My old Neighbor 25 years ago was a certified retired navy diver. After Hurricane Opal, him and his son recovered around 30 boats of all sizes from 10' to charter fishing boats 60'. I saw all these boats in his yard! I asked him what he was doing and told me they all belonged to him as salvaged boats. It was an amazing site. Most of the boats were only under water for about a week or less. He told me any boat that was abandoned was forfeited by the owner. He used the registration number, called tax office, found owners number asked if they wanted their boat salvaged for so and so price. If they declined they 90% of time gave him the boat because penalties by the state would bankrupt them. Most boat owners don't have insurance. This guy made a fortune salvaging boats and was super cool guy.
It can be easy to salvage sunken boats in some circumstances, tow it to a tidal area and sit it on the beach is one free method, once the gunwales are above the water you've won , actually pumping out a boat that size can be done with a small electric pump in a few hours, even a 12 v bilge pump will do it overnight. If there's a big hole in the hull you cant get to drop a tarp over it outside and the water pressure will hold it in place as you pump it out.
I didn't see your original video, but I like the info you provided in this one for anyone that might be interested in salvaging a derelict vessel, especially in your state. Thanks man!
Hey Capt'n, glad that you stated where you got your information. If you remember back in 2004-2007 we here in Florida had a few hurricanes.. Well, I use to raise these boats for people and the insurance company use to pay me for it (or owner). Anyways, I seen so many people misinformed thinking they can just go down and take what isn't theirs. I couldn't believe how many would argue that "its abandoned and I can salvage it", I just tell them that if they evacuate their house during a hurricane that I could just go in and take what I wanted? they shut up then. Well, to make a story short, I totally agree with you, those boats 99% of the time are not worth it. Well, enough of me taking up your time.. If you are in the market for some prolift lift bags, I have several I want to get rid of.. about 20k worth of lift.. Just send me a message. Take care and enjoy. Oh yea, retired 500 ton Capt, and commercial diver here. Back made me retire.
I am not a maritime lawyer but have been around a while and have always been under the impression that you can not lay claim to a marine vessel that is not yours. What you can do in certain cases is if the boat is unmanned and in danger you can remove it from danger or salvage it if it is aground or sunk and in danger of being further damaged and be compensated for your time and cost. I know of a case where a sailboat ran aground on the beach and the owner hiked a few miles to go get help and a gang of people descended on his boat and tore it to pieces claiming they were salvaging it as an abandoned boat.
I grew up in South Florida and for many years that law has been misused and altered its nice to know that the State has finally made a way for people to really understand the written law when i was a teenager and a Cerified Scuba Diver we were under the impression that after 72 hours a sunk or abandoned boat the owners lost their rights to that Vessel and it became finders keepers you are a smart man imo for not going after that one by any chance did you catch the name of that old EggHarbor ? in the1970s and 80s i used to work for a guy that serviced a old EggHarbor like that one and her name was CoverGirl she was at that time owned by a former Cover Girl model who throughout the years couldn’t afford to do the upkeep and maintenance we did bare minimum work she needed at the time in exchange for cruises up and down the Intracoastal Waterway i have not had any contact or information since around 1984 or 5 on the whereabouts of the vessel or that Woman i mentioned as i did move from Florida in the late 80s to raise my family FYI that was also a time that Drug Dealers would steal boats to transport Cocaine from the Bahamas to the coast of Florida and often they would burn and/ or sink that boat to get rid of the evidence and if we knew about it we used to go do a dive on it to salvage anything we could salvage and sell at Flea Market for cash to help support or offset the cost of our Diving hobby
Looks like that boat is in Goodland,Fla. Probably the guy didn't pay the rent at the marina so they cut it loose. It floated that far before it filled up with water (no power to run the bilge pump) and just sank on a sand bar. You want a boat for free? Just go to some marinas and ask if there are any boats way behind in the rent. Get the owner and see if he will give you the boat but you may have to pay the back rent. Depending on the boat it may be well worth it.
Really true. used boats are so plentiful nobody wants them. Marina's are loaded with abandoned boats sill on jack stands rotting away in the weather. Also check the larger thrift organizations in coastal areas. Very common to donate boats to charities for the tax write-off.
Many decades ago, I spent some time at a marina helping a friend fix up an old wooden Bay-Built work-boat, and at a nearby slip was a half-sunk 28 foot Owens cabin-cruiser. I lusted for and dreamed about raising and saving that old hulk. But never mind any legal issues, I learned a penniless teenager like myself didn't have a chance. But somehow, when no one was looking, I did manage to salvage the 'wheel' - a pretty little chrome thing with a teak center and spokes. Still have it today, hanging in my laundry-closet!
Free boats are pretty easy to come by, and you don't have to settle for a sunken boat either. There are plenty of folks who are looking to get rid of their old boats. If they can't sell them, they will either have to pay someone to dispose of it, or they can abandon it somewhere and hope they won't get hit with disposal fees later on, which can be astronomical. If you can't find an abandoned boat, check out marinas and storage yards, boat repair facilities, etc., and ask questions. You never know, you might just get lucky. A friend of mine found a 38.5 foot Abeking & Rasmussen sailboat abandoned in Florida. He claimed it, titled it, refurbished it, and is still living on it many years later. It's worth about $160k or so, last I checked. The owner stopped paying the slip fees so the marina untied the boat and let it drift away during a storm. It spent a few years on a sandbar before my friend found it and decided to inquire about it. He ended up getting the boat, but even a "Free" boat is not really free. There are always expenses involved, like titling, insurance, renovation costs, fuel, slip fees, maintenance, etc. Even so, living aboard a boat can be much cheaper, not to mention far more exciting and rewarding, than living ashore, though you really have to have a taste for adventure, a good attitude, and the will to never give up. Even if you are able to find a FREE boat, remember that boats are a money pit, but with some hard work, you could find yourself sailing to exotic locations and living the dream. If you're looking to live aboard, I HIGHLY recommend you think this through first, or at least take a sailing vacation to see if it's really what you want before jumping off the deep end.
Great information, I was always under the impression in Florida that you could salvage the hole and take ownership of them. Thanks for clearing that up for me
Beautiful logical thought process. Stepping back and critically analysing common assumptions about salvage laws and the cost of doing so. Bullet dodged.
You are correct Captain House. I researched this sometime back after our of our hurricanes. About the only way to do it is to get yourself licensed as a towing and salvage company, get an owner contract to recover the boat and then if the owner does not pay the recovery contract or storage fees, then and only then you can file the proper legal actions to sue and foreclosure your mechanics lien. But as the recovery firm you have to pump out any fuel tanks, pull a boom around (basically all the environmental protections you can think of and then add the same number of rules you didn't even know existed) the vessel float it and then remove and store it. So, with all that, it seems clear that Tallahassee has decided they are trying for the Guinness record for the most derelict and abandoned eyesores.
