ST. GEORGE — The Maine Marine Patrol is investigating the sinking of a Port Clyde lobsterman’s boat on Wednesday, just days after the owner had repaired the boat after an earlier sinking on Aug. 17.

Tony Hooper, 37, said his lobster boat was released from its mooring overnight, with hoses and bilge wires cut, and left to wash up on a nearby island.

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The sinking comes little more than a month after an earlier incident when his boat was found 30 feet underwater.

“I’m doing all I can to keep my wits about me,” he said. “This is getting ridiculous.”

Hooper said he had already lost around $30,000 to repairs for the boat after the first incident and weeks spent off the water. This time, he said he was lucky to have found the boat beached on a nearby island at low tide, with water in the engine. He said he does not know how much these new repairs will cost.

“I’ve been losing traps all season,” Hooper said. “I’ve always had a little bit of a problem before, but not to this extent.”

Sgt. Matthew Talbot of the Maine Marine Patrol confirmed both sinkings are under investigation and appear to be intentional.

Hooper said he thought other lobstermen were paying drug addicts to destroy rival lobstermen’s property.

On Sept. 1, two men sunk another lobster boat and stole an abandoned a skiff in St. George, according to court documents.

One of the men told investigators they then drove to Augusta to buy drugs with money they were paid to sink the boat. Three men have been charged in that incident.

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