Dartmouth officials responded to a distress call off of Mishaum Point on August 16, the result of a dead engine and hurricane-induced swell, they said.

The Buzzards Bay Task Force, which includes both Dartmouth Fire District No. 1 and New Bedford officials, was dispatched around 3:30 on Wednesday after an 18-foot powerboat's engine died, and the two boaters were pushed toward the rocks at Michaum Point by the waves.

The two were stopped by Tow Boat USA before any damage was done to the boat, Harbormaster Steve Melo said. Both men were wearing life jackets.

Melo said the swells resulting from Hurricane Gert, which is about 350 miles east of Dartmouth, caused the two men to lose control of the powerboat Baybee.

"It was as routine as you can get, except for the eight-foot waves crashing down around us," Melo said.

The men were moored at Salters Point, and were headed toward Slocum River when their engine died, Melo said.

There were no injuries, said Melo, adding that "everybody stayed dry."