‘We are starting with nothing.’ SC couple’s house boat sinks during Tropical Storm Debby

Ryan Fischer and Alicia Bocian woke up Thursday morning after Tropical Storm Debby made landfall in the Myrtle Beach area without a home.

The couple lived on their boat that was docked at the Coquina Harbor in Little River and had shelter Wednesday evening from the storm at the hotel where they worked.

However, at some point in the early morning hours Thursday, as the storm lashed the North Myrtle Beach area with heavy rain and wind, their boat sank, taking with it everything the couple owned into the water.

“It’s our home,” Fischer said. “We don’t really know what our next steps are.”

The couple had lived on their boat, a 34-foot Wellcraft Gran Sport, for more than three years.

Fischer said he is glad they were at the hotel, otherwise “I don’t think we would have survived.”

Several checks were made on the boat throughout the evening, and by midnight the boat was still OK. Then, “within five hours, she was gone,” Fischer said.

A hose had come disconnected from the boat and as the rain and waves continued, the pumps couldn’t keep up with the water coming in, Fischer said.

The boat was pulled out of the water Thursday afternoon. It has been deemed a total loss, he said.

“We are starting with nothing,” he said.

Fischer only had liability insurance on the boat.

The couple has lived on the boat for more than three years. In that time, they have gone through at least two hurricanes, including Hurricane Ian, which hit the Grand Strand in October 2022.

“We got through that one,” Bocian said.

The couple are hopeful that the community will hear about their story and are willing to help with money and other items, including clothing. The hotel is allowing them to stay through the weekend.

Fischer was heading back to the harbor Friday afternoon to see if he could salvage anything from the boat, but he was doubtful, especially since it was beginning to rain again.

“We’re in the hands of the unknown,” he said.