Found a Catalina Capri 18......underwater.

Kermit · Mar 21, 2011

I would make dang sure the owners don't want the boat anymore. Does being sunk at an abandoned pier mean they have given up ownership? Good luck getting it titled, too.
Kermit

ruidh · Mar 21, 2011

At this point, the boat is salvage. I would read up on that.

JVB · Mar 21, 2011

Suppose I put a boat next to my pier, partially or completely submerged, for a fish habitat. Can Mr. Opportunity tow it away and establish ownership ?

ruidh · Mar 21, 2011

Yeah, probably. If we're talking salt water. You don't own the land underwater at the end of your pier. I suppose lakes could be different.

But, this hull is likely a complete wreck. All the bulkheads and deck cores are likely rotted to nothing.

Ed A · Mar 21, 2011

It is illegal in most places to do whatyou suggest and you could be fined. In most places it is not even legal to create a fish habitat on the bottom without permits and a lot of red tape.

put lights on the dock and get good results anyway.

Ed A · Mar 21, 2011

Oh if you want fish, feed them. they are like churches,feed them and they will come.

Kermit · Mar 21, 2011

Maybe y'all are right. But I think it would at least be the neighborly thing to contact the owner. Heck, he'll probably thank you for cleaning up his problem. But on the other hand, what if he gets all testy about it and wants to make a federal case of it because you stole his boat?
Then on the other hand, I really don't have a dawg in this fight...
Kermit

Lee Coller · Mar 21, 2011

It might help to tell us what your budget is. At the very least, assuming that the standing rigging, mast, and boom are still serviceable (a big if), you are going to need new sails, new running rigging, new hardware (winches, blocks, etc.), the interior is going to need to be redone (you can plan on stripping out anything wood). You can probably buy a capri of this vintage in decent condition for what it's probably going to cost to restore this one.

shemandr · Mar 21, 2011

There are a lot of very inexpensive old fiberglass sailboats around. They come complete with parts and can be sailed the day of delivery. I can't see spending time on a boat that has been under water for a year or more. This isn't a good find.
You will be responsible for its disposal should you tire of trying to fix it. In other words, a free boat can cost significant money.

Slade · Mar 21, 2011

Here you go:

http://sailingtexas.com/201009/scatalina22385.html

http://sailingtexas.com/201101/soday19111.html

Just to get you started...

ontimems · Mar 21, 2011

Is it in fresh or salt water? In fresh you might be able to salvage some hardware but in salt probably a lost cause.

dscribner · Mar 22, 2011

Gazaway,

My Lancer 25 cost $2200 and needed nothing. We've done some work to spruce her up though she already looked goon, but she NEEDED nothing. If you aren't really handy, look on Craigslist or SBO for your baby. If you have time, wait until October.

jerry critz · Mar 22, 2011

GazawayTM said:
This is my first post here. Have sailed a little. Im 23 and want my own boat, and Im wondering if I lucked out.

I found a Catalina 18 I believe. Might be a 22 though. Anyway, its an 80s model I think.

The thing is though, its 6 ft or so underwater at the end of this old abandoned pier. I went and talked to the neighbor of the lot, and he said the owners have not been out there in a few years, and the boat has been underwater for about a year.

So, to you marine experts than know a lot about what types of damage these boats can take, can this be a good find? I have everything I need to pump it up, but my question is, Is it a lost cause?

Or will I just have to get it up and have someone look at it?

.....run do not walk ....run ....there is a reason it's under water and i can't think of any good reasons this could be!!! But if you try any way these are the things you have to look forward to--- .....tons of money to raise---documentation will be impossible ----MOLD you'll never get rid of it completely-----structure will always be comprised

RichH · Mar 22, 2011

The decks are fiberglass cored with plywood and the bulkhead and 'cabinetry' are also plywood. All will by now totally be saturated with water and beginning to rot or the plys will be separating. Cored deck repair is a horrendous job, total bulkhead and cabinetry repair is a BIG job, because they were put in before the boat hull and 'top' were assembled .... and this 99% of the time makes the boat totally worthless or a boat that will take forever and at great cost to restore.

As another poster listed: there are good cheap boats around that no one uses anymore and sometimes just going and asking will promote a 'good deal'. Raising a long-term 'sunker' will usually result in an expensive 'heartbreak'.

Here's a book that will begin to explain how to look for a good used boat: http://www.amazon.com/Inspecting-Sa...5455/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1300831567&sr=8-7
When reading such a book, imagine a boat that has been underwater for a few years and imagine the total repair and its labor that you will have to put into it to make it 'safe'.

I'd also recommend to look for a cheap sound boat that I could start sailing almost immediately instead of a possibly hopeless project boat thats going to demand a lot of time and unknown $$$$$$$.

;-)