Boat Towed After Hitting Watch Hill Reef

On the afternoon of July 3, a 47-foot Alden picnic boat struck Watch Hill Reef off Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and began taking on water. The vessel grounded near the reef at approximately 1 p.m., and the situation quickly escalated into a full rescue and salvage response.

Don Rich, president of TowBoatU.S. in Mystic, Connecticut, explained how the call for help reached his crew. “We overheard via a third-party conversation that the boat was in distress,” he said. TowBoatU.S. dispatched two 27-foot vessels, and a Sea Tow boat also responded. Crews arrived on scene around 1:30 p.m. and immediately began dewatering efforts, but two water pumps could not keep up with the rapid ingress of water.

The couple aboard the vessel was removed from the boat and transported by a Sea Tow vessel to Dodson Boatyard in Stonington, where an ambulance was waiting to evaluate them. There were no additional details provided about injuries.

Damage and Environmental Concerns

Rich described extensive mechanical and hull damage. The boat suffered a broken propeller along with damaged struts and rudders. The hull was reported to be completely penetrated on the port side, and running gear on the starboard side was also damaged. The vessel was carrying roughly 500 gallons of fuel, which added environmental and operational complexity to the salvage.

Given the seriousness of the hull breach and the amount of fuel onboard, TowBoatU.S. personnel took care to minimize further damage and potential pollution while conducting the salvage. The priority was to secure the vessel and transport the passengers to safety.

Salvage Operation and Timeline

To prevent the boat from sinking entirely, crews towed it onto a nearby sandy patch and deliberately grounded it to stabilize the situation. “We towed it onto a sandy area not far from the reef and grounded it,” Rich said. Once secured in shallow water, the vessel had to wait for a heavy crane to arrive to lift and move it for repairs.

Because the accident occurred on a holiday weekend, getting a crane was challenging. TowBoatU.S. reported waiting more than three hours before a crane could be dispatched to the scene. When the crane finally arrived, the damaged boat was lifted and transported to Dodson Boatyard in Stonington, where a multi-step repair process began.

The entire rescue and salvage effort lasted about seven hours from the initial response to the vessel’s placement at the boatyard. “They’re trying to preserve what can be preserved,” Rich said, noting that this region has long been a tricky area for vessels of many sizes.

Local Hazards and Safety Advice

Watch Hill and its approaches are known for reefs, shifting currents and narrow channels, which can become particularly hazardous in limited visibility or crowded conditions. Rich emphasized the need for caution in that corridor. “I tell people to always proceed with caution in that area,” he said.

TowBoatU.S. crews noted this was not the first time they had responded to incidents around Watch Hill; they have previously recovered much larger vessels, including 60-foot boats that ran aground in the same vicinity.

This incident underscores the importance of careful navigation, up-to-date charts, and readiness to call for professional assistance when a vessel gets into trouble near reefs and shoals. Quick response by local towing services and boatyards can limit damage and reduce environmental risks when an accident occurs.

— Elizabeth Ellis

This article originally appeared in the New England Home Waters section of the September 2009 issue.