A MAN in a half-built boat was drifting off the Purbeck coastline for two days without food or water before a passing yacht raised the alarm.

The 32ft motor cruiser was spotted in trouble four miles off Lulworth, with no working engine, no fitted windows and no safety equipment.

The sailor, a Dutchman living in London, had set off from Southampton following a row with his wife and became stranded when his engine failed.

He was towed to shore by Weymouth lifeboat volunteers after the alarm was raised on Wednesday afternoon. Though he had no food or water, rescuers did find a stack of empty beer cans on board.

A Portland Coastguard spokesman said: "This is a perfect example of why you should not go out to sea without proper safety arrangements.

"It appears it was a rushed decision to go to sea rather than a planned voyage and we are giving him safety advice to avoid him becoming a casualty.

"He was drifting for two days with engine problems. We usually see really old boats that are falling apart but in this case this is a brand new boat which I believe he is fitting out himself - it's just not ready to go to sea, in my opinion.

"He is lucky to be alive but it's also fairly remarkable that he's been at sea drifting for two days without food or water and without being spotted."

A doctor on the Weymouth lifeboat crew checked the man's health as he was towed to safety.

"He was extremely tired and dehydrated - he was also suffering a little from shock and he did tell us it was a bit scary out there," the coastguard said.

The sailor told coastguards he had been building the boat for three to four years and he was drifting because the engine would not go, and the radar was not connected. The only safety equipment onboard was a lifejacket.

A Portland Coastguard spokesman said: "We want to try and get across to him that if he wants to sail in his boat again, he should at least get the windows filled in and the electrics fitted properly."

First published: September 2, 2005