I am driving down with a trailer in tow to get me a boat.

that's so dumb.

"oh hey i bought this expensive thing but now its too expensive to keep, guess i will leave it for someone else to deal with because i'm poor now"

Hopefully the owners will do the responsible thing, they are their property. Those who love boats can't allow this to happen, if you bought it take responsibility and bring it into shore and dock it, haul it home or sell it at a loss.
I hope tootsmoocher's right and it's a result of mother nature and the owners will be found or find the boats.
Such a shame, how many people would love to claim a boat.

They could let charities have them, for taking out inner city kids into the countryside. Or just give them to me...

This has always been a problem here in Louisiana, but mostly due to damages sustained from hurricanes and large thunderstorms. I live about 8-10 miles from the coast, and you can see them pretty often if you take a leisurely drive around the coastal parishes (counties.) I don't really agree with leaving them behind, but when you've lost so much after a storm, I can see how spending money to remove a boat that is in the middle of a field only drag it to the waste dump makes little to no sense. Money is tight. People who wouldn't normally be litter bugs are almost forced into the situation. To be fair to some, I've seen many boats that are permanent landscape features now, due to the impossibility of access to it's landing spot after a good storm. The bulk of the boats down here are functional, paid in full, and not very glamorous, which makes the situation all the more sad.

lots of folks living in their boats off the Key West coast...the locals call them 'water trailers'

i'd just take one and sale away with a fishing pole.

Everybody keep your eyes open for a fifty foot ketch. I'll take it. I used to race the big sailboats in class one catagory. Thank goodness I can sail around the world, that experience is worth every thing too me.