RACINE - At least a dozen people stood along the Root River today as workers raised a sunken fishing boat out of the water.

After three hours of work, a crane was holding the boat almost completely out of the water at 12:45 p.m. The crane lifted the boat out and crews worked to pump the water out of the boat.

The boat was docked June 9 at Belle Harbor Marina, just past the State Street Bridge, when the flooded river's strong current tipped over the boat and sunk it. The boat is now just east of the Main Street Bridge, soon to be lifted ashore.

"I never thought I would see this day," said boater Jim Friedman, who stood with the boat owner most of the day. "You just don't think about them sinking."

Jeff Konopski of Raymond stood looking at his sunken boat at 10 this morning, waiting for workers to lift it out of the water. He said officials told him it could take until into the afternoon for the whole process.

The Racine County Sheriff's Department Water Patrol is on the scene along with a barge that the department called for assistance. When workers finish pumping water out of the boat they will pull it over to Pugh Marina, 1001 Michigan Blvd., said Sgt. Bill Halliday of the Racine County Sheriff's Department.

There a travel lift will help workers get the boat out of the water, Halliday said.

At that point an insurance appraiser will determine if anything on the boat can be salvaged, Konopski said.