When James Nabors, owner of Beach Weekend Boat Rental in Key West, decided to travel to Cuba to retrieve one of his stolen boats, he had no idea that his journey would turn into a complex international operation.
He also did not suspect that, in the end, although he would recover the boat, he would even have to turn to a member of the United States Congress for assistance in overcoming the hurdles of Cuban bureaucracy, despite having all the boat’s documentation.
It all started on July 8, when a couple came to their business to rent a 26.5-foot Panga boat.
Floyd Dean Devasier, a 63-year-old American residing in Katy, Texas, rented the vessel with all the necessary documents and was accompanied by a woman.
He said he was planning a fishing trip, but he requested an extra 20-gallon fuel tank, an unusual request that the employees overlooked.
Initially, the ship’s GPS system showed no anomalies. However, shortly after, a deviation of more than 30 miles to the south was recorded. The vessel was spotted by another captain, but without any fishing equipment on board.
Then, the signal from the tracker was lost, and the next day, the Coast Guard reported that the boat and its occupant had been intercepted in Cuba.
Devasier was repatriated by air and arrested in Miami. But the boat remained in Havana. It was then that Nabors decided to travel personally with his team to retrieve it.
“We went with all the paperwork: passport, registration, boat insurance. Everything was in order,” Nabors explained to Local 10.
A contact on the Island helped them locate the boat, which was docked. But the real complication was the bureaucracy.
“We were sitting on the boat, but we couldn’t get off. Then they came to tell us that they had changed offices and that they needed another stamp, from another agency,” he recounted.
The situation escalated to the point that it required the intervention of Congressman Jimmy Patronis, who coordinated help from the Coast Guard from Washington.
The ship was finally released, and a mechanic from the Nabors team drove it back to Florida.
Despite the difficulties, the owner believes he fought against bureaucracy, not against people. “Everyone treated us well. We never felt unsafe,” he assured.
A story with concerning background
The incident involving Devasier was not coincidental. He already had a criminal record for drug offenses, and in 2019 he was involved in a similar episode: a boat rented by him also ended up in Cuban waters.
According to the authorities in Monroe County, where the recent robbery took place, he was arrested on the charge of “renting or leasing with the intent to defraud” and is currently being held on a bail of $150,000.
The Monroe Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Devasier had no known ties to Cuba.
The vessel was rented with clear conditions: no operation during the night, compliance with maritime laws, and return before the end of the following day. None of those conditions were met.
Now, Devasier’s next court hearing is scheduled for July 28.
Losing a boat in Cuba… I think we will be talking about this for a long time, said Nabors, astonished by the incident.
Sheriff Rick Ramsay expressed gratitude to the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, Cuban authorities, and citizens who collaborated to resolve the case.
But for Nabors, the story doesn’t end with the recovery of the boat: it will be an episode that marks his career and his company. “I never imagined I would have to search for one of my boats in Havana.”
Frequently Asked Questions about the Recovery of Stolen Boats in Cuba and Cuban Bureaucracy
Why did James Nabors have to travel to Cuba to retrieve his boat?
James Nabors traveled to Cuba to recover a stolen boat that was rented from his marina Beach Weekend Boat Rental in Key West and illegally taken to Cuba by Floyd Dean Devasier. Despite having all the necessary documentation in order, Nabors faced bureaucratic complications in retrieving the vessel and required assistance from a U.S. congressman to resolve the issue.
What problems did Nabors face with Cuban bureaucracy?
Nabors faced multiple bureaucratic obstacles in Cuba, such as changes in offices and the requirement to obtain stamps from various agencies in order to release the boat. The intervention of a U.S. congressman was necessary to overcome these difficulties and facilitate the return of the vessel to Florida.
What is Floyd Dean Devasier’s criminal record?
Floyd Dean Devasier has a criminal record for drug-related offenses and had already been involved in a similar incident in 2019, when another boat he rented ended up in Cuban waters. He was arrested in Miami on charges of “renting or leasing with the intent to defraud” after being repatriated from Cuba.
How was the stolen boat in Cuba finally recovered?
The boat was recovered thanks to the intervention of the United States Coast Guard, managed by Congressman Jimmy Patronis from Washington. Finally, a mechanic from the Nabors team transported the vessel back to Florida.
What security measures will the marina Beach Weekend Boat Rental implement following the incident?
Jayme Nabors, the marina owner, has expressed his commitment to strengthening security measures to prevent future incidents of this nature. Plans are in place to implement more controls and possibly enhance the monitoring system to prevent unauthorized diversions.
Clinton Mora is a reporter for Trending Insurance News. He has previously worked for the Forbes. As a contributor to Trending Insurance News, Clinton covers emerging a wide range of property and casualty insurance related stories.