Nor'easter Causes Problems For 2 Boats, Headache For Harbormaster

Usually by this time of year, Harbormaster Jim Cullen's job is done for the season. But with Hurricane Sandy last week and this week's nor'easter, Cullen has had his hands full. Worse still, his own boat sunk overnight Wednesday.

On Wednesday, a sailboat moored near the boat ramp at Goddard Park came loose in the storm and ran aground in the mud flats off Scalloptown Park. 

Cullen notified the boat's owner and they were able to free the boat. He said it wasn't clear if the boat damaged any other boats. 

Then, Thursday morning, someone noticed that Cullen's boat, which was tied up at the town dock, was largely submerged. 

"Someone called the [police] station and they called me," Cullen said. "I don't really know what happened," he said about what caused his boat to sink. "I can't figure it out." 

Cullen had the boat towed up onto land by the dock and figures it suffered at least electrical damage. He's been using his personal boat because the town boat was out of the water by Nov. 1 this year. 

"Of course, I've always on call for emergencies," he said. "And we've had a couple the last two days."