The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a Sept. 2 collision between a chartered schooner and a lobster boat near Tumbler Island.

The Lazy Jack, a 48-foot tourist boat, was struck in the stern shortly after 1 p.m. The schooner left Boothbay Harbor in southeasterly direction, according U.S. Coast operations unit controller Chris Berry. According Lazy Jack Captain Joe Tassi, the lobster boat Rebecca left Boothbay Harbor in a north-northeastly direction.

The Lazy Jack began tacking right when the operator spotted the lobster boat. 

The Lazy Jack is owned and operated by Tassi. The Lazy Jack was struck in its stern quarter resulting in the transom being torn off, according to Tassi. Prior to impact, Lazy Jack steered right to avoid greater exposure to its beam from the lobster boat’s bow, he said.

“I turned to run a parallel course and lessen my vessel’s beam to his bow. A direct hit would’ve likely injured our passengers and sunk the vessel,” Tassi said.

There were no reported injuries. The Lazy Jack had four passengers, an operator and one crew member.

The Coast Guard declined to provide the Rebecca owner and operator information while the investigation is incomplete. 

After the collision, the Lazy Jack sent out a distress call at 1:06 p.m. Sea Tow boat Captain Amy Armstrong responded to the original report that the collision occurred south of Squirrel Island.

She found the two boats located near Tumbler Island and evacuated the crew and passengers.

“No one was hurt, but they were all pretty shaken up,” Armstrong said.

The Lazy Jack returned to shore under its own power with a Coast Guard escort. The schooner took on minimal water, but the majority of damage occurred above the water line, according to Kurt Hein, Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard reported Sept. 3 the lobster boat received minimal damage to its bow. A visual inspection of the Lady Jack showed the majority of its damaged occurred to the transom. It is moored at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard.

Hein reported the investigation continues with the Coast Guard interviewing the participants and examining the vessels' damage.

A previous online version of this story inaccurately reported that the Lazy Jack headed in a westerly direction and it was being repaired at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard. Captain Tassi said his ship left Boothbay Harbor in an east southeastern direction and the Rebecca left Boothbay Harbor heading north northeasterly. The Lazy Jack was taken to the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, but Tassi said Monday there are no arrangements to repair the vessel at the shipyard.