The Pride of the Susquehanna riverboat was pulled from the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg for emergency preventative repairs on Wednesday morning.

The Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society chose to have a hydraulic drive that operates one of the boats two paddlewheels rebuilt after the Pride's captains reported a potential steering problem.

It's the first time in its 27 years afloat it was removed from the river following the launch of a boating season, according to nonprofit riverboat society, which operates the vessel. The boat was put in the water on April 16 this season, about a week later than normal due to high water levels.

The riverboat will be out of service for a few days as Turner Hydraulics of Carlisle completes the repairs, which are estimated to cost thousand of dollars. Thousands of dollars in business also will be lost while the boat is out of the water, said Tom Farr, society board chairman.

"Our volunteer board of directors works very hard to keep this vessel afloat for the people of central Pennsylvania, and this kind of emergency will not make our job any easier," Farr said. "We ask the people of Central Pennsylvania to please come back and Ride the Pride as soon as we have her back in the water."

Normally, the Pennsylvania Army National Guard move the boat from drydock into the water, and pulls it out of the river at the end of the season. The National Guard was unable to respond on short notice, however, Farr said.

Lower Paxton Township-based H&S Towing responded and used three "gigantic wreckers" to pull the 100-ton boat from the river," he said.