Is there a maritime law about claiming a beached (abandoned) boat..... finders keepers?

Yes. Salvage law. If you get it off the beach, you can turn around and bill them up to the value of the boat for your work.

Fresh water, might be worth the effort if the motor is new.

Ahhh been out in water like that in a 1968 14' flat bottom with a 50hp Merc on the back. Someone did not know how to drive. lol.

Waves on Lake Michigan have been large with the Northerly winds we've been having lately. Doesn't suprising me one bit!

I'm a lake boater, so I'm curious, what size/kind of boat would you guys be comfortable running in that?

Been there done it. :) 2 foot roller coming down the bow splashing off the windscreen gets your heart going :) I did it in a 46 but wouldn't be excited to do it again.

Done conditions like those in two different Apache 41's. Biggest hazard was trying to turn around before the next wave hit md-ship. Coming out of the Saugatuck channel, over some six footers, and then falling into a ten foot deep hole, blue-water all the way back to the cockpit.

After a few of those, it was very apparent that we'd never get on plane, so turning back was the only option, but frightening when looking up at a ten foot wall of water breaking down toward us. Sure wouldn't want to take that sideways.

Finally, got far enough out from the effects of the pier- heads that the holes and walls were "only" six feet, put the wheel hard over, gunned it, and made a 180. Trip surfing the waves in was hairy, but manageable. Just ride a crest and back off enough to avoid stuffing.

It was stupid, and we were lucky, but would never do it again.

Shouldn't this guy be posting over at Onshore Only? (Or maybe Washed up Onshore Only.)

Went out in that kind of water in my younger days in a Zodiac. A nice inflateable would make me feel the most comfortable. I tried hard for years to get one to flip over backwards with no sucess! LMAO! Board member SC288 can verifify, he was with me!

That lake is insane. I was scared just looking at the pictures, let alone actually trying to go out in that.