New Jersey Scuba Diving

Type:

artificial reef, patrol boat

Specs:

( 53 ft or 65 ft )

Sponsor:

Ann E Clark Foundation / Sportfishing Fund

Sunk:

Monday Aug 9, 2016 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef

GPS:

40°03.788' -73°59.380'

Depth:

80 ft

"Harbor Charlie" is the waterborne unit of the NYPD, the Harbor Unit; this was one of their runabouts. The unit was founded in 1858 to fight piracy in the harbor that had grown rampant. In addition to law enforcement, today their mission includes a large search-and-rescue component. I don't think Harbor Charlie was actually the name of the boat, the marking on the bow is "RTC-1", with a stylized "RT" on the front of the cabin. I can't find out exactly what RTC stands for. The Harbor Charlie unit includes scuba divers.

I would guess this boat was built by Gladding-Hearn in Somerset MA, one of four police boats delivered to New York in 1983. That would make it over 30 years old, and probably well worn-out when it was donated for a reef. The actual length of the vessel is anyone's guess, 65 feet was given on the day of the sinking, now revised to 53 feet. Maybe someone has very bad handwriting.