Battle begins for stinky old lifeboat

A lifeboat that washed ashore on a South Australian beach could have found a new home, with at least two local towns fighting to snare it.

The boat washed ashore on a beach on the Coorong last week, after drifting at sea for almost two years since it came adrift from a sinking cargo ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

While the Big Rockinghorse at Gumeracha and the Big Orange at Berri are well known tourist attractions, the Salt Creek Roadhouse owner says he has an idea for the next big thing.

“The big, orange stinky boat with cockles on the bottom,” Adam Stewart told 7News.

His roadhouse is located just 10km from where the lifeboat ran ashore, and he wants it to drop anchor across the road.

“To have it wash right up in front of us, it would be nice to see it put on the highway and let the public actually have a look at it,” Mr Stewart said.

The Transport Department has given the boat’s Norwegian insurer two weeks to remove it because of fears it could come adrift and become a navigation hazard.

While the Salt Creek Roadhouse is confident the big lifeboat would provide a big tourism boost, maritime enthusiasts at Kingston’s National Trust Museum are also keen to have it so they can add it to their collection.

May the best tourism pitch win.