Boat almost sinks in the Merrimack River Sunday 10/16/11

[Bottom-Dweller]

Came across this while taking a walk with the family on Plum Island late yesterday afternoon. Apparently the boat lost power and drifted into the North Jetty at the mouth of the Merrimack River. I was told by a woman on the beach that the occupants abandoned ship by jumping onto the jetty after striking the rocks. The tow boats were able to tow the boat to the opposite side (Plum Island side) where they were able to pump much of the water out. I don’t know how successful they were because we left after about 2 hours of watching, it was getting late. I did see a fair amount of damage on the port side transom below the waterline…. Not sure how they were going to fill that hole to keep her floating without the pumps. If my memory is correct the name of the vessel is “Samantha Mae” out of Newburyport, it looked to be about a 30’ to 32’ Luhrs Sportfish. Hopefully everyone on board was uninjured!

[scbaseth]

Samantha Mae is a beautiful boat, and Mark, the owner, is a good skipper. It was his last trip before being hauled out for the year. Terribly unfortunate end to the season. I was told there were 6 people on the boat, 4 jumped on to the jetty and 2 were picked up out of the water in the mouth. I don't believe anyone suffered any serious injury, but I got that info second hand so I am not 100% sure. Usually in those circumstances towboat will make a sling with the lift bags to keep the boat upright and tow it to the lift where it can be hauled out for repairs.

[amarshall]

More pictures.

http://www.newburyportnews.com/local...nks-near-jetty

The 130s stayed in the rod holders even after it sunk.

[Bottom-Dweller]

Guess I was way off on the size of the boat, at least everyone was ok.

Two of the four tuna rods were snapped in half, I was wondering how they broke, I didn’t know the Samantha Mae totally sank. The whole tower even seemed to be bent to the left a bit, she must have rolled on her side when it went underwater.

I can tell you the guys pumping out the boat were working their butts off, not an easy job, we left at 5:45pm and they were still at it..

[scbaseth]

The towboat guys in Newburyport are amazing. During hurricane Irene early this fall Mike Goodridge and his crew saved the harbor from tons and tons of damage. In about an hour period I watched them catch 3 or 4 sailboats that were drifting freely and place them on stronger moorings upriver. One of which was at least a 40 footer and was drifting upriver with an incoming tide and an easterly wind right towards the first one of the biggest marina's (rings island marina) on the salisbury side. There were about a dozen boats still on the docks at that marina. If that sailboat were to knock side to into the dock and break anything free it would have been a domino of catastrophe through the river. They were able to grab it just before it hit the dock and bring it to safety. Extremely talented group of guys.