PORT ANGELES — A man in an inflatable kayak paddled out to Montana Gasper’s boat and retrieved several items on Wednesday, but couldn’t do anything to stop the vessel from sinking.
Steven Burnham of Port Angeles answered Gasper’s call for help with the 36-foot Montana Drifter, which was washed onto into the rocks near the Rayonier property at the end of Ennis Street in a Dec. 14 storm.
Gaspar removed the boat, but damage allowed it to take on water.
By Wednesday, only a portion of the cabin remained above water.
“I didn’t have a boat, but I have a wet suit, so I thought I’d see if I could help unstick the anchor and get some of the stuff he needed from the boat,” Burnham said.
Although the 300-pound anchor was too heavy to move, Burnham said he hopes to return with his brother and a boat to adjust the anchor soon.
“That will have to be fixed, regardless of if it sinks all the way, because they’ll have to do that to remove it either way,” Burnham said.
Coast Guard Group/Air Station Port Angeles Chief Robert Wolff said that it is Gasper’s responsibility to remove the vessel, whether it is above or below the water.
Gasper told the Coast Guard that the boat has about five gallons of fuel on board.
“That is what we would call a minimal risk of pollution,” Wolff said.
Other boats
The Montana Drifter was one of three boats that were grounded on the shores of the Port Angeles Harbor after high wind from the north swept over the North Olympic Peninsula.
The Esther Marie was removed from Hollywood Beach by its owner, Doug Zimmerman, with the help of another boat owner, and is now anchored in the harbor.
Zimmerman said he is trying to decide if he wants to sell the boat.
The other boat, a former commercial vessel, belongs to David Reese of Port Angeles, who inherited it from his son, Tad, after he died of cancer in May 2007.
Reese said that the tide was high enough on Sunday to allow him to remove the vessel from the shore near Oak Street.
“No one came out to help. I got it out of there myself, and she is anchored out there,” he said.
He said he and his family will moor it at the Port Angeles Boat Haven if they can raise the funds.
He said he hoped he could do something to help Gasper.
“I’ll do whatever is in my power to help him out,” Reese said.
Got his clothes
Waves lapped over the nearly submerged deck as Burnham climbed aboard to find equipment and clothing Gasper had left there.
“I got him his clothes, and I’ll wash them and dry them and make sure he gets them back,” he said.
He also retrieved a radio and some fishing gear for Gasper, who had lived on the boat for several months.
Gasper said he is certain that the boat will sink completely soon.
“I haven’t had anyone who can help me get her pumped out,” Gasper said.
But Burnham said that it might not sink all the way into the water.
“The gas tanks are full of air, so that is keeping it afloat,” he said.
“I don’t think it will sink much more.”
Gasper said he would continue asking for help to get his home afloat.
He is staying at the All View Motel 360-457-7779 ext. 16.
__________
Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