Very possibly. Being effected by govt of all levels I saw laws passed that were only the pet peeve of some politician or their friends. That is how we end up with stupid and weird laws that make no sense unless you know the backstory.
Thats open corruption for you...and USA is littered with it. :/ Could be nice place to live, but too much corruption, religious nutjobs and healthcare sucks
No. Believe it or not, the FL legislation came as a result of treasure hunters and salvors tying up the court system with "It sunk, it's mine" cases when the owners were not even back on shore yet.
Great video! Thanks for posting. My brother is a Coastie in Florida and I've had this conversation with him a number of times when he would tell me about how its not that uncommon to come across abandoned boats. Thanks again! I'm sending this video his way.
We should bear in mind Maritime law applies to all boats at sea, and should apply to any boat adrift in the waterways. At the very minimum, if you see a ghost ship drifting across the waterways - feel strong to get her to a place where she can be secured, then just leave her there until you can get title.
Found this so interesting from a marine insurance point of view as here in South Africa the salvage cost with conditions would have fallen to the insurance company. I live in the Johannesburg area so we do not have any of the coastal problems that you deal with at the coast.
Hmm... interesting. I stumbled upon this video in one of my many TH-cam wormholes I go down daily and to be honest i don't like subscribing to very many channels but you seem like a good dude, like the work shop set up (looks like mine) and I appreciate the sign off u left for viewers. Gonna subscribe and like this video. Cheers
Wow, that's amazing. What's the reason? They're just REALLY bad? I get that boat ownership is a generally a money pit, but what's the difference from any other boat that hasn't been cared for?
NsKrewtable There are. People who love wooden boats call them Woodies. People call people who love Woodies, Woodies.... Go figure. People who want to get in a boat and go boating with friends usually by fiberglass, but people who like spending part if not all of a trip working on the boat, don't mind the time they spend endlessly cleaning and sending and sealing and painting and polishing. Like a guy who spends all day Saturday working on his classic mustang and all day driving it on Sunday and winks at it every night when he comes home from work...
NsKrewtable "I would have thought there were people out there who like wood boats and also don't mind the extra maintenance. That's surprising." When I used to live out on the Sacramento Delta, there were quite a few people, (some were quite notorious) who would find abandoned boats in really bad shape and just float them up and live in them. They wouldn't fix them up beyond what was necessary to keep them floating. You'd be surprised what little effort is required to keep a wood plank boat afloat. The quick fix is to just throw enough bilge pumps in to keep it floating, or even paddle it over to a beach, or shallow area to let it sit. I've seen people take sawdust and just spread it around the planks outside the hull and let the force of the water getting sucked up into the cracks clog it. Another favorite is to just take anything that floats, e.g. Styrofoam, plastic jugs and containers etc. and stuff it down into the bilges. The water seeps up in and around the stuff, but the boat can't sink. After a few years planks can start to just fall off the hull because there's really nothing holding them on, and no pressure outside the hull because the floatation has neutralized the pressure.
it kinda depends on how bad the damage to the hull is on how hard it would be to raise, I mean if you can "find" the breach, and seal it, using some kind of patch sealant, or injection foam then it's just a case of pumping out the water. It sounds like there's more legal wranglings than practical difficulties in raising a boat like this.And getting the owner to actually pay, because you can't hold his boat until he's paid.
Perhaps have a barge with a water tank on it, to pump the water from the boat into, then drain from the bottom of the tank (as oil etc tends to float), this might avoid contamination issues, as polluted water is not just dumped into the waterway. Perhaps use float valves to drain once the water has reached a certain level.
I work for a commercial Salvage company I can tell you from experience raising the boat incurs a lot of cost, that being said if you know what your doing and have the right equipment it's really quite simple as long as you are prepared to contain for any environmental situations. A simple principle of pumping more water out that's coming in and a way to patch or fix it.
A 1965 to '67 37' Egg Harbour Convertible, probably with Chevy Crusader engines. A friend of my grandfather had the same boat when I was a kid. At that time my grandfather had a '67 32' Pacemaker Convertible with Crusader engines. My parents took ownership of the Pacemaker in '77. Very similar boats built in Southern New Jersey. This boat now would be major project that might be worth $1,000 to $3,000 BEFORE it sank.
I'd do it depending, but my skill-set allows it (I rebuild large diesel engines and components). I'd scuba down and vacuum out any standing diesel in the vessel, airbag the bilge and float it to the surface ($100), tow it home or to port (fuel cost or low-boy rental, probably about $1,700). An engine rebuild for me to do it, $6000 including machining the crank, line bore, new rockers (if not over-head cam), new head, new sleeves, new pistons, new cam and rebuild kit. Re-hose everything ($1000). All electronics underwater that are not water tight ($2,000). Woodwork, paint and fixtures ($2000) and other expenses I would estimate around $1200. So total restoration with recovery for me would be around $14,000 give or take. To figure if that is worth the effort, I'd have to determine the current "sold" prices on the same or like boat in decent to bad shape. If they still sell for $50,000 or more than $14,000 for me might be worthwhile. Thing is, unless you can do all the tasks on your own, it's not worth it. I get long block diesels with good warranties for on average $8500 or less for 14 liter on down, any brand. But you do have to re-valve for salt water use on those. It normally costs me about $3000 to rebuild most Kubota or Yanmar diesels used on gensets (that includes all machine work). Any diesel that escaped the engine or tank is already gone, same with oil. Not too worried about cleanup, oil and diesel floats on water.
Good info - thanks for the reminder that nothing is free. I'm looking at a submerged pontoon "working deck" 8x12 or so. In about 4' water in Homosassa and getting ready to give notice of my a intent via the proper channels. Thanks again for your insight!
I have salvaged upwards of twenty vessels. This one with the gunnels so close to the surface, very easy 4" air cooled pump will bring it right up. The damage to the engine will not really occur until raised and left flooded. Flush right away with diesel after raising and it's not a problem if it's only been down for a week or two. I have gotten them up and running after three to four weeks. Good luck with it
Back in the late fifties a friend of mine got involved in salvaging a vessel. He bought the boat from the estate of the owner who drowned when the boat sunk. he invested quite a sum in the equipment and tools he needed and during all of this the law got involved because a judge had ordered that the boat be brought up so they could use something in it for evidence. My buddy was delighted that the state would do it and save him a pile of dough. The state wound up spending several hundred thousand dollars because they had to retrieve it without damaging the so-called evidence. They finally got the boat in a warehouse and the judge and jury went there to examine the parts they were interested in and danged if the salvage company hadn't brought up the wrong boat. The Judge ordered the salvage company to return the boat to the place where they found it and fined them whatever the final cost for retrieving it was. The cables they had used to drag the wrong boat up had literally cut the one my buddy wanted up like slicing a cheese rendering it worthless. Come to find out one of the Judge's son -in- laws was under investigation for sinking the boat for insurance.
