Burned Boat Removed From Ottawa River

The owner of Lost Peninsula Marina hauled away a boat that had sat by a Shoreland dock for more than three months after a July fire.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Accidents

A boat that caught fire in July, hospitalizing three people with burns, was removed from the Ottawa River next to Barry Hornbacher's dock in Shoreland. The owner of Lost Peninsula Marina came with his son and hauled it away after a 13 Action News story aired.

Why it matters

The boat sat beside the dock for more than three months before removal, prompting the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to file charges against the boat's owner. The owner denies ownership, leaving the matter's resolution in dispute.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has filed charges against the boat's owner, who denies ownership of the vessel. The outcome of those charges has not been reported.

The players

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

The Ohio state agency responsible for managing natural resources, including waterway enforcement, which filed charges in this case.

13 Action News

A local television news station in the Toledo area whose report prompted the boat's removal.

The details

The boat caught fire in July with three people aboard, who were hospitalized with burns. It remained next to Barry Hornbacher's dock in Shoreland for more than three months until the owner of Lost Peninsula Marina came with his son and hauled it away.

July: The boat caught fire and three occupants were hospitalized.
Over three months later: The boat was still beside Hornbacher's dock.
Last week: 13 Action News aired a story with Hornbacher.
November 5, 2026: The burned boat was removed from the Ottawa River.

Legal Context

State enforcement against abandoned or hazardous vessels on the Ottawa River typically depends on identifying a responsible owner, which the boat's denial of ownership complicates. Media coverage appears to have accelerated the removal, a pattern that raises questions about how such vessels are otherwise tracked.

Residents along the Ottawa River and in Shoreland may see increased attention to hazardous vessels left on waterfront property. Boaters should be aware that abandoned or fire-damaged boats can be subject to state charges against their owners.

The takeaway

Boat owners remain responsible for vessels left in public waterways, even when ownership is disputed. Prompt reporting of fire-damaged boats helps authorities act before they linger near homes and docks.