Runabout rescued in Paddy's Channel

A four-metre runabout was rescued in Paddy's Channel on Wednesday, March 30, with the assistance of the marine radio base at Point Clare.

The radio base received a call at around 2:30pm from two men in the runabout after their recently-serviced outboard motor had failed.

The duty boat crew of Ian Brown and Norm Smith were called out in Brisbane Water Lifeboat.

They quickly located the vessel and it was towed to its berth in Correa Bay.

Around 4:30pm the boat crew was again called out to respond to a phone call from the owner onboard a houseboat at Bensville.

The boat is under renovation and has no engine.

It was reported as dragging its anchor and in danger of being damaged in an oyster lease.

In view of the vessel's size and the imminent arrival of strong southerly winds, the boat crew used the unit's bigger rescue vessel, Central Coast Lifeboat.

The houseboat was towed back into deeper water and assisted to anchor securely.

The boat crew arrived back at the Point Clare base after 6pm after a busy afternoon.

Media Release, 31 Mar 2011 Ron Cole, Marine Rescue Central Coast