PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Boat crews from Coast Guard Station Hatteras Inlet, N.C., rescued two boaters from an 18-foot pleasure craft that was taking on water from heavy weather two miles east of Hatteras Inlet today.
Watchstanders at the station got a cell phone call from one of the people aboard the boat stating that they were taking on water.
The water was calm when the boaters first went out, but it quickly changed from 1- to 2-foot chop to 5- to 6-foot waves. The boat’s engines were disabled by the water washing over them, and too much water was washing over the sides for the onboard dewatering pump to effectively remove it.
Coast Guard crews aboard a 25-foot response boat and a 47-foot motor life boat from Station Hatteras Inlet arrived on scene, took the two boaters aboard, and towed the boat to Teaches Lair marina, where they were able to dewater the vessel.
“You should always pay close attention to the weather forecast when boating,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Palisano, a coxswain at the station. “Weather conditions can deteriorate quickly when you’re out on the open water.”
