TowBoatUS San Diego Raises Sunken 30′ Owens
Time took its toll as a 30′ Owens sank in its slip at Fiddlers 
Cove Marina. Upon arrival to the incident, Captains Eric Lamb and Travis Basom set up Haz-Mat containment to prevent oil, fuel and debris from escaping into the bay while the salvage diver, Captain Shane Thompson, performed a quick survey of the sunken vessel then attached two 4000 lb float bags in strategic positions to maximize lift. As air was applied to the bags and the boat raised above the water a couple of 2 inch pumps de-watered the Owens at a combined rate of 18,000 gallons per hour, quickly pumping the water from the vessel. Before de-mobilizing from the salvage operation a preliminary survey suggest that a leaky shaft packing and dead batteries were the cause of the sinking.
With winter right around the corner here are a few tips to keep the shiny side above water.
– Check or replace your batteries, good batteries will last about four years. Most mechanics and boat yards can test the condition of your batteries. Weak batteries and a leaky boat is a surefire way to find out how well your insurance policy works.
– Check and double check your bilge system. Check for corroded wires, make sure the auto float switch works and is free to move up and down without getting stuck. One major cause of sinking boats is a float switch sticking in the “on” position which causes the batteries die and the boat to sink.
– Check or replace all you zincs. This is especially important if your plugged into power at your dock. Corrosion happens quickly and although it may not be an immediate cause of sinking over time it will wear out your exhaust manifolds which is the largest hole in a boat often 4″ to 12″ depending on what type of engine you have in your boat.
– Check your boat regularly. Weekly checks are recommended and never go more than two weeks without looking at your boat. If necessary, hire a service to keep an eye on it. Always check on your boat after a big rain or storm.
– Make sure the marina office has a way to contact you 24 hours a day. Often times boats sink and marina personnel cannot contact the owner which can cause delays and increased expense.
– Make sure that your boat is properly insured and that the coverage is current. Boaters often find out they don’t have proper coverage or that they have had a lapse in coverage and are forced to pay out of pocket. You are required to have your boat removed from the situation and lack of insurance is not an excuse when it comes to the United States Coast Guard or Department of Fish and Game. Call your broker and make sure you’re covered.
If you have any questions regarding these tips you can e-mail me at bbmsoffice@gmail.com