This was on the suggested list so I watched it on a whim. Really interesting story. Not as much fun watching videos of failed boat ramp experiences! LOL But I've also dumped a lot of money into the water. Learned some valuable lessons so if I ever get boat #4 it will be a much smarter purchase therefore much less painful and less expensive. Boats can provide unique experiences like aircraft. Its really a matter of making informed, smart decisions to avoid unnecessary draining of your bank account.
I had thought of that , so I asked my brother in law who owns a marine industrial shop, rebuilding engines. He said it sounds likely true , if Diesel engine still full of oil , was only immersed in water for weeks , not years , it would be fine . You would do a thorough flush for internals and it would run. Remember , it was war time . It didn't matter if it lasted one year or so, equipment was usually rendered inoperable and abandoned. You build your runways and few Quonset huts as hangars . Run the dozer to edge of jungle. Now it's scrap . I for one believe the vet , he was there. You think a vet would lie ?
Appreciate it man. Had boat anchored outside of our mooring field that cut loose and washed up on the rocks. Definitely not gonna be scrapping it now. Just gonna leave it be.
Here in the UK you cannot take any floating or sunken vessel without permission from the original owner and that is pretty much impossible unless it has been SSR'd (small ships register)
Hey Captain House did you see the sailboat and a few other boats just sitting filled with water and the state wound up getting them right by the Eau Gallie Causeway? Indian River. It was a while ago maybe after a storm..cant remember
Thank you for the information sir. I apreciate it. Im relatively new to diving myself. I still dont know much about other than the basics. But i have thought about diving for treasures much like metal detecting. I realize its apples and oranges. But im very intrigued by this.
$15,000 a day ur vessel is spilling fuel and fluid into the ocean. My uncles fishing boat in Hawaii caught fire at the dock. Took two other vessels to the ocean floor with it. Was getting charged 40k a day they sat on the bottom for 9 days. Insurance took care of it all payed him his 2million in insurance on boat.. cancelled his policy told him they will never insure another boat for him
That's crazy where I live you can claim boats unless it has heritage or military value and you may even be eligible for what is called the Abandoned Boats Program (ABP) which provides federal funding for the removal and disposal of abandoned and/or wrecked small boats.
there are ways to get around the hazardous issues with claiming a sinking vessel. unfortunately it's a lengthy process an you would have to work with someone with the state to do so. A friend of mine salvaged a 40ft yacht from the lake worth lagoon in West Palm beach Florida after Hurricane Jean. it took him about 3 months of jumping through hoops an it only costed him around $1,200 for a boat that was nearly worth $100,000. if you have the time an patience you can get ur own yacht
The t-shirt you have on Dinosaur rib joint Syracuse or Rochester . An did you buy it or some one send you it. I started way before the Syracuse ever opened their door. In the back parking lot. Motor cycle shop upstairs. Old couple had the corner bar, tattoo shop on side street entrance also. Some great parties back in the 70’s
It was a gift from an old girlfriend actually. She lived up near those parts and went to visit. I love the shirt and wear it all the time. Thanks for sharing your story. Love that.
Plenty of "free" boats at marinas on blocks. Most are 70's and 80's boats 32' and up with big blocks, one bad motor, 10 year old fuel with ethanol , and $20,000 in back storage fees. A huge expense to dispose of a boat properly. Old wooden Eggs were a work of art back in the 60's. Looked at a 33 Bert last year. 1979. Still had the original 400 gallon fiberglass fuel tank. Scary. And to think it costs over $1,000 to fill, plus insurance, summer and winter fees, repairs, etc.
That's the barge that sank in the providence harbor you can see it when your driving by on interstate 95 you can see the crane sticking out of the water
how about a couple of old zodiacs, push them under the boat, inflate them, then pump it out, or maybe use 4 high lift jacks (farm jacks) placed on slabs to prevent them from sinking into the mud, with some steel box section between to support the boat.
I was looking to do this too but then found out the real money is for the engine. I used to wonder why there were always good looking abandoned floating boats.
That boat is still there my wife and I where over that bridge a few hours ago she made a comment about it, a year later you would think they would have it gone by now they should let who ever wants it take it get it out of the water looks like shit sitting there
There are plenty of dreamers out there who don't realise that when a boat sinks it can be a write-off, even if the hull damage is minimal or even non-existent (burst seacock, maybe) and the superstructure looks fine. The engine is usually finished, most of the woodwork is ruined, all the electronic & electrical system - including the wiring, and so on. All you're actually recovering is a fibreglass hull and top with windows and masts. It'll need a complete - and I mean complete - refit, which will cost far more than a decent equivalent vessel in sailaway condition. Plus a) you've got all the work to do which means your free time is spent grafting instead of sailing, and a vessel that has sunk and been re-floated will always have that bete-noir on its record and command a substantially lower resale value than otherwise. Avoid like the plague.
don't forget mold and mildew which LOVES spray adhesive so while you've managed to bleach all the vinyl and replaced all the cushions, mold is having a field-day growing undisturbed inbetween the vinyl and wood.
In the Sacramento river Delta, they would just strip it of anything of value... like those really nice stainless davits!! It looks like the dash is above water, radar, radio, GPS etc etc etc :)
The interior, fuel tanks, fresh water tanks, electrical, navigation, steering, generators and propulsion system have to be showroom new being preserved in saltwater?? You sir forgot about the free food in the refrigerator & pantry too! YUM!!
Assuming ownership of a sunken vessel includes assuming ownership of liability for any environmental damage caused by the sunken vessel and vessel recovery. These costs can easily vastly exceed the actual value of the vessel. Only bid on such a sunken vessel if all associated environmental impact costs are paid or forgiven before sale (almost never.) Even then, you need to have a containment plan and systems in-place before even thinking of raising the vessel because if any leakage occurs (and it will) when raising the vessel, the environmental impact costs will fall on you anyway.
TKS for valuable info .Boat like that is a hole in the water to poor money into it anyhow. Tones of abandoned boats up for grab in many boatyards around Grate lakes just pay some of the storage fees.
I used to live in Key West, and they say the original economy down there was built on salvaging and plundering ships that would get stranded on the reefs. There was a lot of references comparing this activity with pirating, and there were stories of ships being lured onto the reefs with fake lights and channel markers at night. Guess Florida law evolved overtime to combat this sort of activity.
