Fishing for boats
Contractor pulls wreckage, other junk to surface in Mt. Pleasant effort to improve premier waterway
By Prentiss Findlay
MOUNT PLEASANT — A crane groaned as it pulled against a dredging bucket full of mud, water and trash hauled out of Shem Creek on Wednesday as part of the town's spring cleaning.
An encrusted deck chair and a tire were first to emerge from the muck. A motorboat could be seen sunken under the town docks, its bow sticking out of the water.
The Post and Courier
A crane on a barge removes the mast from a sunken 30-foot sailboat Wednesday near the mouth of Shem Creek next to the Bailey Docks.
The biggest trash, three 30-foot sailboats, was hidden at the bottom of the creek. Workers dragged a grappling hook and poked with long poles on the creek bed to make contact with the boats. The giant bucket with jaws open was dropped where the boats were thought to be. After several false starts, a mast, rigging and the tattered remains of a sail appeared at the surface snagged in the bucket's clamped teeth.
It was the beginning of a long afternoon for Cape Romain Contractors, who continued to haul out pieces of boat and other junk from waters next to the Bailey Docks, a key feature of the town's planned 43-acre park on Shem Creek.
The town has decided against trying to track down whoever abandoned the sailboats and the motorboat but is making a concerted effort to contact the owners of eight boats anchored near the mouth of the creek.
Officials worry that the boats, officially tagged as "unattended watercraft," pose a navigation hazard and environmental threat to the protected bird rookery at nearby Crab Bank.
If the boats break apart, fuel, batteries and sewage could end up in the water. "This is bad," said Curtis Joyner, state coastal projects manager. He surveyed the scene at the mouth of the creek from a police boat with Marine Patrol Officer Jay Tronco, Town Councilman Gary Santos and town Stormwater Manager Hillary Repik. Tronco said he worried that during a hurricane the boats could become missiles that slam into houses. He pointed to a houseboat in such disrepair that a rear cleat poked at an angle through the deck. The boat was anchored by a line tied to a front cleat. "If the front cleat is anywhere close to the condition of the back cleat, how long do you think that boat is going to be there?" Tronco said.
Another houseboat listed to one side. A sportfisher has been sitting for eight months near the mouth of the creek because the owner says he can't afford to repair it, Tronco said. Nearby, a 2,500 square-foot pile of "mystery junk" protruded just above the water. "That's dangerous, man," Santos said.
Previous stories
Boat recovery ongoing, published 05/27/09
Mount P. targets abandoned boats, published 11/03/08
Cape Romain Contractors was scheduled to clean up the junk pile after hauling the sunken boats out of the creek. The boats and debris will be taken to the Bees Ferry landfill.
Recently, Town Council approved fines for owners of abandoned boats ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The punishment for an abandoned boat offense could include 30 days in jail.
With associated court costs, the fines could range from a minimum of about $2,000 to a maximum of about $10,000, officials said.
Santos said more action is needed to clean up the creek. Pollutants in stormwater run-off are a problem. The town is implementing a new stormwater management program aimed at educating homeowners and businesses about how their practices affect water quality in creeks, marshes and the harbor.
Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com
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Comments
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
Seems the Santos mayoral campaign is in full swing...
May 28, 2009 at 6:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
There are thousands of older boats owned by folks that can barely afford to keep them and in this declining economy and the disappearance of affordable slips we will be seeing more abandoned boats. The developers have latched onto one of the last profitable niches - water front property and boat slip availability has suffers as a result. I am glad that I was able to sell my big boat (at a big loss) and did not have to resort to abandonment or perhaps sinking it in some deep watery grave.
May 28, 2009 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Houseboats (anonymous) says...
My wife and I live on a houseboat, and it's a real shame to see abandoned houseboats, or any boat really for that matter. I guess it is just a sign of the economic times.
On our houseboat website, we answer plenty of questions from folks relating to abandoned, salvage, discarded, and left to die style house boats.
Thanks for a great article, and I just wanted to share my thoughts.
IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com
May 28, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Boats for most people are a luxury. By their nature, they are a money pit to maintain. It's irresponsible ownership to let a boat get rundown to the point that abandonment is the best financial option similar to failing to take care of a pet. My kneejerk reaction is to call for the jail time for those who abandon their boats. A better option may be to ue a combination of fines and get some work out of them cleaning up the waterways on weekends until all costs are recouped.
May 28, 2009 at 11:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
I think you should keep in mind that boat abandonment is a time honored tradition and has been going on for centuries - take a look just upstream of the York Town at the hulk resting on the bank - it has been there for as long as I have been hear and more - it is made of concrete, and will not decay and disappear any time soon, just as the current crop of fiberglass boats. I think old boats abandoned on a river/creek bank adds a little charactor.
May 28, 2009 at 12:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
st33lz (anonymous) says...
If you have to abandon a boat because you can't afford it (the repairs, gasoline, etc) then you have no business buying a boat in the first place. Like another poster pointed it, it's a luxery item.
I seem so many people buying boats when they live in apartment complexes or whatnot. People, it's a horrible investment. Put that money towards a down payment on a house.
It's just as irresponsible as buying a Cadillac Escalade when your renting or living in a trailor park.
May 28, 2009 at 4:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCGirl0901 (anonymous) says...
st33.. I would be willing to bet that most people don't go into the purchase of a boat with the knowledge that it's going to end up in disrepair or be something they simply can't afford. Times change.. Our boat sat quite a bit last summer when gas was at the edge of 4.00 a gallon. But we still maintained it.
But we have enjoyed many days recently on the harbor and in the ocean on our little bit luxury.. :)
Lighten up sheesh...
May 29, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OldVillager22 (anonymous) says...
mb300sl,
I guess if you call writing a good piece of legislation a campaign for mayor..then by all means
May 31, 2009 at 9:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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