Where's Capt. Jay's Boat?

The panoramic view of Boca Ciega Bay from Gulfport Beach is missing something, Capt. Jay's boat, "Promise."

Harbormaster Denis Frain says the boat was moved sometime after Capt. Jay's court hearing last Thursday and the time he physically checked the bay on Friday evening.

John Burki, 66, known as Capt. Jay was given the chance to move his boat out of Gulfport waters in lieu of paying fines incurred for having the grounded boat on Gulfport Beach after Tropical Storm Debby.

As part of the Judge Patrick Cadell's deal, Burki pleaded guilty to 18 ordinance violations and agreed to move the boat by Aug. 22.

Last Thursday, Capt. Jay and City Officials appeared before Judge Caddell and reported that the boat was still anchored in the bay.

Caddell ordered Capt. Jay to pay the fines and signed an order for a lien against the vessel following the hearing. City Manager Jim O'Reilly received the court ordered lien on Tuesday and will register the document with the Pinellas County Clerk of the Court, Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and vessel registration.

"We are recording the lien with all the appropriate agencies. Any agency can take action," he says, because the vessel is also recorded as an "at risk" vessel by the Gulfport Police Department.

The boat has been flagged as "at risk" for becoming a derelict boat, by the Gulfport Police Department. Burki has 90 days from his police-issued notice to bring his boat into compliance with the law.

Patch has attached the letter sent to Burki from police on Aug. 3.

"Promise" was anchored in the bay just beyond the buoys at the beach for about six weeks after a public call for help lured 50 volunteers who pushed, pulled and lifted the boat out into the bay. Capt. Jay could not be there to help with the efforts; he was recovering at Bay Pines VA Hospital

Editor's Note: Gulfport Patch has tried to contact Capt. Jay in regards to this article and has not heard back.