So I was reading this article in Professional Boatbuilder about the Sea Scout vessel Charles N. Curtis

https://www.proboat.com/2022/07/a-long-life-of-service/

and one passage stood out:

by state law, the Boy Scouts could be on the hook for proper disposal if a subsequent owner abandoned or wrecked the boat in Washington State.
I knew that WA has a derelict vessel program but I wasn't aware of the liability issue, so I looked it up and sure enough there is a post-sale liability attached to certain vessels:

https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default....ite=79.100.150

In my non-expert interpretation it seems to state that the owner of any registered vessel longer than 35 feet and more than 40 years old MUST obtain an inspection from a qualified marine surveyor prior to sale. If the inspection determines that the vessel is not seaworthy and the costs to return the vessel to seaworthy status then the owner MUST repair the vessel or sell it for scrap only. If the seller does not do those things they remain liable for cleanup and disposal costs even after sale and transfer of title. There does not appear to be any time limit on this liability. It remains in effect until the boat is sold again to a third party.

The Sea Scouts are planning to scrap the Charles N. Curtis due to this regulation. Which is sad but entirely understandable. I think that if more wooden boat owners in WA were aware of the liability then many more boats would be headed for the chainsaw right now. Or is this common knowledge and I'm the only one in the dark?