Sunk!: Reason Becky Thatcher took on water not known

The (Parkersburg, WV) News and Sentinel ^ | February 22 | SAM SHAWVER

[PghBaldy]

NEVILLE ISLAND, Pa. - A piece of sternwheel and Marietta history was apparently lost this weekend as the showboat Becky Thatcher sank at its mooring on Neville Island in the Ohio River, just north of Pittsburgh, Pa.

"It's gone - not salvageable, a total loss. It's the end of the chapter for the Becky," owner Jeff Levin said Sunday.

Levin said the 83-year-old sternwheeler sank sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning, and the top two decks had collapsed onto the boat's main deck.

"We don't know what happened - a passing barge could have hit it," Levin said. "But we won't know if it was hit until we get the hull out of the water. If it looks like it was rammed the (U.S.) Coast Guard will investigate.

"But we may never know," he added. "It's pretty devastating - we never envisioned this."

[kalee]

That was my first thought. He is in a hurry to get her cut up for salvage. “I need to get a wrecking crew in there as soon as possible and cut the boat into scrap, then I’ll sell whatever I can to try and recoup some of the cost,” he said. “But it has to be demolished quickly.” Why the haste?

At the end of the article it says he only had liability insurance on her. He can only hope to recoup whatever he sells as scrap.
Very sad, we spent some pleasant evenings aboard her when she was a dinner theater.

[kalee]

No insurance, no buyers for her, no money to keep her fit, sounds like sink her and scrap her may have been his way to get rid of an albatross.
Sad, I spent many evenings aboard her dining and enjoying theater.

[Rebelbase]

“. The Becky Thatcher had been listed for sale on EBAY for about the last three years at a listing price of $299.000 with no takers.”

Seems like it would have been worth if for scrap.