent evidence to the contrary, a notice shall be deemed received by the legal or registered owner five calendar days after the mailing; and (4) The vessel is not repossessed within the thirty-day period.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.