Hope the owner gives the divers a real bonus, thats some dedicated workers right there.

As a former commercial diver who also did salvage, we would have pulled from the rear. Early on you could see the aft was afloat. Its easier to "wiggle" the floating end to help work the grounded end out.

Been boating over 40 years and always had a spare anchor aboard other than the one on windlass 👀. You always need a plan B on a boat

That first image looks like a modern day 3-hour tour.

here in Norway use from 2 to 4 different fuel lines and filter, on our boats (depending on purpose of the boat). The reason with multiple fuel line and filter, is that we can switch from a bad fuel line and filter, to an fresh one, while the engine is running. This can either solve a problem or buy us time, to clean the previous fuel line or get the boat in a better position, before investigating the issue

Viking's comments: "the boaters were completely incompetent".

Good stuff for a Wednesday thanks BG.

Can't believe the dedication of the divers. Incredibly difficult swimming with ropes and waves😮😮

Fuel interruption = the fuel filters got clogged by sediment stirred up by the rough weather and either they didn't have spare filters on hand or couldn't get them installed. Either answer means they weren't properly prepared to go offshore. Multimillion dollar boat beached because of the lack of the 7 Ps.

Nice breakdown, thanks!

Did something similar (swimming a line out) to a grounded trawler in 12 foot seas back in 1987, but we were more concerned with getting the crew off safely. A seagoing tug and derrick got her off a few days later.

Looks like the 1 st episode of Gilligan’s Island

Great video

3:09 "Divers having to do all this without a lifejacket or any sort of protective gear" Doesn't the lifejacket kinda make the "diving" part impossible?

What a circus from start to finish. Former USCG.

I´ve been in the same situation 9 times, rowing and towing, trying my best, with ropes and cords, from the bow to the tow, thank you all very much!

This has been there for a few weeks. This is probably the one that's been making the rounds at the boat shows. That wouldn't hurt that boat at all. They're built like a tank. There's a video out there somewhere of a Hatteras 53 sport fish that got caught in port during a hurricane. It went through a bunch of 12" pilings and was slamming against a sea wall for days in high waves. Didn't even lose any windows. Just kept slamming against the wall.

I couldnt imagine having that happen in the middle of a storm, the Ocean is truly terrifying.

I do not understand why they did not use a jet ski to run the line up to the beached craft. That poor bastard swam his ass off.

I think it's safe to say this is not covered under the TowUS Gold Plan!

'tow boats" 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 Maybe rubber rafts. 😁

Good thing the boat didn't run a ground in downtown Chicago. A couple days later nobody would be able to find it.

Though it was not mentioned, I guess the boats lost today :)

O no 😮😮😮

Tow Boat needs to get a heavy pull line for a boat of that weight.

I wonder if their windlass has a manual release so can be used to anchor without electrical power. it's rough but she should have hold anchor, even if just to slow down the drift towards the beach giving time for tug to get there in time before running ashore.

Well I’ll never know what it’s like to have a million dollar problem… haha that said, I’ve worked with Towboat US and SeaTow a lot over the years, but I’ve never seen sucker that big beached before.. damn she’s a beauty though

"Recoverable Hull Design" - by random guy in comment section, 12/3/2023. During new construction large, long pockets are built into the hull. These cavities house large inflatable rubber tubes, similar to ship launching airbags. During distress these airbags can be activated manually or automatically, and inflated with chemical activation, similar to automotive airbags. The hull ends up sitting on airbags while the vessel is beached, preventing damage and assisting in recovery. In a critical event such as large hull breach or capsizing, the airbags would prevent sinking, lessening the chance of complete loss of property. The components for such system already exist, and extremely high initial price of these vessels would absorb any manufacturing costs.

Good that they beach it at high tide. Being a convertible, they just need to wait for the low tide and deploy the rubber tracks and drive right off the beach onto the beautiful roads and be home in no time.

It's Florida. Happens every day.

That diver is a freakin pro.

I would think these guys would have a jet ski in their arsenal for running the rope to shore.

