BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- A Cocoa mother is pleading for the safe return of her three-year-old son who is believed to have been abducted by his father and taken sailing in the gulf.

The U.S. Coast Guard, the Immigration Department and the FBI are conducting the search for 35-year-old Paul Martikainen.

They know he doesn't have any experience with sails, there is a motor on board. Police are hoping someone at a marina will recognize the boy and call police.

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PRESS CONFERENCE: Mom's Emotional Plea

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Clutching his favorite plush owl, Christa Finch pleaded at a press conference Monday (watch video) with anyone who would listen to help her find her three-year-old son, Luke Finch.

"This is his little 'uh-oh' and I know he missed his ‘uh-oh’ because he doesn't go to sleep without him," she said. "If you can just please help me to find my Luke and bring him home."

The boy was taken by his biological father, Paul Martikainen, an immigrant from Finland during a supervised visit at Riverfront Park in Cocoa Village Saturday. Police say Martikainen eluded the person supervising the visit and fled.

Boaters at a marina in St. Petersburg spotted him getting on a sailboat that was recently painted battleship gray, possibly to help camouflage the vessel while on the run.

Martikainen told one man he was headed toward Arkansas, but investigators say he could be headed anywhere.

"He has no experience on the water whatsoever," Christa stated.

Christa Finch said there was little contact between her ex-husband and their child until earlier this year when visitations started.

Martinkanen was arrested after one hand-off in February, when he was accused of shoving his former mother-in-law. Since then, they have had to court order supervision.

Police wouldn't discuss how Martikainen slipped away from the supervised visit with the child. The family said Monday they just wanted to focus on getting the three-year old back.

"He's never been on a boat on the water and I'm sure that Luke is very scared," she said.

Investigators are asking people to look closely at the child's face because they believe its possible Martikainen could have cut his blond hair or dyed it to try to conceal the boy's identity.

"Please bring Luke home. I know he misses his mommy," she said.

Also, Eyewitness News learned that Martikainen has a number of aliases such as Kristian Turunen, and even served time in federal prison in Alabama for dealing Ecstasy.