The Waste Knot sank to the bottom about 11 miles out of Oregon Inlet. Thanks to its airing on the show Wicked Tuna, the boat’s sinking became instantly famous. While companion boats rushed to rescue the captain and crew (thankfully, all aboard were evacuated safely), the boat itself was thought to be a total loss.
Several days later, the vessel washed ashore in the Outer Banks. The hull was intact, but the bridge was knocked off. The vessel sank as a result of hitting something at speed. The collision rammed the boat’s rudders through the hull, creating two large holes. Upon washing up on the beach, the hull was removed using heavy equipment.
Carolina custom boat builder Ritchie Howell purchased the hull with plans to resurrect the vessel into a charter boat. The Waste Knot currently sits at Howell’s facility in Wanchese, North Carolina. He plans to begin the boat’s rebirth in the fall of 2016. When the boat is reborn– considering Ritchie Howell’s standard of quality it should be something to see– it will fish out of North Carolina. Here are some photos of the vessel in its current form.
Thankfully all aboard were able to depart the vessel without injury. The photos serve as a reminder as to how fast things can go wrong, even for the best, most attentive of crews. Stay tuned to InTheBite.com for photos and updates as the project develops.
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- The hull, sitting on the hard in Wanchese, NC.
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- The bare bones of the hull.
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- The interior spaces.
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- Sand from the hull’s time on the beach…
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- The rudders that rammed through the hull.
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- Where the bridge once stood. Where another soon will stand.
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- Damage from the rudders and propeller.
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- Through hull daylight from the rudder damage.
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- The Waste Knot.
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