Help! My Seacraft sunk!!!

bitsamonkey · #1 01-01-2009, 01:35 PM

Hi to all, and a happy New Year. If anyone can see through their hangovers to read this, let it be known that I'm looking for help. My Seacraft sunk while diving on Tuesday off of Miami Beach. It's in about 20 - 25 feet of water. I'm sure I could salvage it with some lift bags and a gas powered pump. I'm a BoatUS member, but they only tow, and for them to lift and tow it in would cost me $4,000...exactly what I have in the boat.
I have dive gear, another boat and a gas powered compressor and I would like to salvage it asap.
I need some lift bags.
If anyone knows where to rent them, or has some they would rent, loan or whatever please let me know. Any help on the subject would be appreciated. I can also be contacted @ 786 252 2622. I'm willing to pay, just not $4000.
Thanks in advance, and I will be posting more details of how it happened when I get more time. Right now there is a lot to prepare and deal with.
Thanks again,
Till in Miami

JohnB · #2 01-01-2009, 02:27 PM

Truck tire inner tubes make a great lifting bags, and are easy to attach. Most boats when they go down, turtle, and are upside down. You will have to lift, and then flip it. I would use the lifting and bow eyes as attachement points.
Maybe put a tube on the front and on one side of the back to flip it, if it's upside down.

If it had a leak, you probably want to plug it. Once you get it near the surface, you could use 2 straps underneath it with tubes on each side to get the gunnels above the surface. If it is a stock cutout transom, you are going to have to work hard to get the back end "above water" before trying to pump it out. I have seen people try to tow swamped boats, and more often they roll over. Be careful if you have a line between the boats that you don't sink 2 trying to raise one.

eggsuckindog · #3 01-01-2009, 02:42 PM

Good idea on the truck tubes they should work, good luck and keep us posted

bitsamonkey · #4 01-01-2009, 02:45 PM

Thanks, we're considering all kinds of options. The tow is a possibility, but like you said, it would be hard to keep it from flipping.

Blue197320 · #5 01-01-2009, 02:53 PM

if you need any help let me know. i live in kendall if you need an extra boat out there for anything let me know. ill be glad to help if i can.

JohnB · #6 01-01-2009, 03:40 PM

A buddy of mine does salvage in the great lakes. Boats, planes, etc. Sometimes he puts a fitting on the gas tank filler, and then fills the gas tank with air and uses the gas tank to help make positive floatation. Their primary lifting items are tire tubes. It's easy to get one near the surface, the trick is getting it pumped out. If you not that far from the ramp, a couple of miles or so, it might be easier to slowly tow it with the tubes attached, and when you get it to the ramp, use a tow truck to slowly pull it up on the beach/ramp/trailer.

Be careful, you can easily sink another boat, or get hurt doing this.

thehermit · #7 01-01-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

My Seacraft sunk while diving on Tuesday off of Miami Beach.

First let me say I'm glad your OK and able to talk about it.

So what happened exactly?

McGillicuddy · #8 01-01-2009, 07:14 PM

Bitsamonkey, sorry to hear of your situation. Shi++! way to end the year

Master of the obvious here, but if you get to point of towing keep a filet knife or some bolt cutters near by in case you have to cut the tow rode to avert double disaster. And be sure the cleats or rings you attach to are stout enough that they don't snap out of place and become stainless projectiles.

Probably not a good time to ask but, what caused her to go down?

Best wishes for raising her safely and swiftly.

NoBones · #9 01-01-2009, 08:18 PM

Sorry to hear this....

Glad you are OK
I hope you left the anchor on her otherwise it
will drift off and may never be found.

Currents can do funny things to stuff on the bottom..

Good luck, see ya, Ken

Fr. Frank · #10 01-01-2009, 08:40 PM

I have raised half a dozen boats in my life, from 16' to 40'. Take my advice, do NOT tow it submerged unless you cannot pump her out. Lots of bad stuff can happen.

If you can, use a minimum of 2 boats and 4 divers to aid the recovery, each boat anchored fore and aft on either side of the sunken vessel.

If you have a cuddy on the sunken vessel, a twin-sized air mattress inflated half-full provides good lift from in the cabin it doesn't help at the surface, though.

Tied under the hull, inner tubes make great inexpensive lifting bags. Use at least 5 inner tubes and better yet use 7 -
1 at the bow tied to the bow eye,with NO scope
2 tied to the stern eyes, with NO scope on the lines
2 lashed under the hull by 8' of line, fixed about 2' forward of the transom. When inflated, they should be attached so as to be fixed just 4"-6"above the hard-chine.
If you use 7, fix the last 2 lashed under the hull amidships.

If you have transom cutout, you need to lift the stern higher than the bow, so you can pump it out. You can rent 1 or 2 small gas-powered trash pumps at Taylor rental, which makes it easier.

With the gunnels and transom above water, continue pumping until the boat is as high as possible. Tow the sunken vessel in an alongside tow lashed to BOTH recovery vessels, OR astern with a tow line at least twice the length of the vessel being assisted, and a very sharp knife close at hand.

I'll add more later. Start your planning with this.