Milwaukee County would like some more bids on that boat, please

As we reported earlier this week, the public online auction for the famed Deep Thought / Minnow / Milwaukee Boat stands at a mere $1,125. That’s far less than the $20,000 Milwaukee County was hoping to recoup on the removal of the thing. The auction ends Tuesday, August 5 at noon.

So with only a few days left to go, what’s Milwaukee County to do? Issue a pleading press release, that’s what.

On Friday, Milwaukee County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman issued this pleading press release:

Supervisor Wasserman to Milwaukee: Bid on Deep Thought Before it’s too Late

MILWAUKEE — With just days left in Milwaukee County Parks’ online auction of the mysterious derelict yacht, Deep Thought, bids are still barely afloat at $1,125, and the Parks and Culture Committee Chair, Sheldon Wasserman, is sounding the alarm.

“Let’s be honest, we didn’t ask for this boat,” said Wasserman. “She was abandoned near McKinley Marina, landed in the County’s lap through a legal headache, and now we just want her off the books. While she’ll probably never float again, she still deserves a second life.”

The large yacht is being sold as-is, which is to say: unusable, unmovable without heavy equipment, and undeniably captivating. While currently unusable as a boat in the traditional sense, she’s ripe for reinvention: unique art installation? Boutique bar? Milwaukee’s strangest Airbnb?

The auction ends soon. Bring your creativity and maybe a crane.

Bid here before it’s too late.

We’re sympathetic to the County’s plight, but let’s face it: the “unique piece of Milwaukee history” sizzle is a bit much for the “giant piece of junk” steak here. It’s a completely trashed boat that was only fun/funny because it was stranded in a public place for so long. Who on earth is going to plunk down $20,000 to buy it, plunk down more money to move it, and then plunk down even MORE money to turn it into an Airbnb or whatever? This ship has sailed, as it were.

The Mississippi owners of the 43-foot Chris-Craft Roamer, Richard and Sherry Wells, ran the boat ashore between Bradford and McKinley beaches on October 13, 2024. The boat stayed there—accruing graffiti, fame, and failed salvage attempts—for nearly seven months. All City Towing finally towed the boat on May 6, 2025.

The cost of the operation? Fifty-thousand dollars—Milwaukee County’s “do-not-exceed” limit given to All City. Who’s on the hook for that $50,000? With the original owners out of the picture and the craft legally classified as abandoned, Milwaukee County is on the hook, and is the legal owner of the boat. The Daniel W. Hoan Foundation donated $10,000 to the cause, and an anonymous donor kicked in an additional $20,000. Milwaukee County is looking to recoup the remaining $20,000 with the auction.

Could the County still pursue legal action against the original Mississippi owners? Back in June, county officials said that a legal effort would be akin to “drilling a dry well,” and that “the juice ain’t worth the squeeze.” So there you go.