Photos show busted yacht destroyed on Burnett Heads’ rocks

A 12m metre yacht was smashed to pieces on the rocks of Burnett Heads after a propeller jammed as it entered the river mouth and caused it to lose power and control. SEE THE PHOTOS

Claytons Towing were called in to Burnett Heads on Sunday, October 27, to a 40 foot yacht that lost power due to a prop jam coming into river mouth.

A 12m metre yacht was smashed to pieces on the rocks of Burnett Heads late last week after a propeller jammed as it entered the river mouth and caused it to lose power and control.

It is not believed anybody was injured as an attempt to anchor the vessel failed and high winds pushed it into the rocks where it stayed and got chewed up until Clayton’s Towing was commissioned to clean the wreckage up on Friday, October 25.

Claytons Towing were contracted by the insurer to clean up the remains as the boat's side had been torn out by the rocks.

By the time Clayton’s were on the scene, the yacht had significant damage to its sides, and a major clean-up operation was needed.

The crew was in a race against rising tides to clear the wreckage.

Mike Clayton explained that each job posed its own set of challenges, but with this one in particular, “they only had one go at it” before the tide would have swept small pieces of the vessel out to sea.

The 12m yacht that lost power due to a prop jam coming into river mouth.

Environmental concerns limited the team from being able to build a sand road to the site, adding to the complexity of the recovery.

One of the biggest challenges was operating the excavator over the slippery rocky surface without compromising the environmental integrity of the area.

There was a high risk of the excavator getting caught in between rocks itself and becoming submerged with rising tides.

To ensure that the site was returned to its pristine condition, the team made sure they collected tiny pieces of the boat stuck between the rocks in a race against the tide.

Clayton’s Towing had a tricky salvage operation on the slippery rocks.

The Sunshine Coast-based Clayton’s Towing operates all over Queensland and has been operating for 55 years.

The company has grown to a staff of 200, who all handle specialist towings and vehicle recoveries around the state.

Mr Clayton posted after the clean-up: “40 foot yacht lost power due to a prop jam coming into river mouth at Burnett Heads. Losing control with the high winds they tried dropping anchor but it didn’t hold and ended up on the rocks.

An aerial view of the 12m yacht on the rocks.

“Clayton’s were contracted by insurer to clean up the remains as the boat’s side had been torn out by the rocks.

“Was a challenge to access it due to all the rocks, and there was a lot of hand work picking up the smaller remains in between the slippery rocks.

“In the end it was a successful clean-up with a special thanks to Bilby Skips Bins.”

He also posted to social media: “Was a tough one; lots of rocks to try to get machine over, did hydraulic line in middle of it to add to the fun.

“(Nicky) has come home bit battered and bruised as she had some big falls on the rocks as they were slippery as.

“We only just got the job done in time fighting the tide, well done Aaron and Nicky, and Ben who filmed it and also had the biggest fall of the day onto a rock.

Mike Clayton: “Was a tough one; lots of rocks to try to get machine over, did hydraulic line in middle of it to add to the fun. “(Nicky) has come home bit battered and bruised as she had some big falls on the rocks as they were slippery as.”

“Was a lot of hard work as tonnes of timber, ropes and crap was down in between and under big rocks. Thanks Ben for seeing we were struggling at one point and put the camera down and got in and helped. Area is all clean and back to how it was. Another fun adventure.”