I have/had a Hunter 33,moored in Old Port Cove(W. Palm). Frances sank her. She will remain in 8 ft of water until I can have something done. What should I expect of the interior wood ? Is all lost? Due to a divorce, I was unable to keep my insurance. When I tried to re-insure it , Allstate raised the cost of my coverage 6x. Needless to say , I took a total loss. ANY advice is appreciated!
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The big question...
Is it fresh or brackish there? If there is salt in the water, consider anything metal to be toast. The wood will probably come back after drying out and restaining. I'd be conserned about delamination of the plywood bulkheads. I've salvaged two boats that sank in fresh water and both have survived well. Pat McCartin
Is it fresh or brackish there? If there is salt in the water, consider anything metal to be toast. The wood will probably come back after drying out and restaining. I'd be conserned about delamination of the plywood bulkheads. I've salvaged two boats that sank in fresh water and both have survived well. Pat McCartin
Boat US
had a web page last year (post-Isabel) that had specific instructions on what to do if/when you raised the boat without professional help. very informative and would be helpful in your situation. problem is, I can't find it on their website now. you might search it or give them a call and see if it's still available.
had a web page last year (post-Isabel) that had specific instructions on what to do if/when you raised the boat without professional help. very informative and would be helpful in your situation. problem is, I can't find it on their website now. you might search it or give them a call and see if it's still available.
mine sank!
Man, I'm really sorry to hear about that. At least she wasn't that boat from the weather channel that was headed for the concrete bridge! Anyways, I just bought a 1979 38 that sat on the bottom of the Atlantic for a few weeks. She had been restored at the time of purchase and all seems well...though I keep finding barnicles in the strangest places! Good luck
Man, I'm really sorry to hear about that. At least she wasn't that boat from the weather channel that was headed for the concrete bridge! Anyways, I just bought a 1979 38 that sat on the bottom of the Atlantic for a few weeks. She had been restored at the time of purchase and all seems well...though I keep finding barnicles in the strangest places! Good luck
USN Salvage
Sorry about your loss. US Navy Salvage Manuals on "Related Link" below. If the deck is solid you may be able to pump air into some sort of bag (water bed mattress already has hose connection) inserted into the cabin and under the cockpit. If not, use air bags with straps under the hull. (This is very dangerous and should only be done by a professional crew.) Once the gunnels are at the surface, use a large, powered pump to suck water out the hull. Good luck! MArk
Sorry about your loss. US Navy Salvage Manuals on "Related Link" below. If the deck is solid you may be able to pump air into some sort of bag (water bed mattress already has hose connection) inserted into the cabin and under the cockpit. If not, use air bags with straps under the hull. (This is very dangerous and should only be done by a professional crew.) Once the gunnels are at the surface, use a large, powered pump to suck water out the hull. Good luck! MArk
SalvageSale
boats.com has partnered with SalvageSale, Inc. to deliver a turnkey solution for the disposition of damaged yachts and pleasure craft. SalvageSale takes care of the details by providing comprehensive services ranging from retrieval, towing, storage, preserving to auction. SalvageSale's Florida salvage operations for pleasure craft, yachts, recreational vehicles and commercial property can be reached at (800) 856-7445 or through their website at www.salvagesale.com HTH, Gord
boats.com has partnered with SalvageSale, Inc. to deliver a turnkey solution for the disposition of damaged yachts and pleasure craft. SalvageSale takes care of the details by providing comprehensive services ranging from retrieval, towing, storage, preserving to auction. SalvageSale's Florida salvage operations for pleasure craft, yachts, recreational vehicles and commercial property can be reached at (800) 856-7445 or through their website at www.salvagesale.com HTH, Gord
Sea Tow
Try Sea Tow. I just got their newsletter. They seem to do alot of community work and help out in disasters as well. Try them. Sorry about your loss. Good Luck.
Try Sea Tow. I just got their newsletter. They seem to do alot of community work and help out in disasters as well. Try them. Sorry about your loss. Good Luck.
Thanks for your input guys!
I greatly appreciate all of the input! It's really been a stressful few days. I really loved that old boat. My children loved it also. I'm going to asses the damages and maybe try to resurrect her if at all possible.
