KENNEBUNK – The Kennebunk Fire and Rescue team is used to rescuing boats in distress.

On Monday, Kennebunk firefighters found their 26-foot rescue boat on the wrong side of an emergency after the vessel sank in the Kennebunk River.

Kennebunk Fire Chief Steve Nichols said water entered the boat through a hole where the exhaust pipe apparently came loose.

“It filled faster than the bilge pump could keep up,” he said.

Rescue workers were able to salvage thousands of dollars in electrical equipment, but it was unclear how much damage the boat sustained.