Gillnetter topples off trailer at Letnikof Harbor
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John Svenson
Responders help upright the vessel on Sunday afternoon.
The F/V Kaemik, a commercial gillnetter owned by Dennis Gudmundson, toppled onto the boat-launch ramp last weekend after a loader lost engine power and freewheeled down the ramp. "The brakes gave way at the top of the ramp," Gudumndson said." The boat took off like a roller coaster full speed until it hit the dock, spun around and rolled on its side."
The trailer carrying the 30,0000-pound fishing vessel jackknifed after the out-of-control loader and trailer rolled down the ramp around 10 a.m. Sunday morning.
"Fortunately, no one was injured, which is a great blessing," Haines harbor master Sean Bell said. "A lot of community members went to the aid of the owner and helped him out pretty quick to get it upright and stable."
The harbor floats sustained minor damage to the bull rails, but otherwise there was no major damage, Bell said.
Haines Packing owner Harry Rietze helped upright the vessel, which sustained minor damage, after hearing it crash from his cannery.
"We were standing on our dock that morning at the plant and heard a big kaboom from across the bay and looked around the corner and saw a boat flipped over on its side," Rietze said. "I ran over and hopped in my loader and drove it over there and didn't know if someone was trapped."
Rietze's cannery crew brought blocks, straps and chains to help upright the boat. Brent Crowe and Larry Jurgeleit rigged lines in preparation for Rietze's excavator to turn it right-side up.
"They were very, very helpful," Rietze said. "They did a lot of the rigging. We had our loader and excavator. It was the only way to reach the other side of it and roll it back upright. It's a good- sized, heavy boat. It was crazy. I was just happy to get it up and be ready to go in the water now and not have the boat laying on its side."
Rietze said there was minor cosmetic damage and the engine started after the boat was upright.
"It ran good," Rietze said. "Lucky lucky."
The boat is currently on blocks pointing toward the water. The owner, Dennis Gudmundson, will attempt to relaunch the boat during a 15.9-foot high tide early Thursday morning. Another vessel will be prepared with a tow strap in case the tide isn't high enough to float the boat.
