she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

[boaterntexas]

Well I sunk my brand new boat, I have had it for only 3 wks and now shes under water. well not all of her, she sitting on the bottom so there is still about 6" of one side of the boat exposed, the whole head unit of the motor is still completely out of the water. we ended up beached one very ruff day, and the waves kept washing water onto the boat faster than the bilge pump could pump it out.. any suggestions on how to unsink this boat.. it's a 17' bass boat with a 115 hp merc outboard on it. every part of the boat is still accesible and it's pretty close to shore, on a fairly shallow man made lake in texas...<br /><br />Thanks,

 

[SCO]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

toughie. can you get a line to the bow and slowly pull it, after first breaking it free, towards shore just until the other side is up enough so that you can then pump/bucket bail the water out? I say this thinking that if it is submerged, the weight of the boat is just the weight of the boat. You cant pull it out full of water because the weight then becomes the weight of the boat plus the weight of the water. I guess this depends on the bottom. If mud/sand, then your ok. Is there a suitable tree nearby that you can use as an anchor to winch it out with a come along or other, or can you get your tow vehicle out there. Maybe pull gently while friends rock the boat. I've seen a boat sunk at a launch and pulled out full of water. Not pretty. Your boat probably has a lot of floatation, so I bet it is relatively light.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

You could rent a gas powered pump, to pump the water out of the boat. The trick would be to get enough buddies to somehow lift the boat enough so all the edges of the upper deck are at or above water level. Since it should have floatation foam, and since it is mostly submerged, it should lift fairly easily with enough guys. With all the upper edges at or above the water level, fire up the gas powered pump, and it should draw the water out of the boat fast enough so it will float fairly quickly. I know this works because I was involved in the raising of a 40 foot aluminum hulled houseboat that we were rebuilding the interior that had sunk at the marina. The water was right at the edge, and our trusty Honda pump had that thing floating and water free in about 30 minutes. Good Luck...

 

[roscoe]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

Floatation bags secured under the hull, then inflated slowly to raise the boat, SSSSSlowly.<br />You will want to place the bags more toward the stern, to protect the motor. A large diameter tube for tubing can be used. Just make sure it is anchored securely so it doesn't come rocketing out from under the boat and hurt someone.<br /><br />Then with boat slightly above water level, start emptying. You can use a small portable generator to power the airpump/compressor, and also to power a submersible pump. You should be able to get everything you need at a rental center.<br /><br />Have I ever done this myself? No. But I watched a father and son do it last summer. They both swore that the plug was in.<br /><br />Good Luck.

 

[Boatist]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

boaterntexas<br />If you could find a way to get motor off would really help. I would try pulling the plug. At least my buddies 19 foot bass boat with the plug out will float level but about 6 inches low. If you pull the plug water may just run out and boat lift. It will not lift any water if it is full. To me the key is finding a way to get motor off.

 

[boatingfool]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

boaterntexas,<br />That really $ucks!!<br /><br />Where abouts in Texas are you??<br />I'm also in Texas.<br /><br />Wichita Falls.

 

[SCO]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

good point boatist, being new it might float if the water has a way to drain. If you try to pull it toward shore, then plug should be out , then put it back in prior to bailing.

 

[blifsey]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

What a bummer...Is this something insurance would pay to have done professionally? Although I've never done this, the float bag idea sounds like best idea. Seems like dragging it could also damage hull bottom.<br /><br />Whatever you do, best of luck...

 

[roscoe]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

Float bags are what the pros use. As this method supports the hull, as opposed to lifting from an eye. I have seen them do this with a 27' sail and a 32' powerboat on Lake Mighigan. Of course they had much bigger equipment, and divers etc, to do those jobs. It really looked quite easy for the father/son team I saw do it.

 

[93evinrude]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

If you can't get a hold of the float bags I would try the following.Using 4 to 8 friends,a large truck tire or similar item(maybe even car tires),I would try to lift the front end slowly.If you can get it high enough you may be able to get enough water out of it that when lowered quickly with tire(s)) now placed further down the hull(as far as possible) to use as a pivot point,it may float high enough to then use pumps.You will need your motor all the way up.<br />Note:without actually seeing how the boat is sitting etc.,I do not know if this has a chance of working.

 

[kglinz]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

If you can get a tarp under it, get several friends and slide tarp under it and hold the edges of the tarp up to block water from re-entering the boat. Rent a 3" Homelite thrash pump from a rental store and pump the water out.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

Boatern,<br />Well not that the weather has turned, you will need a good chain/cable and some chain saws. Saw out the block of ice the boat/motor are encased in and drag ashore with your truck. Let it thaw before putting it back on the trailer. Perhaps the Merc is too much motor for your vessel? Good luck. Been there, done that.

 

[38plymouth]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

I had this happen to me twice with a bass boat. I pulled the front up to shore as close as possible. Then I got a good car jack and a few boards. I had to dive under water a little but I eventually got the jack under the rear of the boat in the center. You need at least one person to hold the boat steady as you jack it above the water line. It doesn't have to go real high, just enough to stop water from coming in. Then either bail it or pump it until it floats on it's own. It really wasn't that hard to do. Having a couple extra people to hold the boat steady would really help alot.

 

[crazyray]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

the easy way to so it is with a couple of inflateables weather they are tubes rafts or what ever<br />that and an air tank like you can get from wal mart for 15 bucks even a cpl of ole inner tubes would work just take rope and secure under the boat then air them up boat floats then either the boats own bilge pump or some other pump to empty her out<br />no straining and for sure no jacking on hull

 

[Seaboo2]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

A cheep (but possiably rough on the boat) is to jack it up (somehow...as sugested above sounds like a good way) rent (beg, borrow)a pump (maybe even buy a bilge or 2 and wire them to a battery and wait)when it starts to float, set up a z drag (if near land and a tree) and drag it up on shore all the way a tarp under the hull will protect it some), drain it out when all the water is out get many friends push it back into the water and tow it with another boat to a ramp and retrive.... Hum... sounds like I've done that once before....

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

All the above are great solutions..<br />sorry to hear about your troubles. Let us know what happens and post some pictures. I would love to see it!<br /><br />Tallman

 

[boaterntexas]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

SHES FREE!!<br /> well I got it un sunk, and to my surprise it was not that hard, got lucky enuff to have a calm lake, and some good friends.. NOw time for the rebuild an suggestion.. and how bout that motor slipping like that, where is the first place to look for a possible problem.. <br /> Thanks for all your suggestion, lifting it above the water line and bailing the water out worked great.<br /><br /> Thanks,<br /> Thomas NE-texas

 

[JAZZedBW]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

When in doubt, Ask JB!!!! He knows what to do!<br /><br />JAZZ

 

[SCO]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

You've got to tell us more about how you did it. Did you have to move it, jack it up, float it up, or just sit it upright on the keel? Was the power head submerged in retrospect? If so, immediate action is needed.

 

[Franki]

Re: she is sunk, hwo to unsink her???

Well, I have picked up and carted around my OMC 100HP many times all my myself by hand.. and no real problems..<br /><br />So two or more guys should be able to lift the rear of that boat up a foot or two and put something under it...<br /><br />Then take out the bung and go round the front and do the same..<br /><br />wait for a while and when the water has levelized with outside the boat, do it again.. (if you need to) until the boat is floating..<br /><br />then put the bungs in and push it to shore...<br /><br />I'd fill that motor up with oil if you can.. even if you can't get it out yet.. it will atleast slow down corrosion pitting on the bearing and bore surfaces... <br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Franki