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Going, Going, Gone! Riverboat Sold For More Than 350K At Baltimore Auction

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- An unusual piece of property sells on the auction block.

Christie Ileto explains what's sailing away from Baltimore for more than $357,000.

And the bidding begins over Liberty Belle Riverboat in the marina Thursday. In no time, the price tag soars to six digits.

Add the buyer's premium, and you're at $357,000.

"I wasn't going to go much higher than that. That was the last one I was going," said Julia Pledger.

She walks away the new owner of the 16-year-old Mississippian style boat, an unusual piece of property up for auction, but one she wasn't leaving without.

"My brother and my family and I have been in the boat business since we were little. My dad was a docking pilot here in Baltimore years ago," Pledger said.

The $50,000 price tag lured Pledger to the 140=foot long vessel that holds up to 400 passengers.

Its three levels were once home to a dinner cruise line in Philadelphia.

It ended up coming down to Baltimore for repairs.

"It was a general ship repair for about 16 months or so," said Scott Frank, Alex Cooper Auctioneers.

At first glance you can see the boat is in need of repairs, but when it was first built in 1997 it was worth $3.3 million.

"We're just going to refurbish it and most likely lease it out or sell it," Pledger said.

Bringing Liberty Belle back to life will take time, but Pledger says with all the work ahead, it's worth every penny!

While Liberty Belle will be leaving Baltimore's harbor, there is one thing that will stay the same. The new buyer won't be changing the name of the boat because it's bad luck.

The boat will soon sail away to Troy, N.Y.

Pledger says she only intended to go as high as $250,000 for the boat.

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