JetSki comes to mind

"most these tow guys are PROBABLY more prepared for these conditions than most boaters in general" seriously? probably?

🎵a three hour tour ... a three hour tour ... 🎵

Makes me want to rush right out and lease a Viking. Fuel cut to generator? Ok, can work around that for a little while. Fuel cut to engine? Wait .. what?! Anchor stored in a f**ked state? Hard pass. Now we get a new question if we charter for Marlin .. "So, what make boat are we going out in? Viking you say? Mkay, you can free our spot up, we're going to pass."

Seems like a jet ski would have beneficial in getting the lines to the boat.

What caused the lack of fuel??? Day tank ran dry and the auto transfer failed or the Captain was not familiar with the system override, OR failure of the auto shut down fire system that cut off the fuel salmonids? Why won't Viking say????? Probably wind up in court and then we'll find out.

The best part is when the dude shut up. But of course he thinks he has to needlessly comment. Hint: mute or turn the volume all the way down.

Bring in a light line, then pull in the heavy line using the light line. Wait until the next high tide (hopefully it will be as high as the one when they beached) while fixing the fuel issue.

I pay for Gold Towboat US protection. Assuming the owner of the victim boat paid for that, he really got his money's worth.

Wealth is no substitute for intelligence.

3 strikes wow bad day on the water is better than a good day at work .... well maybe not 😮😮😮😂😂

Those tow boat companies should have contacts with construction and excavating companies so they can get a dozer on site to push those grounded boats off.

Maybe bring a jet ski to run the lines in/out?

How much do y’all think this toll bill was?

A tow company without a proper tow line 😂. I don't know

Dumb mistake. Relying on tech to run a boat. QUESTION, why were there not spare anchors and line onboard, especially during a maiden type voyage???? I ALWAYS have more than one anchor and line. Three sets for offshore trips. No excuse for this beaching. Also should have had a hand held marine radio. I do. Always carry one for backup. They should have thrown over the spare anchors immediately, from the bow, tie at the bow, allow GREATER THAN 7 to 1 ratio line to depth, and called for help. Simple. If you are a Captain that is. We even made sure to have one or two mud anchors, and two claw anchors. If you are not qualified, or just stupid, never take any vessle into any bay or ocean. Or river... Just stay on land... Still hard to believe this crew was so ill prepared. I wonder about the owner...

"and the amount of fuel..." Good joke by the narrator. They couldn't "solve" the fuel interruption problem because a breakdown in communications between the ferry crew and the owner about the fuel state.

I can only imagine what that tow bill must have been

trying to turn the boat sideways on to the waves is counter productive . the sea / waves are lifting the rear stern so why not pull it out backwards / stern first .

All they needed to do was setup a high volume water pump and feed it into the sand under the boat.

seems like they should have 3 solid connection points on a boat..2 on the back and one on the front..then just hook all 3, pull on the 2 in the back, slack on the one in front, till off shore, then drop the 2 back lines and pull on the front..and if you hooked all them tow boats together you would have plenty pull power..

I wonder if the captain still has a job😂

Next time maybe hire a real TUGBOAT. Kite string to pull a multi-ton boat off the beach just doesn't cut it.

At approximately 1:17, I'm unable to understand what you said went wrong with deploying the anchor. Are you saying "Devil Blow"? Help needed in this statement.

Question ; could a shore based vehicle assisted by gently pushing the bow while water boats pulled ?

They need 97ft or bigger USCG vessel to pull this off.

That's $10 million beached right there.

We need a bigger tow boat

You won't see SeaTow out in those conditions!

Why are they pulling from the bow?

Hahahah!

I am not convinced about the anchor explanation...usually safety gear can be operated also manually, crap design if You can not release without power. This size vessel usually also have the option to run som equipment on battery power?

Past Time ironic name

Between the yacht crew and the recovery crew, that's just so much stupidity It's difficult to comprehend.

they don't want to miss the "salvage" money.

