Bids now being accepted for Black Eyed Susan boat purchase

SNOW HILL, Md.- Bids are now being accepted for the purchase of the iconic Black-Eyed Susan boat. The 149-passenger paddlewheel boat was built back in 1986.

The town of Snow Hill purchased the boat back in 2021. At that time, it was in year four of a five-year routine coastguard inspection. Town Manager Rick Pollitt told 47ABC that major problems with the condition of the boat were discovered, including engine and structural damage.

Pollitt added that it could take as much as $1 million to get the boat back on the water. He said that the mayor and several other town officials have supported selling the boat. “We’ll share the coastguard inspection report, and the shipyards estimate to make the repairs. We’ll make available all the files we have so that anyone who may purchase this boat knows exactly what they’re getting,” Pollitt said.

“Our main interest is in getting it out and relieving the taxpayers of Snow Hill the burden of having to keep it. With that in mind, we’re going to try and get that done as soon as we can.”

Sealed bids will be accepted through October 3rd. Those will then be open to the public and will be reviewed by the town council.

We’re told a handful of potential buyers have already expressed interest.

Town officials said the hope is to have the boat sold by early November.