As a State employee working for the Florida DEP here in the Jax office, I can tell you that yes you would need to have someone in the Compliance department give a waterway impact inspection certification. I work in Permitting so I don't know all the steps involved, but since you decided not to pursue it, it's a mute point. Just wanted to give you the heads up for future reference.
Meanwhile, Big Money oil tankers go cruising by leaking all sorts of crud. Rigs in the Gulf spew or leak tons of oil/ crud into the water. But there's still some Govt suit making up BS regulations making it impossible to recover salvage. The state should get that boat out of the water ASAP. You say an environmental impact cert has to be given first. You should be sued for letting it sit there leaking all this time...IF you were Really concerned about the environment, not just about raking in permit fees and tax money.
You, sir are a real space cadet, because that's all you have between your ears-space. You are showing your ignorance and embarrassing yourself as you know nothing about what your spewing. Allow me to educate you since you have not a clue. Law Enforcement, Space Cadet Darrell, is responsible for patrolling. It's the owner's responsibility to inform law enforcement he has abandoned his boat. If you abandoned your car or if it were stolen, do you expect a regulatory agency to keep track of that? You call it in and take some responsibility. The law enforcement agency will collect a fee for beginning an investigation, conduct an investigation under Section 705.103, Florida Statutes, and determine the owner of the vessel. LOL, raking in permit fees.? You are a joke sir. You haven't the slightest clue what a permit costs, nor what kinds there are, nor the stringent analysis and regulations a Permittee has to adhere to. You should be grateful you have safe drinking water from your faucet-thanks to regulatory agencies. OH and by the way Space Cadet Darrell, if you see an oil tanker leaking, why not be a responsible citizen and call the Coast Guard, or Marine Wildlife Enforcement, whose job it is to investigate those, instead of whining behind your keyboard on TH-cam.
*seems to me if you hook to it with a strong enough boat you could re-float it and then bail out the remainder of the water to at least get it back to shore or to a dock but why would anyone want to if you can't do anything with it once you get it floated again? it's kinda sad but seems to me the state should be going after the owner to remove it being that it's blocking the water way like it is*
I'm not familiar with the area where it's sunk, but if it's considered a busy waterway, it won't be long before one Gov't entity or another finds out about it, and begins to put pressure on the owner to do something. If I were the owner of it, I'd salvage anything of value from it, then hire a strong boat to yank it (quietly, late at night) to much deeper waters.
I think the problem is that it is within state waters, so Maritime Law may or may not be involved. Maritime Law is another thing in open ocean waters. That said, if you devise a fool proof method or way to raise a vessel "easily" it would be an interesting project.
I spent 26 years boating with my parents on their boats over the years. We owned 5 different boats over that time period. My Dad had a sign hanging in the galley of one of our boats that said, Definition of a boat....it’s a hole in the water one pours money into!!! That’s why I’ll never own a boat. Love em, miss em, but I’ll never buy one. Maybe rent one for a vacation. I’m in my late 50’s now and I could back in our 42 ft Christ Craft in it dock backwards since I was 14 years old. I miss boating but I don’t have the time and cash for ownership.
I went by that boat today, it's at the Goodland bridge and it's not worth anything. Florida has a big problem with people abandoning boats that cost more to fix then they are worth.
Very cool! I learned a lot from this! Thanks for the info man! I think leaving that girl alone is the best play! Keep up good work I enjoy your channel!
Salvage involves hazard and risk. Been there and "done that". It's worth it if it makes you happy and fulfills a personal challenge. Expect it to be ten to a hundred times more work than it looks like. Remember, to be charged with theft in a Florida project, a registered owner must come forward and put themselves at risk of responsibility by filing a "complaint". How likely is this?
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If I was an adult I would take the boat
My old Neighbor 25 years ago was a certified retired navy diver. After Hurricane Opal, him and his son recovered around 30 boats of all sizes from 10' to charter fishing boats 60'. I saw all these boats in his yard! I asked him what he was doing and told me they all belonged to him as salvaged boats. It was an amazing site. Most of the boats were only under water for about a week or less. He told me any boat that was abandoned was forfeited by the owner. He used the registration number, called tax office, found owners number asked if they wanted their boat salvaged for so and so price. If they declined they 90% of time gave him the boat because penalties by the state would bankrupt them. Most boat owners don't have insurance. This guy made a fortune salvaging boats and was super cool guy.
It can be easy to salvage sunken boats in some circumstances, tow it to a tidal area and sit it on the beach is one free method, once the gunwales are above the water you've won , actually pumping out a boat that size can be done with a small electric pump in a few hours, even a 12 v bilge pump will do it overnight. If there's a big hole in the hull you cant get to drop a tarp over it outside and the water pressure will hold it in place as you pump it out.
A friend had his boat sink in 1988 or so and we raised it and redid it. Back before the world went nuts.
Before you had a bunch of out of control bureaucracies trying to capitalize on everyone's misfortune with their ridiculous fines.
@@scottnelson2384 they charge you to clean up the oil and then dump diesel back into the water to kill mosquitoes.
The two best days in a boat owners life. The day he buys it..........and the day he sells it.
if only that was not true...
....or the day he collects the insurance!
I didn't see your original video, but I like the info you provided in this one for anyone that might be interested in salvaging a derelict vessel, especially in your state. Thanks man!
Hey Capt'n, glad that you stated where you got your information. If you remember back in 2004-2007 we here in Florida had a few hurricanes.. Well, I use to raise these boats for people and the insurance company use to pay me for it (or owner). Anyways, I seen so many people misinformed thinking they can just go down and take what isn't theirs. I couldn't believe how many would argue that "its abandoned and I can salvage it", I just tell them that if they evacuate their house during a hurricane that I could just go in and take what I wanted? they shut up then. Well, to make a story short, I totally agree with you, those boats 99% of the time are not worth it. Well, enough of me taking up your time.. If you are in the market for some prolift lift bags, I have several I want to get rid of.. about 20k worth of lift.. Just send me a message. Take care and enjoy. Oh yea, retired 500 ton Capt, and commercial diver here. Back made me retire.
I am not a maritime lawyer but have been around a while and have always been under the impression that you can not lay claim to a marine vessel that is not yours. What you can do in certain cases is if the boat is unmanned and in danger you can remove it from danger or salvage it if it is aground or sunk and in danger of being further damaged and be compensated for your time and cost. I know of a case where a sailboat ran aground on the beach and the owner hiked a few miles to go get help and a gang of people descended on his boat and tore it to pieces claiming they were salvaging it as an abandoned boat.
