Issue With Tim Allen’s Yacht Forces Marina Closure

Tim Allen/Facebook/5289davhas/Twitter

The marina in northern Michigan temporarily shut down over the Fourth of July weekend after actor Tim Allen’s yacht spilled fuel into the water.

The yacht leaked an estimated 30 gallons of diesel fuel into the water at Northport Village Marina north of Traverse City, Michigan. The spill was reported Sunday afternoon forcing the marina to shut down as well as a beach near the marina that was closed due to oil in the sand.

The coast guard joined the local fire department to assist in overseeing clean up. “Crews used brooms and a thousand oil absorbent pads to soak up the diesel from the water,” Yahoo! reports.

The marina reopened Monday evening, but the beach remains closed.

Hugh Cook, Leelanau Township Fire Chief, local media that a fuel filter issue caused fuel to leak into the yacht’s engine compartment. When too much fuel had pooled in the compartment, the bilge pump pumped it into the marina.

Cook said that the “Home Improvement” actor knew that a gasket “popped” on the fuel filter while he was in the bay, but was unaware that it was leaking until his boat was docked and it was noticed by others.

A local news outlet, the Record-Eagle, reported that the spill didn’t affect wildlife in the area, but spectators shared conflicting reports. Some shared that they saw dead ducklings and fish as a result of the spill. As owner of the yacht, Allen is responsible for all costs associated with the fuel spill.

Tim Allen is a Michigan native who has had a long career in show business. He is best known for his role as Tim the Tool Man Taylor in the ’90s comedy sitcom Home Improvement and the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story series.