Once it is abandoned on the Great Lakes I was told it can be salvaged. Locals wait for the ice to seal up or re-freeze and then they go and get it. I was recused by the Coast Guard down in Sandusky OH many years ago and we had to leave the gear and machines behind. Fortunately there was one area where the ice was only opened 8 feet out 1/2 mile but the coast Guard took us all off any how. Some of the fishermen were local guys and they went to the lumber yard and brought back (4) 2 X 12's X 16' and we went back out and laid them over the narrowest area and hand crossed everything even all the machines. Coast Guard did not like that and said if they had to come out and get us again, it would cost us a heavy fine. Thanks to the local fishermen we out of state guys got all our gear back.