I grew up in South Florida and for many years that law has been misused and altered its nice to know that the State has finally made a way for people to really understand the written law when i was a teenager and a Cerified Scuba Diver we were under the impression that after 72 hours a sunk or abandoned boat the owners lost their rights to that Vessel and it became finders keepers you are a smart man imo for not going after that one by any chance did you catch the name of that old EggHarbor ? in the1970s and 80s i used to work for a guy that serviced a old EggHarbor like that one and her name was CoverGirl she was at that time owned by a former Cover Girl model who throughout the years couldn’t afford to do the upkeep and maintenance we did bare minimum work she needed at the time in exchange for cruises up and down the Intracoastal Waterway i have not had any contact or information since around 1984 or 5 on the whereabouts of the vessel or that Woman i mentioned as i did move from Florida in the late 80s to raise my family FYI that was also a time that Drug Dealers would steal boats to transport Cocaine from the Bahamas to the coast of Florida and often they would burn and/ or sink that boat to get rid of the evidence and if we knew about it we used to go do a dive on it to salvage anything we could salvage and sell at Flea Market for cash to help support or offset the cost of our Diving hobby
Looks like that boat is in Goodland,Fla. Probably the guy didn't pay the rent at the marina so they cut it loose. It floated that far before it filled up with water (no power to run the bilge pump) and just sank on a sand bar. You want a boat for free? Just go to some marinas and ask if there are any boats way behind in the rent. Get the owner and see if he will give you the boat but you may have to pay the back rent. Depending on the boat it may be well worth it.
Norman Mcgill ... chya I used to work in Naples and go to and from Marco and goodland. I remember swing this boat there..... what's the update?
Really true. used boats are so plentiful nobody wants them. Marina's are loaded with abandoned boats sill on jack stands rotting away in the weather. Also check the larger thrift organizations in coastal areas. Very common to donate boats to charities for the tax write-off.
Norman Mcgill that's my secret hide-away,,,dammit Norman😅😅😅😅🍻🍻🤗
Many decades ago, I spent some time at a marina helping a friend fix up an old wooden Bay-Built work-boat, and at a nearby slip was a half-sunk 28 foot Owens cabin-cruiser. I lusted for and dreamed about raising and saving that old hulk. But never mind any legal issues, I learned a penniless teenager like myself didn't have a chance. But somehow, when no one was looking, I did manage to salvage the 'wheel' - a pretty little chrome thing with a teak center and spokes. Still have it today, hanging in my laundry-closet!
Great story and glad you salvaged a piece!! That is awesome. Thank you for commenting and watching. 👍🏻😁
Last time I was in Fla, I saw what looked to be a nice boat sunk in shallow water, and wondered why it was still there days later. Now I know. Thanks!
Free boats are pretty easy to come by, and you don't have to settle for a sunken boat either. There are plenty of folks who are looking to get rid of their old boats. If they can't sell them, they will either have to pay someone to dispose of it, or they can abandon it somewhere and hope they won't get hit with disposal fees later on, which can be astronomical. If you can't find an abandoned boat, check out marinas and storage yards, boat repair facilities, etc., and ask questions. You never know, you might just get lucky.
A friend of mine found a 38.5 foot Abeking & Rasmussen sailboat abandoned in Florida. He claimed it, titled it, refurbished it, and is still living on it many years later. It's worth about $160k or so, last I checked. The owner stopped paying the slip fees so the marina untied the boat and let it drift away during a storm. It spent a few years on a sandbar before my friend found it and decided to inquire about it. He ended up getting the boat, but even a "Free" boat is not really free. There are always expenses involved, like titling, insurance, renovation costs, fuel, slip fees, maintenance, etc. Even so, living aboard a boat can be much cheaper, not to mention far more exciting and rewarding, than living ashore, though you really have to have a taste for adventure, a good attitude, and the will to never give up.
Even if you are able to find a FREE boat, remember that boats are a money pit, but with some hard work, you could find yourself sailing to exotic locations and living the dream. If you're looking to live aboard, I HIGHLY recommend you think this through first, or at least take a sailing vacation to see if it's really what you want before jumping off the deep end.
Great information, I was always under the impression in Florida that you could salvage the hole and take ownership of them. Thanks for clearing that up for me
Beautiful logical thought process. Stepping back and critically analysing common assumptions about salvage laws and the cost of doing so. Bullet dodged.
You are correct Captain House. I researched this sometime back after our of our hurricanes. About the only way to do it is to get yourself licensed as a towing and salvage company, get an owner contract to recover the boat and then if the owner does not pay the recovery contract or storage fees, then and only then you can file the proper legal actions to sue and foreclosure your mechanics lien. But as the recovery firm you have to pump out any fuel tanks, pull a boom around (basically all the environmental protections you can think of and then add the same number of rules you didn't even know existed) the vessel float it and then remove and store it. So, with all that, it seems clear that Tallahassee has decided they are trying for the Guinness record for the most derelict and abandoned eyesores.
Sounds like a politician lost a boat to a salvage recovery, and passed legislature to prevent it from happening again.
Very possibly. Being effected by govt of all levels I saw laws passed that were only the pet peeve of some politician or their friends. That is how we end up with stupid and weird laws that make no sense unless you know the backstory.
Thats open corruption for you...and USA is littered with it. :/ Could be nice place to live, but too much corruption, religious nutjobs and healthcare sucks
I prefer the corruption, religious nutjobs and healthcare in Iran.
Hellsong89, If your believing that nonsense prevents you from coming here, then good! Please stay away!
No. Believe it or not, the FL legislation came as a result of treasure hunters and salvors tying up the court system with "It sunk, it's mine" cases when the owners were not even back on shore yet.
Great video! Thanks for posting. My brother is a Coastie in Florida and I've had this conversation with him a number of times when he would tell me about how its not that uncommon to come across abandoned boats. Thanks again! I'm sending this video his way.
You have got to be kidding, right?
We should bear in mind Maritime law applies to all boats at sea, and should apply to any boat adrift in the waterways. At the very minimum, if you see a ghost ship drifting across the waterways - feel strong to get her to a place where she can be secured, then just leave her there until you can get title.
Found this so interesting from a marine insurance point of view as here in South Africa the salvage cost with conditions would have fallen to the insurance company. I live in the Johannesburg area so we do not have any of the coastal problems that you deal with at the coast.
That old Egg may be gas, but most likely is also a twin. Everyone involved would LOVE for you to take possession of that boat.
