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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.

Never purchase the three Fs, if it flies, if it floats, if it fucks.

Sounds like a politician lost a boat to a salvage recovery, and passed legislature to prevent it from happening again.

The two best days in a boat owners life. The day he buys it..........and the day he sells it.

A friend had his boat sink in 1988 or so and we raised it and redid it. Back before the world went nuts.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Beautiful logical thought process. Stepping back and critically analysing common assumptions about salvage laws and the cost of doing so. Bullet dodged.

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!

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.

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

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

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.

Is this boat located in the Keys by any chance? I was just curious since I live at the end of the road in Key West.

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 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.

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 ?

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!

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.

Awesome video! I just found the Yacht video and this one and subbed! Lovin all of your videos!

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.

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.

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 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!

Should talk to the coast guard and local marine police about raising a sunken vessel. I do know on an inland lake someone raised a boat and restored it. The boat had flipped and sunk 10 years prior and the owner didn’t bother raising it.

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'm pretty sure I was looking at the same egg harbor on boat angel at auction.

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.

Very interesting! Had no idea that boats were just left like that. Good info 👍 thanks !

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.

Good video, Captain. Great shirt, the original Dino was a big part of my diet back in the early days.

Great information provided...Sharing it was instrumental on your behalf...Thank you again..

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

good luck and good for you on your research of said boat........well done

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.

thanks for your expert advice! and your forthought I going to stick to title, dry dock or slip purchases....ty for posting

Thanks for following it up so thoroughly!

Appreciate the heads up. I won't buy a boat I know have been sunken now.

I know that boat.. an Egg Harbor..... I delivered that Boat around from Dania for these 2 ladies that bought it around 2011.. I don't remember who they are anymore but I delivered it to the Marina there and I never saw it move anymore.. I would pass by every few years coming back from the islands and still see it there and looking worse for wear.. She was a good boat back then.. but I would not touch it now... Parts maybe... Old Egg Harbor chrome parts..lol. Not even those are worth anything in today's environment.. The Mahogany wood.. yes. but no one will take the trouble to work with it.. So a complete loss..

Good for you on salvaging a nice boat!

Lots of great information backed up by solid research. WTG !

like the old saying: you get 2 good days with a boat, the day you buy it, and the day you sell it.....

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.

Great video. Really informative and explains a lot.

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 wonder if the state is charging the owner of the boat a fine for everyday it sits there?

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

Keep up the good work. I enjoy the videos

Well, I clicked on the sunken boat but I subscribed when I heard a Weird curious person who fixes things. Right in my wheelhouse.

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.

Since I live in Fl that is good news to know thanks for the video.

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.

Hmm... interesting. I stumbled upon this video in one of my many KZfaq 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

Is that the free tape measure from Harbor Freight? I have 3 of those.

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.

You're right never touch a sunken boat for liability reasons.

What about assuming the liability for a vessel that is a hazard to navigation?

Really interesting information. I had no idea. Good job.

Thanks for the Florida waters info.

I've seen that boat so many times and wondered what the story was

Holy crap! Thanks for the eye opener!

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.

I subbed . Stumbled across the video . Very interesting. I always wanted to raise a sunken boat or plane . The costs are crazy !

Is the boat still there?

$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

No B.S. ! Just a lot of straightforward information. Well done !

Thanks for the good info on this, because I was thinking of doing the same thing.

I like weird.....great information. You have a great week.

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?

Owner would lose any insurance​ claim titling the boat over. Assuming they have insurance.

boat stands for "bust out another thousand"

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!!

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.

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

I used to live in Florida and lived a big part of my life on FREE boats. I also traveled around South America and circumnavigated the Atlantic ocean on free boats but NOT EVER SUNKEN BOATS. FIRST OF ALL, know about boats. If you can't work on one this ain't for you. NOW THEN Go to a big busy marina with dry storage. The more expensive the better. You will get a better boat. Go WAY OUT BACK and look for something that has been there for YEARS. They store junk under it. NO WOODEN BOATS, only fiberglass. When you find what you want go ask the manager about it on the first week of the month. If storage has eaten it up It is yours. Tell them you will take it off their hands for FREE as soon as they get a storage title for it and I will need a week to move it by land or till the end of the month to make sure it is seaworthy (if you are taking it by water). (that is why you approach them at the first of the month) In Florida it costs About $500 to get a storage title for the marina to get rid of it. They will want you to pay it but you say no. You could be renting that space out for $500 (check their rates first) a month. Will you have it gone in 30 days? Here is my number, call me when you have the storage title. I have had probably 18 or 20 free boats in Florida from 24 to 38 feet. I live in Alaska now and I went to look at an aluminum crab boat to buy. It was too much but we found another one we got for free and and it cost less to fix up than what he planned to buy one for. We also got the owner to throw in the crab license and that was probably worth about 10 grand. That was a lucky one though. We just caught the guy at the rite time. When we went back to haul it out, he said that twenty minutes after we left he was kicking his ass for making the deal. He said he could have sold it for 40K tomorrow. BE CHOOSEY and be able to deliver on your part of the deal and they will call you in the future. Remember, If you pay ANYTHING for it you get what you pay for.

I already like you weird-0 LOL, love how organized yer tools. Lets see what cha got, give us your best.... I subscribed....

Sounds to me like the State needs to amend the law so a citizen can claim a sunken vessel sooner.

I tried to get this boat when it was mored in goodland.. always liked the style

Thanks for that advice sounds good to me

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

I plan to sub and wait and see what you decide to do. Also like your idea of setting up a patreon site if you move forward. Good luck!

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.

Subscribed right now, cause I'm that curious... go on! Respect.

can you get it out of the waterway through some sort of public nuisance / danger to navigation statute? thus avoiding incurring costs . . .

Wow, I didn’t know it was that much trouble. Great video

If you read me a bed time story i'd be asleep in 30 seconds.

How would it work in international waters?

honestly doesn't seem like a bad little boat haha. good find!

California law is a bit different.. i got my 26 footer for $1 and kept it in the slip she still sits in to this day. Slowly working on it but the interior is basically brand new. I plan on pulling the chevy 454 and bravo 2 drive off of it and converting it to run an OM617 mercedes-benz turbo diesel engine.. still working on fabricating the mounts. I will be reusing the bravo 2 drive after it’s rebuilt. The way i see it, whatever i put into my boat I basically bought it for. Seeing as in California people can’t give lien sale boats away for free the cheapest they can be sold for is literally $1...

So buying a new boat is cheaper than restoring a similar vessel?

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

It is like becoming a partner with someone that has their own business , then all of sudden you have become responsible for the debts of the business,

Can you imagine having a yacht and find out someone is squatting in it?

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.

hi there - haven't seen any "derelict vessels" videos lately. have i missed something ?