I greatly appreciate all of the input! It's really been a stressful few days. I really loved that old boat. My children loved it also. I'm going to asses the damages and maybe try to resurrect her if at all possible.
Act Fast
You need to act fast. You may be held liable for enviormental damage if your boat leaks fuel or oil into the water. If you are a Boat US member, Tow Boat US can refloat your boat and possibly help with spillage clean up. It must be a terrible feeling to loose your boat and I am not sure how I would handle that. But, you really need to try and put it aside long enough to take action as soon as possible. You also could try to contact Phil Shubert at Cracker Boy Marine in Riviera Beach as he is the yard Manager there and he could probably steer you in the right direction. Good Luck in your recovery efforts.
You need to act fast. You may be held liable for enviormental damage if your boat leaks fuel or oil into the water. If you are a Boat US member, Tow Boat US can refloat your boat and possibly help with spillage clean up. It must be a terrible feeling to loose your boat and I am not sure how I would handle that. But, you really need to try and put it aside long enough to take action as soon as possible. You also could try to contact Phil Shubert at Cracker Boy Marine in Riviera Beach as he is the yard Manager there and he could probably steer you in the right direction. Good Luck in your recovery efforts.
One more point Dale
After Hurricane Louise on Antigua flooded my boat I was able to claim a generous tax deduction. I'm not saying that you should ever cheat on your taxes but in times like these, the IRS tends to be very fair. Good luck.
After Hurricane Louise on Antigua flooded my boat I was able to claim a generous tax deduction. I'm not saying that you should ever cheat on your taxes but in times like these, the IRS tends to be very fair. Good luck.
Salvage it
USN Salavge had it right. Now try some of the local dive shops, A couple of divers should be able to place 2 cheap blue plastic barrels (about 5 bucks ea.) into the cabin and fill them with air from a compressor topside. Tow to a lift (decks may still be a couple of inches under water) and have lifted. Have pumps ready to evacuate water as she is lifted. Lifting her clear while still full of water will break her back. Rinse and dry the cusions ASAP, Rinse all the wood well with fresh water. Clean her up. Drain and dry all tanks. Clean and lubercate all metal. Especially electrical wires and parts. Expect to replace the batteries and all electrical switches and light sockets. Maybe some of the wiring too. It's very savable.
USN Salavge had it right. Now try some of the local dive shops, A couple of divers should be able to place 2 cheap blue plastic barrels (about 5 bucks ea.) into the cabin and fill them with air from a compressor topside. Tow to a lift (decks may still be a couple of inches under water) and have lifted. Have pumps ready to evacuate water as she is lifted. Lifting her clear while still full of water will break her back. Rinse and dry the cusions ASAP, Rinse all the wood well with fresh water. Clean her up. Drain and dry all tanks. Clean and lubercate all metal. Especially electrical wires and parts. Expect to replace the batteries and all electrical switches and light sockets. Maybe some of the wiring too. It's very savable.
Greg, a couple questions,
First off, two barrels filled with air gives about 1000 lbs of buoyancy (max). I think his keel alone weighs more than that. To get neutral buoyancy wouldn't he need flotation near to the weight of the boat? (That's what neutral means) And to get a 55 gallon drum to pass into a companion way on a sailboat,,,??? Are you thinking of powerboat salvage?
First off, two barrels filled with air gives about 1000 lbs of buoyancy (max). I think his keel alone weighs more than that. To get neutral buoyancy wouldn't he need flotation near to the weight of the boat? (That's what neutral means) And to get a 55 gallon drum to pass into a companion way on a sailboat,,,??? Are you thinking of powerboat salvage?
Fred
Fred, isn't the flotation needed for neutral buoyancy equal to the weight of the boat minus the submerged buoyancy of the boat?
Fred, isn't the flotation needed for neutral buoyancy equal to the weight of the boat minus the submerged buoyancy of the boat?
Jim, that sounds better than what I said.
But we seem to be on the same wave length. Even a keel has the buoyancy of the water it displaces. Like a concrete mooring too. I'm sure someone has worked out the numbers on a sunken sail boat. (Gord, how about it?
)
But we seem to be on the same wave length. Even a keel has the buoyancy of the water it displaces. Like a concrete mooring too. I'm sure someone has worked out the numbers on a sunken sail boat. (Gord, how about it?
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