With Community's Help, Sunken Fishing Boat Plucked From Lacey Lagoon

A sunken, 45-foot fishing boat that has caused headaches to residents off Montauk Drive in Forked River for much of the past year is now out of the way – thanks to some help from the local community.

The Orient Star II, once a party boat, sunk behind a lagoon home near the start of Montauk Drive earlier this year and has sat there ever since, prompting concerns from neighboring residents and worries that it could impede navigation in the lagoon.

Mayor Dave Most said he reached out to state officials for help in getting the boat removed, but they told him it would be Lacey's problem. The owner of the boat, an elderly man, was financially unable to remove it, and Most said he did not want to spend taxpayer funds to lift it out of the water, so he asked around to see if anyone in town would lend a hand.

"I couldn't spend taxpayer money because we couldn't get into the business of getting people's boats out of the water," said Most.

Fortunately, several local businesses responded and, last Friday, the boat was raised from the deep – well, at least the depth of the lagoon – and transported to Latitudes Marina where it will stay temporarily.

Most said township resident Tye Borel, of Borel Docks Marine Construction, stepped up and volunteered the equipment needed to refloat the boat from the bottom, and members of the Lacey Township Underwater Rescue and Recovery Team – of which Most is a member – volunteered their time to rig the boat up from the bottom.

"It was an impressive display of team work and I would like to thank all the players," said Most.

The divers included Dave Puntasecca, Mike Cahill, Eric Burke, Dan Rooney and Rachel Lovering, Most said. Some township employees also volunteered their time, including Jerry Defabio, Jim Wiesenburger and Dennis Riely from Public Works and Jimmy Doren from the MUA.

Exelon, the owner of the Oyster Creek Generating Station, supplied the rigging that was required.

It took much of the day, but eventually the old fishing boat was safely removed, Most said.

Lattitudes Marina owners John Cavalier and Steve Burton lifted the vessel out of the water at no cost to the township, and donated use of their property for dry storage, Most said.

Even the Conca D'oro restaurant got into the mix, providing lunch.

"As mayor I am proud of this teams accomplishment," said Most.