Hard to fathom: Derelict boats cost Florida taxpayers millions — and boaters say removal takes too long

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Abandoned and damaged boats are cluttering Florida’s waterways, costing the state roughly $6 million a year to remove — and frustrated boaters say the cleanup process moves far too slowly.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Capt. Robert Lentz has spent years identifying derelict vessels on the St. Johns River and other state waters.

On a recent trip through the Arlington area of Jacksonville, he and a News4JAX crew spotted several in quick succession…

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