Saving a boat by sinking it

[Chris.]

An unusual approach to saving a boat...




In short, this cruiser had just finished a major service and was under test when a steering failure occurred at speed. It ended up on the breakwater, well clear of the then water level.
While the boat could have been lifted off with a big enough crane, rising winds and seas forecast for that night (before the crane could arrive) made them decide to drag the boat off and sink it for future salvage. They (the insurer) claim that it was the environmentally friendly thing to do ie no shattered fibreglass and diesel floating around.
full article here:
http://www.afloat.com.au/www/79/1001...e/1200055.html

[soba]

Weeelll,

I see where they were thinking. And not being familiar with ALL the circumstances, it would be foolish to second guess those that made such a silly-seeming decision.

However, had it been me, I think some emergency flotation (liftbags are best, but dock foam or even plastic 50 gal drums) lashed to the boat before dragging it off, and then towing it to the yard (which was presumably close by) where it could be hauled. Seems better. But who am I to say?

Actually, I was onsite with a similar incident, and we used lift bags. Almost worked a treat, too.

*stone cold soba*

[WindHawk]

Ouch.

[Nick C]

Reminds me of an old wooden sailboat an old guy used to sail around Portland OR in the Williamette and Columbia Rivers. The story was it belonged to the King of Sweden and when he died his will said to sink it. They sunk it, in 20 feet of water. Then they brought it up and sold it!

It was a beautiful boat and this guy always had a couple of good looking young honey's on it working the sails. He must of felt like a king!

[mike hanyi]

I heard a simmilar story maybe the same

a very beautiful yacht was sunk in sweden but after many many years they brought it up and restored it. now it is working cvharter in sweden.

I think it was a metal motorboat

mike

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

just to explain - the steam launch Dolly was built in 1851; she is the world's oldest mechanically propelled vessel.

She has spent all her life on Lake Windermere, where she sank when the lake froze in 1895. She was forgotten about until she was found by divers in 1960, when she was raised and put back into service.

For more steamboat porn, see here:

http://www.lakelandartstrust.org.uk/...llection.shtml