Why did they use tiny tiny boats instead of a very heavy 120 foot tug boat?

with about 100 volunteers, big air compressor and inflatable rafts to slide under the hull, it would be off the beach in 30 Minutes.

Anyone know how it cost to try pull it out

Anyone gotta estimate on how much it cost to get this boat unstuck?

Do some people call it beach del ray?

Fuel interruption? Like, absence of fuel?

How much was the bill?

Use a crane at low tide to dig around the vessel and make it deep enough behind her to float her at high tide.

This is a time when it is nice to not be a boat owner.

From the beginning of the video, it was clear that they were essentially pissing into the wind with that widely outmatched tow boat and rig; too little, too light for the job.

I want to know if Mr BvH talks like that at home?

If tow boat towed cars it would like towing a semi with a moped

Actually about 15 million dollar nightmare.

the TowBoat people should be wearing life jackets. If the Coast Guard wears them (they do) so should the TowBoat people.

Probably already been asked ... the stern looked to be still floating g, or close to it. Why not drag it off stern first? No doubt there's a reason why not🤔

I said 2 weeks ago, they we retrying backwards.They should have towed from the stern First , they could have had a line 2 times as thick it would have snapped trying to pull the bow around through the sand.I have done operations like this multiple times.The stern is actually bobbing up and between floating and aground.I am sorry to say you are 100% wrong about trying to pull the bow around.If you look at the hull design the bow is dug in because if the shape.The stern is flat with the bow dipping below for lift.Stern first!!!

And I thought cars were boat anchors.

coded: Boats are beached-

Good grief Mr Bill

they are using a rope size like using a sewing thread trying to lift a 1 lb weight.

Got to close to shore did ya? Drop the hook before this happens. On this day drop 2.

If ur in shape and have fins, swimming a line without a lifevest if much safer. Ur on the beach, so worst case, you let surf action bring you back to the beach. A vest would just tire you out.

Question: How much money did it cost to free this boat from the beach, all told?

A twin prop helicopter from the Army can lift it and face it foward no problem

You would that a company like Viking would have the resources to hire a proper salvage company.

It could’ve been a lot worse for the boat.

I have absolutely no sympathy for those who have way more money than sense.

I can't believe they don't have all the right equipment for this type of retrieval. A line throwing gun would keep swimmers out of harms way and they certainly need to invest in some heavier duty line. There were a lot of moves being made here that were unnecessary and dangerous. The big tow boat could have done it solo with the right leadership and equipment.

BAH HUMBUG....

$100,000.00 tow bill?

Thats just hard to watch seeing that Failure-- My 10cents worth. Owner should have from the start gotten a ocean going Tug that handles heavy duty work. It may have pulled the boat apart but its coming off the beach. Guaranteed Viking trying to cheap out on a million dollar boat. Pitiful!

What a charade watching these undersized tugs pretend that they can get the ship back out with onshore winds and a swell running. I'm sure they will get paid regardless of what happens. Really need to get a real tugboat and some chain.

a few things so wrong here! why put the 'diver' in so much danger? outboards + a person in the water in braking surf! NO, NO! the boat bringing tow line in makes sense, but why did that boat not deploy anchor and veer down? simple operation, that way would have been a lot safer! bow of boat kept head to sea, also then you only need 1 engine. he could then veer onto the boat get close enough to use a throw line attached to the main tow line, crew could then pull it in from the safety of the deck. it wasn't rough enough to tow the boat off the beach stern first! stern in slightly deeper water makes sense. Not trying to pull bow around. you say turning it around is the best way and that it makes it easier, as towing front the stern will make it dig in! you forgot one important fact that help you out! it's called the waves! the stern is still rising and falling! the bow is not! that is firmly aground! steady pressure on the tow line and the waves helps you out! stern lifts tow rope tugs the boat moves, repeat stern gets into deeper water along with the rest of the boat And yes i have used this method, the vessel was 32ft weighed 20 tons was aground on beach with 8ft breaking waves max depth of water in trough of wave 3ft in a 18 ft inflatable boat with twin 40hp engines.