I grew up in Old Saybrook, CT and work in the marine industry. As part of the boating community, I’ve put together this group to help us solve a problem. The problem of boaters/friends/neighbors/children hitting the non-lighted Breakwater at the mouth of the CT river at nighttime.

 

 In the late 1870’s the 2 granite breakwaters were added to show the channel for shipping containers to move freight/oil and other commodities up the river. The reason the breakwaters were added was because of the dangerous sand bar that was disrupting the marine traffic. In 1882 congress appropriated $20,000 for a new light station on the west end breakwater with an additional $18,000 needed to complete the white light stake. The current light house was completed by the 1920’s.

 

 Today the lighthouses still sit and aid us to the CT River.

 

 As most of us experienced boaters know, the east side Breakwater has a Daybeacon.

Whats a Daybeacon?

A Daybeacon is an unlighted sign indicating a channel or hazard.

 

 Today's boating community is not like it was 100 years ago. Today's boating community is massive and with this massive boating community our breakwater channel has gotten much smaller esp with the increasing size in boats/yachts. Many of us have opted to stay out of the channel and come up the outside of the eastern break wall where there is plenty of water and much safer for smaller boats to run instead of getting out into a washing machine between the breakwaters. Boaters today use their boats during all hours of the day/night whether you're coming back from fishing or coming back from a trip at dark the day beacons do not help us.

 

 Since September 5th, 2023, we have had 2 major boating accidents into the east breakwater resulting in 9 injured boaters/guests,1 death and 2 missing as of 09/04/2024. These injured boaters could have been you, someone you know, your child or grandchild. Don’t ever think it can’t happen to you or someone close to you because it can. When something like this happens, it puts more than just the boaters at risk. It puts our Police, Fire, EMS at risk as well. The Town of Old Saybrook has had its fair share of these accidents. Let’s put the boaters, the first responders and anyone else involved in these frantic nights to rest.

 

I propose we come together and try to get the USCG to install Isolated Danger Mark Beacons on the Breakwater so Nite time boaters can feel a little safer knowing where the breakwater is. Today's technology is amazing! All it will take is a solar panel or 2 and a blinking beacon. This is a very simple fix with the hopefulness of saving the next family/friend/boater from a similar event.