All hands on deck to prevent Juneau boats from sinking in winter storm

Harbormaster Matthew Creswell reminds community members to stay safe while clearing snow from sinking vessels 

Corey Hennessy pushes snow off the boat shelter covering The Seclusion in Aurora Harbor on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. The waterline showing where the shelter was once submerged is faintly visible. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

By Natalie Buttner

Juneau Independent

This story has been updated with additional information.

As a winter storm inundates Juneau, the weight of the snow poses a special threat to boats. Boat owners and Juneau Docks and Harbors staff are working to keep boats afloat as snow continues to fall. 

On Tuesday morning, David Summers, the captain of The Seclusion, watched hired contractors push snow off the top of the floating shelter that covered the boat. The weight of the snow had pushed the shelter into the water so that its weight rested on the boat inside. 

“The weight of the ice and the snow is slowly sinking it down, and then the other problem is we've got all this slush in the harbor, which keeps it down,” Summers said. 

Summers had been working on clearing the snow off the shelter since Monday night, but was cautious about anyone working on the roof in the dark. In the light of day, hired contractors repelled in harnesses to push the snow from the roof into the water, restoring the shelter’s buoyancy. An angled water line along the side of the shelter revealed how far down the front of the shelter had been submerged.

David Summers supports the ladder as Corey Hennessy climbs down from the roof of the shelter protecting The Seclusion in Aurora Harbor on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

As of Wednesday evening, eight boats and one boat shelter had sunk in city harbors as a result of the heavy snowfall, according to Harbormaster Matthew Creswell. Creswell estimates that docks and harbors staff have saved two dozen vessels from sinking. 

“On top of that, I know we've had at least another 16 that we've called, that the customers have come down and shovelled at the last minute, that were in danger of sinking as well,” Creswell said. “We’ve had to pump a lot of vessels.” 

A sunken boat at the dock in Aurora Harbor on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

In addition to the record-breaking depth of the snow, the storm came at an inopportune time. Creswell, like many boat owners, is out of town for the holidays. 

Jeff Polizzotto headed home from Aurora Harbor after shoveling off his own boat and four belonging to friends who are out of town. 

“They’re all Christmasing,” he said. 

While removing snow, Creswell recommended boat owners remove snow evenly to maintain balance and prevent the boat from leaning into the water. 

Jen Davis clears snow off a friend's sailboat in Aurora Harbor on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. "I was a little bit nervous," she said. "He [her friend] assured me that it was a salty boat that would probably still be afloat." (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

With more than a foot of additional snow possible, Creswell stressed the importance of personal safety while clearing snow from boats. The docks are icy, and Docks and Harbors staff are still in the process of ensuring safety ladders are cleared off. 

“If people are going down on the docks, they need life jackets,” Creswell said. “It's best if people operate in pairs. They need to let somebody know they're going down to the harbor so that somebody can check in on them. And just to be very, very careful on the snow-covered and icy docks and boats.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, Docks and Harbors posted a message thanking community members who had rallied to help clear snow throughout the storm. 

“When conditions are tough, people step up, lend a hand, and help each other through it,” the post read. “On behalf of Docks & Harbors, we are incredibly grateful for your help, your patience, and your willingness to work together.” 

• Contact Natalie Buttner at natalieb@juneauindependent.com.

Bonny Millard clears snow off the deck of her boat, San Juan, in Aurora Harbor on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

Howard Sheperd removes snow from the roof of his float house on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. "It's another glorious day in the Southeast, I guess," Sheperd chuckled. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)