Skipper of Boston Whaler ends up on the rocks on south end of Lopez Jun 24 2011, 12:36 PM
- 73570sanjuanboat-grounded-on-Lopez-4web.jpg (15.98 KiB) Viewed 2235 times
The skipper of a 22-foot Boston Whaler, who is suspected of boating under the influence, was uninjured after piloting the boat onto the rocks at the south end of Lopez Island in the early morning hours of Friday.
According to state Department of Ecology, which responded to the scene of the grounded boat along with a U.S. Coast Guard crew and members of the local Islands Oil Spill Association, the boat high-centered on the rocks shortly after midnight without a spill occurring from its fuel tank.
Alcohol is suspected to have played a role in the grounding, according to Ecology.
The boat's fuel tank is believed to contain as much as 60 gallons of gasoline and spill responders are on scene to assess damage to the vessel and to determine a plan to remove the boat from the rocks while preventing a spill.
— Scott Rasmussen
