NATCHEZ &045; How would you feel if your 24-foot Skeeter fishing boat, complete with a 250-horsepower engine, was stolen and left for dead on a street in post-Katrina New Orleans?

After reading the note written on the side of the boat, Ward Howard felt pretty good about it.

&8221;This boat rescued over 400 people &045; thank you!&8220; it read and included Kenny Bellau’s name and phone number.

&8221;I couldn’t be more thrilled,&8220; Howard said.

He had bought the boat with two friends for use at their hunting and fishing club. They moved it to the basement garage of Dr. Terry Haybig’s Napoleon Avenue office for safekeeping during Hurricane Katrina.

So much for the best-laid plans.

&8221;We have the feeling like it was in the right place in the right time,&8220; Howard said.

Skeeter and Yamaha, the outboard maker, were ecstatic to hear their equipment had lasted weeks in an environment where most boats conked out after a day or two.

Howard discovered the boat on Napoleon Avenue on one of his trips back to New Orleans.

By the time the last of the owning trio got to town, the boat had been cleared from the now-dry street, either by a cleaning crew or a looter with a trailer.

It doesn’t matter to Howard and his co-owners, they’re just glad to have helped, even if indirectly.

&8221;In light of all the suffering and all the devastation, we had a boat that made a contribution.&8220;

Several parties, including Skeeter and the Louisiana State Museum, are interested in having it for display purposes.