A 20-foot abandoned recreational powerboat washed up on East Beach on Chappaquiddick on Wednesday morning. Paul Schultz, assistant superintendent for The Trustees of Reservations, discovered the boat, which had a big crack in it, in the surf at 8:45 a.m. during his daily rounds.

Mr. Schultz called the Edgartown harbor master and the U.S. Coast Guard.

From the registration numbers on the boat, the Coast Guard was able to find the owner and contact him to learn the nonemergency circumstances that brought about the boat’s discovery.

Chief Steven Munger of the Southeast New England Coast Guard Sector in Woods Hole, did not disclose the name of the boat owner, but said he had a mishap on either Nov. 10 or 11. “The guy lost his boat. He ran aground and abandoned the boat,” Mr. Munger said. He said the accident occurred in the shoals east of Chappaquiddick.

Chief Munger said state environmental police also have been notified. “We will hold him accountable,” said Mr. Munger. Sgt. Matthew Bass of the state environmental police who visited the scene, said the case is under investigation and charges could be filed.

Edgartown harbor master Charles Blair said he was relieved to know the Coast Guard is taking up the matter. “If you have an accident in a boat and the damage is over $250, an accident report should be filed with the state environmental police,” Mr. Blair said. “You cannot abandon a boat. Oftentimes we can’t find the owner of a boat that has been abandoned,” he said, adding:

“Hopefully the Coast Guard will pursue it so that the Edgartown taxpayers don’t get caught with the bill, the cost to remove the boat.”