To the editor:
Last Thursday, my wife and I were bringing our power boat from its winter quarters in Buzzards Bay back to its mooring in Marblehead. We had some mechanical issues along the way and noticed increasingly slow performance despite apparently healthy engines. The boat seemed stern-heavy, but knowing the hull had never leaked, we thought something must be wrong with the jet drive system. When we reached our mooring at 6 p.m., it was quite clear we had a major issue when we opened up access ports under the stern seat and saw a great deal of water swirling around. Totally unexpected, to say the least. Were we sinking? This was an emergency.
We immediately called the harbormaster on Channel 16 for help. It was dinnertime; would they respond? They did, and we asked them to bring a powerful pump. We knew that our boat’s bilge pumps could not possibly handle the quantity of water in our bilge, and that if water was continuing to come into the boat, we could easily sink. They said they would come right away.
Mild panic. We looked at one another and wondered whether to call BoatUS as a stop-gap. Our effort to reach them by phone was unsuccessful. But only a few minutes passed before we saw the harbormaster boat approaching. They tied up alongside, and within only a couple of minutes they passed us the end of the large hose. Into the bilge it went, and they started the pump. Water began to be gulped out at a great rate. How many gallons they removed is only a guess, but maybe 200, maybe more.
Without their quick response and professional assistance, our boat might have gone to the bottom. Instead, when almost all of the water had been pumped out, we were soon able to determine that there was no water intrusion while the boat was at rest, that the source of all that water had to do with running the engines while underway. Maybe we were safe for the night.
As true professionals, Rick and Tyler offered to go back to their base and return with a portable bilge pump and battery to leave with us overnight, just in case. Once that second trip of theirs was over and we had a back-up pump, we thanked them heartily for their great work, quick response and patience. They left us safe and almost dry. Without their capable help, we might have lost our boat. And so, a grateful salute to Rick and Tyler!
The following day, the harbormaster boat came by, this time with two others aboard, and asked if we were any longer in danger. No, was the answer, and we smiled and thanked them once again.
The following day we traced the issue to a saltwater leak while running at speed, a problem which we will soon address.
Our busy harbor has true friends, and lifesavers, in the harbormaster team. Thank you, all!
Ridge White
Washington Street
