Disaster in New Buffalo!

kpetry

Member
Jul 19, 2008
362
Live in Ellettsville, IN - close to Bloomington
Boat Info
2002 Sea Ray 340DA
Engines
Twin 8.1 Horizons, inboard
These photos will just make you sick. This disaster unfolded last week outside New Buffalo, MI. The information that I have is that this fairly new 52' Sea Ray Sundancer was leaving New Buffalo last week in 5-7 ft seas. It somehow became disabled just outside the breakwater. I know what I was told was the cause by an individual on the scene, but I am not going to speculate at this point. The captain was unable to control the boat, and it was blown back onto the rocks of the breakwater. Sea Tow was unable to pull it free in the high seas. Ultimately a large crane was brought in on a barge several days later, the boat was lifted onto the barge, and transported to Michigan City, IN. Somehow, as the damaged boat was lifted out of the water by the Travel Lift, THE ENTIRE ENGINE ROOM, including both diesel engines, the transmissions, the shafts and props, the generator, batteries, EVERYTHING, ripped out of the bottom of this $1 million+ boat and fell back into the lift well!!! Thankfully there were no injuries that I know of, but an unmitigated disaster nonetheless!
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I read a post that stated the shore power cords were trailing behind the boat and eventually fouled both props rendering it dead in the water.

It was then caught on a break wall causing it to partially submerge.
 
I read a post that stated the shore power cords were trailing behind the boat and eventually fouled both props rendering it dead in the water.

It was then caught on a break wall causing it to partially submerge.
That is correct, the operator left the cords on the swim platform. Lesson here, always secure the deck. Unfortunately it is the son of the owner that was operating the vessel, and he jumped in the water to try to save the boat, getting his leg crushed.
 
I watched this all unfold as I was cleaning my boat in it's slip in Michigan city at B&E where they hauled this boat out. I've never heard anything like when the engine room broke free... It sounded like a bomb went off. It was really tough to watch the process of the salvage, you just felt awful for the owner. On the positive side, no lives were lost, but a reminder to all of us that something so simple can turn into something catastrophic in an instant.
 
It was on YachtWorld but it appears all the listings have been pulled.

 
Unsure on extent of injuries, but can you imagine getting between a 60' Sea Ray and a break wall in heavy surf?
 
LOCAL REPORTS SAY: Tried to jump off boat onto the rocks, fell between boat and rocks. As for the injuries it was a compound femur near serious arteries. Transported from the breakwall via dinghy taken to MC hospital and airlifted out. Have not heard any updates.

MM
 
What a nightmare! Oddly - I remember our yacht broker leaving the shore power cables laying on our swim platform when we took the boat out for a sea trial in Lake Washington. I pointed it out and he said they would be fine. We've always stowed our shore power cables at any time when under way. It's shocking to realize how much of an error it could be to leave them (or any lines) out and not secured.

I hope the owner's son will recover. That sounds like a nasty injury. I can't imagine what he was thinking jumping off of the boat unless he was just trying to escape a sinking ship? Just an awful story all the way around. Does insurance cover the vessel in a case like this?
 
I can't help but wonder when I see boats that are listed for sale become a "total loss". A 27 footer with rumors of bad surveys and a For Sale sign sunk in our marina last week. Fraud rumors began to circulate immediately.

I used to frequent another board that had an active member with a 57 motoryacht. Smack in the middle of the financial crisis, the boat "went down" in calm weather in very deep water with only the owner and his adult son aboard. I bet that ins co had a lot of questions about that one.

When a severe injury (or even the risk of it) is involved however, fraud doesn't seem nearly as likely.
 

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