+Rob Neville - I hear you. This would make quite a channel. Would anyone sponsor the rebuild!? Better start a Patreon. Lol
Hmm... interesting. I stumbled upon this video in one of my many TH-cam wormholes I go down daily and to be honest i don't like subscribing to very many channels but you seem like a good dude, like the work shop set up (looks like mine) and I appreciate the sign off u left for viewers. Gonna subscribe and like this video. Cheers
good luck and good for you on your research of said boat........well done
Hi There are boats like this in New York that aren't sunk and run that the owners can't give away. Stay away from this one.
Wow, that's amazing. What's the reason? They're just REALLY bad? I get that boat ownership is a generally a money pit, but what's the difference from any other boat that hasn't been cared for?
I believe that Egg is all wood and the maintenance on that is crazy.
I would have thought there were people out there who like wood boats and also don't mind the extra maintenance. That's surprising.
NsKrewtable There are. People who love wooden boats call them Woodies. People call people who love Woodies, Woodies....
Go figure.
People who want to get in a boat and go boating with friends usually by fiberglass, but people who like spending part if not all of a trip working on the boat, don't mind the time they spend endlessly cleaning and sending and sealing and painting and polishing.
Like a guy who spends all day Saturday working on his classic mustang and all day driving it on Sunday and winks at it every night when he comes home from work...
NsKrewtable "I would have thought there were people out there who like wood boats and also don't mind the extra maintenance. That's surprising."
When I used to live out on the Sacramento Delta, there were quite a few people, (some were quite notorious) who would find abandoned boats in really bad shape and just float them up and live in them. They wouldn't fix them up beyond what was necessary to keep them floating. You'd be surprised what little effort is required to keep a wood plank boat afloat. The quick fix is to just throw enough bilge pumps in to keep it floating, or even paddle it over to a beach, or shallow area to let it sit.
I've seen people take sawdust and just spread it around the planks outside the hull and let the force of the water getting sucked up into the cracks clog it. Another favorite is to just take anything that floats, e.g. Styrofoam, plastic jugs and containers etc. and stuff it down into the bilges. The water seeps up in and around the stuff, but the boat can't sink. After a few years planks can start to just fall off the hull because there's really nothing holding them on, and no pressure outside the hull because the floatation has neutralized the pressure.
it kinda depends on how bad the damage to the hull is on how hard it would be to raise, I mean if you can "find" the breach, and seal it, using some kind of patch sealant, or injection foam then it's just a case of pumping out the water.
It sounds like there's more legal wranglings than practical difficulties in raising a boat like this.And getting the owner to actually pay, because you can't hold his boat until he's paid.
Perhaps have a barge with a water tank on it, to pump the water from the boat into, then drain from the bottom of the tank (as oil etc tends to float), this might avoid contamination issues, as polluted water is not just dumped into the waterway. Perhaps use float valves to drain once the water has reached a certain level.
Perhaps use floatation bags with a strap going under the rear of the boat to make the entryway above water.
I work for a commercial Salvage company I can tell you from experience raising the boat incurs a lot of cost, that being said if you know what your doing and have the right equipment it's really quite simple as long as you are prepared to contain for any environmental situations. A simple principle of pumping more water out that's coming in and a way to patch or fix it.
+rpdiamond - Wanna come down and get this thing raised up. We can make a vid on it.
rpdiamond
Awesome video! I just found the Yacht video and this one and subbed! Lovin all of your videos!
A 1965 to '67 37' Egg Harbour Convertible, probably with Chevy Crusader engines. A friend of my grandfather had the same boat when I was a kid. At that time my grandfather had a '67 32' Pacemaker Convertible with Crusader engines. My parents took ownership of the Pacemaker in '77. Very similar boats built in Southern New Jersey. This boat now would be major project that might be worth $1,000 to $3,000 BEFORE it sank.
Very true. Good memories were had I am sure. Thanks for the info on the boat.
I'd do it depending, but my skill-set allows it (I rebuild large diesel engines and components). I'd scuba down and vacuum out any standing diesel in the vessel, airbag the bilge and float it to the surface ($100), tow it home or to port (fuel cost or low-boy rental, probably about $1,700). An engine rebuild for me to do it, $6000 including machining the crank, line bore, new rockers (if not over-head cam), new head, new sleeves, new pistons, new cam and rebuild kit. Re-hose everything ($1000). All electronics underwater that are not water tight ($2,000). Woodwork, paint and fixtures ($2000) and other expenses I would estimate around $1200. So total restoration with recovery for me would be around $14,000 give or take. To figure if that is worth the effort, I'd have to determine the current "sold" prices on the same or like boat in decent to bad shape. If they still sell for $50,000 or more than $14,000 for me might be worthwhile. Thing is, unless you can do all the tasks on your own, it's not worth it. I get long block diesels with good warranties for on average $8500 or less for 14 liter on down, any brand. But you do have to re-valve for salt water use on those. It normally costs me about $3000 to rebuild most Kubota or Yanmar diesels used on gensets (that includes all machine work). Any diesel that escaped the engine or tank is already gone, same with oil. Not too worried about cleanup, oil and diesel floats on water.
Good info - thanks for the reminder that nothing is free. I'm looking at a submerged pontoon "working deck" 8x12 or so. In about 4' water in Homosassa and getting ready to give notice of my a intent via the proper channels. Thanks again for your insight!
I have salvaged upwards of twenty vessels. This one with the gunnels so close to the surface, very easy 4" air cooled pump will bring it right up. The damage to the engine will not really occur until raised and left flooded. Flush right away with diesel after raising and it's not a problem if it's only been down for a week or two. I have gotten them up and running after three to four weeks. Good luck with it
Carter Sharp do u do this as a job or for yourself
I subbed . Stumbled across the video . Very interesting. I always wanted to raise a sunken boat or plane . The costs are crazy !
Back in the late fifties a friend of mine got involved in salvaging a vessel. He bought the boat from the estate of the owner who drowned when the boat sunk. he invested quite a sum in the equipment and tools he needed and during all of this the law got involved because a judge had ordered that the boat be brought up so they could use something in it for evidence. My buddy was delighted that the state would do it and save him a pile of dough. The state wound up spending several hundred thousand dollars because they had to retrieve it without damaging the so-called evidence. They finally got the boat in a warehouse and the judge and jury went there to examine the parts they were interested in and danged if the salvage company hadn't brought up the wrong boat. The Judge ordered the salvage company to return the boat to the place where they found it and fined them whatever the final cost for retrieving it was. The cables they had used to drag the wrong boat up had literally cut the one my buddy wanted up like slicing a cheese rendering it worthless. Come to find out one of the Judge's son -in- laws was under investigation for sinking the boat for insurance.
This was on the suggested list so I watched it on a whim. Really interesting story. Not as much fun watching videos of failed boat ramp experiences! LOL But I've also dumped a lot of money into the water. Learned some valuable lessons so if I ever get boat #4 it will be a much smarter purchase therefore much less painful and less expensive.
