Beach Drive boat trouble: Small boat moved; debris cleanup ahead

The smaller of two boats that got into trouble along the Beach Drive shore and ended up just south of the Harbor West Condos was moved to the beach on the building’s north side this afternoon. As night fell, its owner had his van and a trailer down on the Harbor West ramp and was in what sounded like an extensive discussion with someone about whether he would be able to get the boat onto the trailer tonight – the tide was all the way out at sundown. We’ll check back later. Meantime, residents say the state Department of Ecology is expected tomorrow to clean up the major debris from what remains of the trimaran Nunga Nunga Nue, which the man was trying to tow with the smaller boat after reportedly getting it for free as a fixer-upper. Back on Wednesday, Beach Drive Blog found the boats and owner (who told them it was “not an emergency”) off Emma Schmitz Viewpoint; Thursday, we learned the problem had moved about half a mile north to the water by Harbor West, with the boats alternating between grounded and mostly submerged over the ensuing days.

Compounding all this to some degree is a sewage problem beneath Harbor West (BDB photographed a warning sign posted on the north side Monday), though we are told this predates the boat situation – we’ll be checking with authorities when government offices reopen tomorrow.

18 Replies to "Beach Drive boat trouble: Small boat moved; debris cleanup ahead"

  • Adam February 18, 2013 (8:10 pm)

    Herps gotta derp.

  • Eaglelover February 18, 2013 (8:20 pm)

    How did the smaller boat sink? there’s more to the story.

  • ryamkajr February 18, 2013 (8:59 pm)

    It is not uncommon depending on the drag of the larger vessel for the boat pulling it to become partially submerged. SMaller power boat was probably too small and underpowered and swamped itself trying to pull the ganglier catamaran that was coming apart.

  • Bob H February 18, 2013 (9:29 pm)

    The smaller boat likely sank due to excessive strain, poor line setup and/or pre-existing issues, such as hull micro-fractures, with small boat exacerbated by the towing. A speed boat is of course a poor choice to be a tug and once the trimaran started taking on water it was too much for the small boat. What a shame, I really do feel for this guy.

  • ws_sz February 18, 2013 (10:26 pm)

    What an incredible expense this poor guy is going to end up paying for his “free” boat. Is this strictly a buyer beware situation? I’m hoping he has recourse against the seller for misrepresenting the boat.

  • bs February 18, 2013 (10:37 pm)

    I don’t believe the smaller boat sank, but was swamped by the incoming tide and swells as it sat on the beach.

  • kevin February 18, 2013 (10:49 pm)

    @ws_sz – sadly, it is most likely US, the taxpayers that foot the bill for the cleanup.
    .
    http://www.dnr.wa.gov/recreationeducation/topics/derelictvessels/pages/aqr_derelict_vessel_removal_program.aspx

  • DTK February 18, 2013 (11:01 pm)

    Chit Happens.

  • thugbee February 19, 2013 (5:58 am)

    “the sea is a cruel mistress” –anon.

  • wetone February 19, 2013 (9:11 am)

    Bayliner (small boat) sank do to the way he tied off to shoreline. Had line from shore to bow of bayliner, stern line from bayliner to bow of trimaran. Trimaran pulled lines tight moving around with waves which held stern of bayliner low in water and waves went over stern swamping it. Capt’n had no clue to what he was doing and told me the tides don’t get high enough to have any problems. I tried pointing out the tide marks on seawall. oh well

  • Gatewood Bluff February 19, 2013 (9:24 am)

    The owner should be totally responsible for the cost of the clean up. It’s an unfortunate situation, but the blame falls soley on him…ignorance isn’t always bliss.

  • Scupper February 19, 2013 (10:04 am)

    It appears that boat ramp belongs to the City of Seattle but is hand carry only. Unfortunately the skipper isn’t going to give up on retrieving his power boat and is looking for a way to get it to the Don Armeni ramp…

  • Scupper February 19, 2013 (10:43 am)

    The “Skipper” needs help – wants to know if anyone has a wench (4×4 vehicle bumper wench) that could pull his trailer and boat up the ramp so that he can hitch his van to the boat and be on his way.

    Time is of the essence – the tide is going out around 11:30.

    He is at Cormorant Cove (3701 Beach Drive) by Harbor West Condos.

  • bs February 19, 2013 (11:25 am)

    I’m headed down to see if I can help. Give me a call at 206-851-7172

    • WSB February 19, 2013 (11:35 am)

      Thanks, Bs. They were looking for a winch at last report. I will be mentioning that in our next story, being written now that I’ve talked to the state agencies about this…

  • Rhonda Porter February 19, 2013 (11:42 am)

    woops… I was typing for Scupper… I bet right now he’d prefer a “winch” over a “wench” :)

  • bs February 19, 2013 (12:16 pm)

    The small boat is now on a trailer and out of the water. It was an easy recovery by backing the trailer down the ramp and loading the boat.

  • JA February 19, 2013 (7:03 pm)

    Everyone is concerned about the boat debris and making sure the owner pays up… and yet nobody seems remotely concerned about the sewage leaking into Puget Sound from the condos. Double standard much?

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