Going, going, gone: A purported Cuban migrant boat fetches $749 on eBay, sold to the highest -- and only -- bidder.

By CARA BUCKLEY

KEY WEST - A wooden boat that apparently ferried Cuban rafters to North Key Largo's shores in February was auctioned off on eBay Monday for $749.

Sold to the highest and only bidder: ''Cuban Refugee Boat Authentic Unique Collectible Vessel,'' breezily listed as ``What a Conversation Piece!''

''I do have a bid, oh my God!'' said the boat's seller, Ana Baidet, upon learning of the buyer's interest. The winning bidder could not be reached for comment.

The tale of the abandoned boat began early February, when Baidet's friend, Vinny Dalena, said he awoke in his North Key Largo beachfront rental to see a forlorn wooden vessel ``bobbing around with a makeshift sail and mast.''

Dalena never saw any migrants, but said his neighbor's dog barked frantically late the night before.

Left aboard were binoculars, empty water jugs, handheld fishing reels, handmade oars, funnels for gas and a pile of sodden shoes and clothes, Dalena said. Water pooled in the boat's bottom, and emblazoned on the side were the words ReyMar, or ``Sea King.''

Dalena said a Coast Guard officer arrived, confiscated a machete and fishing spear, and estimated four migrants had been aboard. When Dalena asked what would become of the boat, he said the Guardsman replied it would probably be sunk for target practice.

'He said `I'm not going to tell you what to do, but if we come back and it's not here, we're not going to look for it,' '' Dalena said.

NO RECORDS

A Coast Guard spokesman confirmed Monday that there was a migrant landing near Card Sound Road in North Key Largo in early February, but had no records of an abandoned boat.

Baidet posted the boat on eBay three weeks ago. A former restaurant owner who runs ''Mommy and Me'' workouts in Key Largo, she began selling on eBay a year ago.

''I've sold unusual things on eBay but this is probably the strangest thing I've ever come across,'' Baidet said. Baidet's family came from Cuba in the 1960s when she was 11 months old, ''but we came on a cruise ship,'' she said.

Proceeds of the sale will go to the Key Largo Animal Shelter, Baidet said, where Dalena volunteers.

Baidet said the listing clocked thousands of hits, dozens of inquiries and media interest but no offers until Monday, the auction's final day.

UNIQUE ITEM

Baidet knew of no other Cuban migrant boat being sold on the digital auction site, though a raft listed as being the one youngster Elían Gonzalez arrived in fetched bids of $10 million in May 2000 before eBay pulled the item.

The next step is shipping the boat to its new home in Nashville, Tenn., Baidet said.

''We can't really ship it on the trailer, we'd get stopped in five minutes,'' she said.