PORT CARLING, ON – Owners of a customized dinghy are thanking the boating community for helping to find their stolen vessel.
Angie and Harold Lowndes said the 10 foot Livingston brand vessel went missing in the early hours of Thursday, June 27. Angie said they live across from Fairy Island and were surprised when it was found on Paff Island Monday.
“It was really incredible because nothing like this has ever happened at our marina,” Lowndes said. “We are thrilled because the dinghy can’t be replaced. They don’t make them anymore. Even if the boat came back with no engine, we’d still be happy. All we really wanted was the dinghy back.”
Lowndes believed it was a joyride situation because the boat was found tied up on another person’s dock. She said the gas tank was empty and the cottage owner who found it was missing a kayak.
While she was able to laugh about it, apparently the situation was a bit more serious.
“It is like having someone steal your car out of your driveway,” Lowndes said. ” It was attached to the back of our boat and we live aboard and we were in there sleeping when they took it.”
Angie said whoever took it must have paddled it away from the boat before starting it or they likely would have heard it.
She added the police are involved and she believed they know who took it but she hasn’t heard for sure.
Angie was more concerned about making sure everyone who helped knew they were appreciated, instead of holding someone responsible.
“The big thing is the response from the local marinas, the OPP, it was on Twitter, it was on Facebook,” Angie said. “Everybody’s just been so great about it. It is not like it is a huge $60,000 boat. It’s a $10,000 dinghy. We do thank everybody though.”