Texas Man Steals Rental Boat, Sails to Cuba

A Texas man is facing federal charges after he allegedly stole a rental boat from Key West and sailed it to Cuba. Floyd Dean Devasier, 63, rented a 26.5-foot Panga boat from Beach Weekend Key West Marina, passed all standard checks, and then vanished with the vessel.

Marina owner James Nabors said Devasier’s request for extra fuel seemed suspicious in hindsight, though at the time he claimed he was planning to fish. The boat’s GPS tracker stopped transmitting 30 miles south of Key West, and boaters later spotted it heading toward Cuba without fishing equipment on board.

The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search after learning a child was listed on the rental manifest. It was later confirmed the child was never on board and remained safe in Texas. Devasier was taken into custody in Cuba and later flown back to Miami, where he was arrested. The boat remains missing.

Court records show Devasier has a criminal history, including a 2019 incident involving another rental boat that also ended up in Cuba. He is currently jailed in Miami-Dade on $150,000 bond.