Pioneer Valley man’s hunt for boat stolen while at work

‘The way I look at it, a boat just doesn’t disappear … I’m determined to find my boat’

David Carter is determined to find his boat stolen from a property at Netherdale, west of Mackay. Picture: David Carter

A PIONEER Valley man is determined to find his boat after a thief allegedly stole the newly purchased vessel while he was away at work.

David Carter said his boat was lifted from its trailer from his backyard at Netherdale, west of Mackay.

“The way I look at it, a boat just doesn’t disappear, it’s a big object,” Mr Carter said.

“If everyone had a look over their fence, I’m pretty sure it’d be in someone’s backyard.”

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Mr Carter said dual-wield tracks left in the grass lead him to believe a truck was used in the theft.

“I’d only just brought the boat down from Bowen and it sat here for a month,” he said.

“I hadn’t taken it in the water yet.”

“Last year, I had a 30 horsepower Yamaha outboard stolen off the back of a (different) boat.

“The police said (at the time), ‘You’ve got two chances of finding your outboard – none and buckley’s’”.

Mr Carter said he was “ropeable” over the latest theft and was currently looking into extra security measures including security cameras and locks.

“I’m in the process of building a fence, I’m calling it the ‘Great Wall of Netherdale’,” he said.

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In the meantime, he said he was determined to find his boat and would continue ‘stalking’ the boat ramps and dams across the Mackay region.

David Carter is determined to find his boat stolen from a property at Netherdale, west of Mackay. Picture: David Carter

The boat is a 4.5m quintrex hull with a centre console and a 50-horsepower four-stroke Yamaha outboard.

If you have further information, phone PoliceLink on 131444.

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