AN EIGHT-METRE cruiser barely made it out of the starting gate on the weekend, with the crew finding themselves bobbing in the water just metres from the mouth of Nelson Bay Marina.
Marine Rescue Port Stephens were called out to the boat on Sunday. The cruiser had suffered fuel problems and the engine was dead.
"Boats experiencing fuel problems is a common reason our rescue vessels are tasked to offer assistance," a statement from Marine Rescue said.
"Twenty nautical miles off the coast or within sight of the marina, it doesn't matter - the engine stops and so does the boat.
"You can't paddle an eight-metre cruiser, no matter how close to the final destination."
The team reached the cruiser in minutes to offer a tow, while swimmers and sunbathers watched on from Little beach.
It was brought in to berth and rafted for safe placement in the marina until its fuel problem could be fixed.
