Boat sales ‘booming’ in Australia?

by Bob Wonders on 30 Oct 2010 Are boat sales really booming in Australia?

A question that might cause an argument in the Land Down Under, but apparently that’s the word in the United States and two of its citizens are now languishing in the local lock-up after allegedly shipping and selling stolen boats in Australia.

According to a Florida newspaper, the St.Petersburg Times, Mark Conner, a 38-year-old from aptly-named Treasure Island, and Lawrence Plumstead,44, of Seminole, were arrested and charged on four and three counts of grand theft respectively. The newspaper report suggested that ‘boat sales were booming in Australia’ and this prompted the two men to establish their ‘international boat sales scheme.’

Conner is believed to be the owner of a St.Petersburg dealership, Suncoast-Marine, which promotes itself as ‘advertising boats worldwide.’ The downside to their scheme of course was the fact that the boats they were attempting to ship to Australia had been stolen.

Conner also allegedly sold three boats on consignment, but the owners never saw any of the sale proceeds and this prompted local police to investigate. When under police surveillance, Conner and Plumstead were seen shrink-wrapping a stolen boat in preparation for its shipment to Australia. Police then executed a search warrant and discovered four more stolen boats and trailers on the Suncoast-Marine premises.

All trailer boats in the 6.4 to 7.9-metre (21’ to 25’) range, the craft comprised a Boston Whaler, a Pro-Line centre console, a Century centre console and a Century walk-around. A home security camera is believed to have filmed Conner in the act of stealing the Century walk around from a home a few miles north of his yard.

Conner has also been charged with a ‘scheme to defraud’ and is being held on USD$40,000 bail; Plumstead is believed to have been released after posting USD$15,000 bail. Adrian Seiffert, CEO of Brisbane-headquartered Marine Auctions, said the stolen boats named would have been ‘popular models’ on the Australian market.

'These guys obviously know what they’re about, but despite what the newspaper claims, the market here is still pretty tough,' he added. Seiffert said Marine Auctions takes every available safeguard prior to accepting craft for auction.

'We do company searches, check with the Register of Encumbered Vehicles (REVS), insist on complete ownership papers, in short we take every possible step to ensure the vessel is totally free and unencumbered,' he added.