WETHERSFIELD - The Wethersfield Police Department purchased its patrol boat in 1998 and it’s been giving them problems since.

       Now, they’re getting it replaced. The Town Council has approved the asset forfeiture funded purchase of a $55,000 Proline 23 police boat for patrols along Wethersfield Cove and the Connecticut River. The body voted unanimously to give the department the go-ahead at its Oct. 19 regular meeting.

       â€�"We’ve had nothing but trouble and lately, it’s getting even worse,” said Police Chief James Cetran during the meeting. â€�"Even as I wrote this budget request it broke down this weekend. We had to tow it back from Rocky Hill. If we want to continue providing police service on the beach, we have to have it replaced.”

       The current Proline 24 model has its structural issues as well, but the primary problems have come from the 250 Mercury Engine, which is prone to breakdowns, Cetran said.

       â€�"We put $8,000 into that engine not too long ago, and it’s still having problems, which is frustrating to say the least,” he said. â€�"For some reason, we couldn’t fix that damn motor.”

       The department typically deploys the boat for events, such as fireworks displays. At one in Hartford, the boat was used in rescuing a drowning individual, according to Cetran.

       The department will get the new boat for $47,400--a discount made possible by $7,600 the department got back in trade-in value on the old one, according to Cetran. Other price ranges for the same model fell anywhere between $81,000 and $126,000, the department reported.

       A typical water patrol involves two or three officers, he said.

       â€�"The rest of the money to run the boat, which isn’t a lot, not counting the officer’s time on the boat, comes out of the regular budget,” Cetran said.

       The current boat was purchased using a state grant, Cetran said.