Boats can provide unique experiences like aircraft. Its really a matter of making informed, smart decisions to avoid unnecessary draining of your bank account.
I had thought of that , so I asked my brother in law who owns a marine industrial shop, rebuilding engines. He said it sounds likely true , if Diesel engine still full of oil , was only immersed in water for weeks , not years , it would be fine . You would do a thorough flush for internals and it would run. Remember , it was war time . It didn't matter if it lasted one year or so, equipment was usually rendered inoperable and abandoned. You build your runways and few Quonset huts as hangars . Run the dozer to edge of jungle. Now it's scrap . I for one believe the vet , he was there. You think a vet would lie ?
Never purchase the three Fs, if it flies, if it floats, if it fucks.
information stored... thank you
Instructions unclear. Flying boat now pregnant.
Hell yes, this is right! Fuckin funny dude!
+stoichiometric 👱🐎
This place reminds me of williams boat ramp on the alifia river in Riverview Florida. They have a bunch of boat's abandoned there, mostly sailboats.
Appreciate it man. Had boat anchored outside of our mooring field that cut loose and washed up on the rocks. Definitely not gonna be scrapping it now. Just gonna leave it be.
Here in the UK you cannot take any floating or sunken vessel without permission from the original owner and that is pretty much impossible unless it has been SSR'd (small ships register)
Are you going to do a video on you looking at that boat and deciding what you’re going to do? I hope so
Unfortunately no, that boat was cleaned up a few years ago. :(
Thanks for following it up so thoroughly!
honestly doesn't seem like a bad little boat haha. good find!
Lots of great information backed up by solid research. WTG !
fun fact, there's the exact model half sunk just like that in my country, probably they had a common leak issue
Good for you on salvaging a nice boat!
thanks for your expert advice! and your forthought I going to stick to title, dry dock or slip purchases....ty for posting
I wonder if the state is charging the owner of the boat a fine for everyday it sits there?
Hey Captain House did you see the sailboat and a few other boats just sitting filled with water and the state wound up getting them right by the Eau Gallie Causeway? Indian River. It was a while ago maybe after a storm..cant remember
The boat is in Goodland, Fla. Near Marco Island.... West coast....
Thank you for the information sir. I apreciate it. Im relatively new to diving myself. I still dont know much about other than the basics. But i have thought about diving for treasures much like metal detecting. I realize its apples and oranges. But im very intrigued by this.
Looks like that A/C unit on the forward part of the boat might be worth salvaging, *if* it had not been submerged at one time....
$15,000 a day ur vessel is spilling fuel and fluid into the ocean. My uncles fishing boat in Hawaii caught fire at the dock. Took two other vessels to the ocean floor with it. Was getting charged 40k a day they sat on the bottom for 9 days. Insurance took care of it all payed him his 2million in insurance on boat.. cancelled his policy told him they will never insure another boat for him
Why did 1/3rd give thumbs down on this informative video? Wow, it's like watching the news at night sometimes. Is this human nature now online?
I have been looking into the same thing here in ormond beach florida. Wonder if you can pump the water out if the tide is low enough.
That's crazy where I live you can claim boats unless it has heritage or military value and you may even be eligible for what is called the Abandoned Boats Program (ABP) which provides federal funding for the removal and disposal of abandoned and/or wrecked small boats.
there are ways to get around the hazardous issues with claiming a sinking vessel. unfortunately it's a lengthy process an you would have to work with someone with the state to do so. A friend of mine salvaged a 40ft yacht from the lake worth lagoon in West Palm beach Florida after Hurricane Jean. it took him about 3 months of jumping through hoops an it only costed him around $1,200 for a boat that was nearly worth $100,000. if you have the time an patience you can get ur own yacht
The t-shirt you have on Dinosaur rib joint Syracuse or Rochester . An did you buy it or some one send you it.
I started way before the Syracuse ever opened their door. In the back parking lot. Motor cycle shop upstairs. Old couple had the corner bar, tattoo shop on side street entrance also. Some great parties back in the 70’s
It was a gift from an old girlfriend actually. She lived up near those parts and went to visit. I love the shirt and wear it all the time. Thanks for sharing your story. Love that.
Plenty of "free" boats at marinas on blocks. Most are 70's and 80's boats 32' and up with big blocks, one bad motor, 10 year old fuel with ethanol , and $20,000 in back storage fees. A huge expense to dispose of a boat properly. Old wooden Eggs were a work of art back in the 60's. Looked at a 33 Bert last year. 1979. Still had the original 400 gallon fiberglass fuel tank. Scary. And to think it costs over $1,000 to fill, plus insurance, summer and winter fees, repairs, etc.
Well, I clicked on the sunken boat but I subscribed when I heard a Weird curious person who fixes things. Right in my wheelhouse.
Thanks for introducing yourself at the end. It's always nice to run into another person who hustles and does neat/weird stuff without a job title.
That's the barge that sank in the providence harbor you can see it when your driving by on interstate 95 you can see the crane sticking out of the water
We actually shot this in the Everglades close to Calusa Island Marina
Really interesting information. I had no idea. Good job.
this video just made a really old video of mine blow up outta no where... Thanks captain house!
Great information provided...Sharing it was instrumental on your behalf...Thank you again..
how about a couple of old zodiacs, push them under the boat, inflate them, then pump it out, or maybe use 4 high lift jacks (farm jacks) placed on slabs to prevent them from sinking into the mud, with some steel box section between to support the boat.
Thanks for the Florida waters info.
like the old saying: you get 2 good days with a boat, the day you buy it, and the day you sell it.....
I was looking to do this too but then found out the real money is for the engine. I used to wonder why there were always good looking abandoned floating boats.
That boat is still there my wife and I where over that bridge a few hours ago she made a comment about it, a year later you would think they would have it gone by now they should let who ever wants it take it get it out of the water looks like shit sitting there
Is the boat still there?
Great info. Laws are somewhat different here in Alaska waters.
Keep up the good work. I enjoy the videos
There are plenty of dreamers out there who don't realise that when a boat sinks it can be a write-off, even if the hull damage is minimal or even non-existent (burst seacock, maybe) and the superstructure looks fine. The engine is usually finished, most of the woodwork is ruined, all the electronic & electrical system - including the wiring, and so on. All you're actually recovering is a fibreglass hull and top with windows and masts. It'll need a complete - and I mean complete - refit, which will cost far more than a decent equivalent vessel in sailaway condition. Plus a) you've got all the work to do which means your free time is spent grafting instead of sailing, and a vessel that has sunk and been re-floated will always have that bete-noir on its record and command a substantially lower resale value than otherwise. Avoid like the plague.
don't forget mold and mildew which LOVES spray adhesive so while you've managed to bleach all the vinyl and replaced all the cushions, mold is having a field-day growing undisturbed inbetween the vinyl and wood.
