Judge: Lake Minnetonka Yacht Owners Have 10 Days To Move Vessel

MINNETONKA, MN — The owners of a yacht have ten days to move their vessel out of a free, public boat landing on Lake Minnetonka, a Hennepin County judge ordered Monday.

The order comes after a monthslong dispute between the owners of the yacht and the county. The yacht has been parked at the public boat landing since Dec. 15, and the owners refused to move it, the county said.

In January, Hennepin County filed a complaint against the owners, claiming that the yacht was "a civil nuisance" and created a "dangerous situation."

The yacht holds 200 gallons of fuel, "is not seated on a proper trailer for the design of the Yacht and is positioned on a slope, not level ground," according to the complaint. "Defendants’ actions pose an extreme risk of injury if the Yacht were to topple, creating a danger to Lake Minnetonka if the fuel were to spill and creating a substantial obstruction to the free use of the Access," authorities added.

On Monday, Judge James A. Moore ruled that "within 10 days of the date of this order, defendants shall move the yacht."

Read the original complaint filed by the county below: