Sunken dreams rust in Coney Island Creek. That’s the Quester I. Right there partially submerged. A 45-foot submarine. Built by Jerry Bianco a Brooklyn shipyard worker. He dreamt of raising the Andrea Doria. The Italian liner that sank off Nantucket. Bianco’s goal was to salvage valuables from the wreck. He spent three years building the Quester I. He used salvaged metal.
The Quester I’s launch was a disaster. In 1967 the crane tipped the sub sideways. It got stuck in the mud. Bianco couldn’t raise enough money to free it. Some say it was later freed. It sailed the bay before sinking at its mooring. Another account blames the crane operator. He ignored Bianco’s instructions. The sub was unstable. It lacked ballast. It rolled onto its side when fully submerged. Bianco later tried to refit the Quester I. His backers lost interest. Parts were stolen. It broke loose from its moorings in 1981.
Today the Quester I rests in the creek. It’s partially or fully visible depending on the tide. Its original yellow paint is gone. Orange rust covers most of the hull. The cap though stays unsubmerged. Its bright yellow remains thanks to zinc chromate paint. Bianco’s dream of underwater treasure remains unrealized. His yellow submarine serves as a reminder of ambition and unforeseen circumstances. A monument to a quirky piece of New York City history. The Quester I’s story is a testament to human perseverance. And a harsh lesson in the unpredictability of the sea. It’s a truly unique landmark. A slightly sad testament to a forgotten dream. A rusted relic in the Coney Island Creek.