GL: Sunken Yacht in the ICW near Belhaven, NC

[Jeff Borck]

We have been on the water since May, and are having the trip of a lifetime.
   
  As novices who had never traveled beyond Lake Michigan, despite our best intentions, we have done some damage to the prop on our 36 foot Carver Aft over the last 3300 miles.  We had the boat pulled at River Forest Marina in Belhaven, North Carolina last week.  We had a few starts and stops but found the marina folks to be accommodating and very flexible.  They also have a great prop repair man.  They had no objections to do it yourself captains and the prices were extremely reasonable.
   
  In the shipyard we took pictures of  a 50+ foot Fairlane Motor Yacht.  It had sunk a few days earlier.  Two captains had been taking the boat south on the ICW and by the time they realized that the Green Marker #15 (just off Dowry Creek) on their chart was missing, they realized they had struck it.  Rumor has it a tugboat had hit the marker the night before and submerged it.  The motor yacht was going about 22 knots per hour, hit the submerged marker, punctured the hull, forced the engine through the cabin floor, and sunk the boat in about a minute.  Fortunately no one was hurt.
   
  We are rethinking the whole ditch bag concept and are going to have a fully equipped one within easy reach for the rest of the trip.
   
  I have posted pictures of the boat on our website (under the heading "Gone in 60 Seconds") if anyone wants to see what a million dollar boat salon looks like once the engine has popped through. 
   
  Jeff Borck
  Oriental, North Carolina
  www.aftertuition.com