So is it gonna be restored
No it was scrapped
So buying a new boat is cheaper than restoring a similar vessel?
In this case yes most likely.
In the Sacramento river Delta, they would just strip it of anything of value... like those really nice stainless davits!! It looks like the dash is above water, radar, radio, GPS etc etc etc :)
What about assuming the liability for a vessel that is a hazard to navigation?
The interior, fuel tanks, fresh water tanks, electrical, navigation, steering, generators and propulsion system have to be showroom new being preserved in saltwater?? You sir forgot about the free food in the refrigerator & pantry too! YUM!!
What was the outcome
Assuming ownership of a sunken vessel includes assuming ownership of liability for any environmental damage caused by the sunken vessel and vessel recovery. These costs can easily vastly exceed the actual value of the vessel. Only bid on such a sunken vessel if all associated environmental impact costs are paid or forgiven before sale (almost never.) Even then, you need to have a containment plan and systems in-place before even thinking of raising the vessel because if any leakage occurs (and it will) when raising the vessel, the environmental impact costs will fall on you anyway.
I've seen that boat so many times and wondered what the story was
I wouldn't bother. You can get them free all day long on craigslist... including some pretty large ones!
TKS for valuable info .Boat like that is a hole in the water to poor money into it anyhow. Tones of abandoned boats up for grab in many boatyards around Grate lakes just pay some of the storage fees.
How would it work in international waters?
I used to live in Key West, and they say the original economy down there was built on salvaging and plundering ships that would get stranded on the reefs. There was a lot of references comparing this activity with pirating, and there were stories of ships being lured onto the reefs with fake lights and channel markers at night. Guess Florida law evolved overtime to combat this sort of activity.
Damn. I live near a VA hospital that has a kayak launch, and near there are boats that are sunk and a couple yatchs in the mangroves.
As a State employee working for the Florida DEP here in the Jax office, I can tell you that yes you would need to have someone in the Compliance department give a waterway impact inspection certification. I work in Permitting so I don't know all the steps involved, but since you decided not to pursue it, it's a mute point. Just wanted to give you the heads up for future reference.
+dunhill1 - Super helpful, thanks a lot.
dunhill1 moot. moot point
Meanwhile, Big Money oil tankers go cruising by leaking all sorts of crud. Rigs in the Gulf spew or leak tons of oil/ crud into the water. But there's still some Govt suit making up BS regulations making it impossible to recover salvage.
The state should get that boat out of the water ASAP. You say an environmental impact cert has to be given first. You should be sued for letting it sit there leaking all this time...IF you were Really concerned about the environment, not just about raking in permit fees and tax money.
You, sir are a real space cadet, because that's all you have between your ears-space. You are showing your ignorance and embarrassing yourself as you know nothing about what your spewing. Allow me to educate you since you have not a clue. Law Enforcement, Space Cadet Darrell, is responsible for patrolling. It's the owner's responsibility to inform law enforcement he has abandoned his boat. If you abandoned your car or if it were stolen, do you expect a regulatory agency to keep track of that? You call it in and take some responsibility. The law enforcement agency will collect a fee for beginning an investigation, conduct an investigation under Section 705.103, Florida Statutes, and determine the owner of the vessel. LOL, raking in permit fees.? You are a joke sir. You haven't the slightest clue what a permit costs, nor what kinds there are, nor the stringent analysis and regulations a Permittee has to adhere to. You should be grateful you have safe drinking water from your faucet-thanks to regulatory agencies. OH and by the way Space Cadet Darrell, if you see an oil tanker leaking, why not be a responsible citizen and call the Coast Guard, or Marine Wildlife Enforcement, whose job it is to investigate those, instead of whining behind your keyboard on TH-cam.
moot.
I already like you weird-0 LOL, love how organized yer tools. Lets see what cha got, give us your best.... I subscribed....
Thanx for the Info. . Very helpful . Is Fla. responsible if you crash into one of those hazards ?
I boat a great looking Sea Ray and found out the hard way that engines are expensive. My 1st I/O. If I gt another boat it will be an outboard
Nice one mate that's really good advice and for sure a smart Person would stay away from that for all the reasons you have said a good job thanks
Good video, Captain. Great shirt, the original Dino was a big part of my diet back in the early days.
*seems to me if you hook to it with a strong enough boat you could re-float it and then bail out the remainder of the water to at least get it back to shore or to a dock but why would anyone want to if you can't do anything with it once you get it floated again? it's kinda sad but seems to me the state should be going after the owner to remove it being that it's blocking the water way like it is*
I'm not familiar with the area where it's sunk, but if it's considered a busy waterway, it won't be long before one Gov't entity or another finds out about it, and begins to put pressure on the owner to do something. If I were the owner of it, I'd salvage anything of value from it, then hire a strong boat to yank it (quietly, late at night) to much deeper waters.
I think the problem is that it is within state waters, so Maritime Law may or may not be involved. Maritime Law is another thing in open ocean waters. That said, if you devise a fool proof method or way to raise a vessel "easily" it would be an interesting project.
+sailingsolar - I agree, I called FWC and it would be grand theft to take the boat without a title. No thanks!
I spent 26 years boating with my parents on their boats over the years. We owned 5 different boats over that time period. My Dad had a sign hanging in the galley of one of our boats that said, Definition of a boat....it’s a hole in the water one pours money into!!! That’s why I’ll never own a boat. Love em, miss em, but I’ll never buy one. Maybe rent one for a vacation. I’m in my late 50’s now and I could back in our 42 ft Christ Craft in it dock backwards since I was 14 years old. I miss boating but I don’t have the time and cash for ownership.
Information on point. Thank you. Subscribed immediately
I went by that boat today, it's at the Goodland bridge and it's not worth anything. Florida has a big problem with people abandoning boats that cost more to fix then they are worth.
Very cool! I learned a lot from this! Thanks for the info man! I think leaving that girl alone is the best play! Keep up good work I enjoy your channel!
Salvage involves hazard and risk. Been there and "done that". It's worth it if it makes you happy and fulfills a personal challenge. Expect it to be ten to a hundred times more work than it looks like. Remember, to be charged with theft in a Florida project, a registered owner must come forward and put themselves at risk of responsibility by filing a "complaint". How likely is this?
Well you willing to bet your freedom for boat theft if you're wrong?
I think the state can charge u with theft without the owner coming forward. I may be wrong though.
You're right never touch a sunken boat for liability reasons.