The water restaurant, known for its crocodile delicacies, sank in the Intracoastal Waterway of Fort Lauderdale on Sunday afternoon, but the crew left the ship unharmed, its owner told the Miami Herald.
Jeremy Ricke, chef and captain of the J’s Sandbar Food Boat, said the wake from the passing ship snapped the starboard outrigger of his boat and kept it horizontal.
Lycke said two employees could have been trapped or burned in a pontoon without training and prompt response.
“It could have been worse,” he said.
At around 12:30 pm, when he heard the distress signal on the food boat, he said Ricke was delivering on another ship. After rushing back, he used his delivery boat to push the hood boat into the shallows, completely sinking and not blocking the waterways.
“I’m disappointed now,” he said.
Floating restaurant hostess, Coulette Murray, Created GoFundMe To remove the boat from the shallow grave and probably cover the cost of building a new boat.
“The boat is a total loss,” she writes.
US Coast Guard spokesman Noncommissioned Officer Jose Hernandez confirmed that the boat had sunk on Sunday night, but said authorities were not investigating the case.
32-foot water restaurant Made of recycled wood and metal Ricke himself has become a staple of the region over the past three years, providing jalapeno gator fries, seafood and wings for hungry boaters, he told Sun-Sentinel in 2020.
It is licensed as “Mobile food dispensing vehicle” According to the agency’s website, according to the Florida Business and Professional Regulatory Authority.
On the Facebook page, the loyal diner lamented the physical loss, but was relieved that everyone was safe. Some even provided help in unloading salvageable things.
“Sorry, thank you. That’s the most important thing,” said one diner. “We miss you until you come back.”
“I’m sorry!” Another customer said. “There is no doubt that you will be bigger and better back.”