Recovering property

[Kawasaki90]

So my father had/has a boat, one of his friends allowed him to leave the boat on a trailer on his property, in the meantime the friend unfortunately passed away and his family sold the house.

My father went to collect his boat and A) found somebody else living there, B) about his friend C) that the new owner of the boat has claimed the boat is his.

We have proof of purchase of the boat, value is around £10-15k, is this worth involving solicitors or this there a some sort of law on the new owners side?

[hidetheelephants]

How long ago did the deceased die and would it not have been prudent to speak to the executors promptly? The boat is still his as far as I can see, but there may be some negotiation needed.

[blueg33]

Tricky. Was there a written agreement?

Broadly, items left at a property after completion belong to the new owner.