MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — It's a trend that has become popular for some travelers. Staying in revamped, abandoned or inoperable boats listed as vacation rentals on sites like Airbnb.
It can be fun and adventurous for thrill seekers looking for a different travel experience. However, even though it is not illegal to salvage abandoned boats or list them as rentals, the practice has raised concerns about brisk business and safety. This is happening as Florida law enforcement agencies ramp up their crackdown on abandoned boats in the waterways.
One group of British tourists learned a hard lesson, which they say put their lives in danger.
It was supposed to be a quick overnight stop in Manatee County for the three travelers who were heading home after a weeks-long adventure vacation tour of the U.S.
But according to Phil Waller, the trip turned awry that November night when he and his friends got more than they had bargained for.
"They had been sunken vessels previously and so they were in a really bad state not just unclean, but just very old very old," he said.
Waller said the cabin had a foul smell from rotting food left in the fridge. They were also concerned about the quality of the air in the cabin which was powered by a generator.
"It filled the boat with fumes, and so we actually thought that would be quite harmful, potentially, so we decided not to actually sleep in the boat, but actually on the top with the generator turned off," Waller said.
Out of phone service due to lack of power, the trio realized they were in more danger the next day with bad weather conditions approaching.
Waller said because they were only provided with one dinghy, they didn't think it would be safe for all three of them to get onto it to get to the dock. They decided that one person would stay behind with their belongings while two used the dinghy to get to the dock 80 yards away.
"What should have taken maybe three or four minutes actually took us closer to an hour. It actually seemed like we were possibly going backward because the motor was so poor," he said.
According to a dockside business owner, some of the unsuspecting Airbnb guests are often left out cold on the water to fend for themselves and those who come with vehicles take up parking spaces for their business.
"It's a big problem. These people are taken out to these boats that aren't in proper condition and then they are given a little dinghy. Most of these people have never been on a boat before," Karen Bell, the owner of Cortez Fishing Village, said.
"I think it is really tragic because most of these people they come from far away and they are thinking oh it's a bargain because it may be $100 a night compared to the island which is probably 3 or 4 times that," she said.
After a plea from Waller and his friend who managed to eventually get to the dock safely, Bell phoned a friend with a boat to rescue the remaining stranded tourist after they said the host was not responsive in providing help.
"It's just a scam. People need to be aware. Don't rent these boats. They're not fit for someone to live on," she said.
According to host Brittany Bull, who rented out the vessel, the characterization of the incidents and the nature of her business operation did not represent the full picture.
"People that love it, they say this is a great experience," she said.
Bull said she was being innovative and taking the initiative to help solve the problem of abandoned boats and some owners' inability to continue maintaining or owning them.
She maintains the nine boats in her fleet of rentals are safe and covered by insurance and what occurred with the tourists was a matter of miscommunication and impatience.
"They do sign a waiver, they do know they will be on the bay, you know it is an adventure, it's not that far from the dock and we have all safety gears in order," Bull said.
Waller said they were traumatized by the ordeal but admits they should have been more cautious before making their booking.
He warned to not rely on only the photos posted by hosts but to research and take reviews from other guests seriously.
"The photos didn't meet or match the reality of what the boat actually was, it was quite the opposite. It could've been considerably worse. We felt quite lucky to escape with our health," he said.
After 10 Tampa Bay started looking into this case, Airbnb conducted an investigation and removed the host. They've also notified the guest that they're getting a full refund.
"We take reports of safety issues seriously, and following investigation, we have removed this Host and their listings from the platform for violating our policies and terms of service. Our customer service team has been in contact with our guests to help address their concerns and provide further support."
The company also recommends guests read through their safety tips to prevent encountering potentially avoidable problems.
Bull said she too has learned from this situation and will take in all the feedback to work on improving her services so that guests only have positive experiences as intended.
Florida Fish and Wildlife said they have nearly 1,000 active investigations dealing with derelict or abandoned vessels.
Affected boat owners could face potential criminal charges if they failed to comply with removal orders.
They have encouraged such boat owners to sign up for a program that assists with removing or taking such vessels into state custody at no cost.