JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Salonen Marine, a marine wreck removal company, is currently beginning the two-day process for removing the marooned sailboat off of Jacksonville Beach Tuesday.
The owner of the company who is removing the boat, met with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Monday, as the plan is to use an excavator to take the sailboat's pieces to a landfill.
Luke Rehberg, the owner of the boat, says his engine failed, his anchor broke and he couldn't afford to have it towed off the beach. Community members started a GoFundMe page for Rehberg and raised half the money required for the tow. Rehberg told First Coast News he plans to use the GoFundMe money to pay fees to the FWC.
"I'm still expecting that $20,000 bill to come in the mail when they remove the boat and they pay their high-dollar, super-insured contracter to get it off the beach," Rehberg said.
Rehberg was arrested last month for abandoning a derelict vessel and is also wanted for an expired registration and failing to transfer the boat's title.