Boat Recovery
When the keel was ripped off a 40 foot sailing yacht it was not safe to float and be towed and had to be placed onto a barge for transport to Tahoe City Marina
Boat Salvage is not the only salvaging to be done at Lake Tahoe although boat recovery is the most frequent of them all. Marine salvage can be a boat salvage, or keel from a sailboat, prop that has fallen off, a ripped off drive, deck cleats, outboard motors, these are just a few of the items that may be recovered from the depths of Lake Tahoe.B.J. started the bobbing bow award after Howard Turner know for organizing the Over the Bottom Race and his great singing, sank his wooden Chris Craft “Chris Miss”. Howard had it fully restored to pristine condition, then entered it into the Concours d’Elegance show and didn’t win or place. B.J. knowing all the work that was put into the boat after being salvaged several times felt it only fitting that Howard was to be the recipient of the Bobbing Bow Award.
The smallest item that B.J. has recovered was a 2 karat diamond that had fallen out of the setting. The diamond fell into Obexer’s harbor where the bottom is very silty. He was given an approximate spot where it may have landed, and into the water he went. After several minutes he resurfaced with the 2 karat diamond. Sunglasses are a regular item along with wallets to be recovered.
A gold wedding band was recovered in Emerald Bay just a couple days after the couple wed. When B.J. was able to recover the priceless wedding band it was tears of joy and relief for the Bride that her groom would not be without his ring.
No boat salvage or boat recovery is to small and as stated above the smallest of items can be recovered with the right equipment, good instinct and years of experience. B.J. loves a challenge when all seems lost he always seems to have a way of finding it.
B.J.’s son Brock has been putting in his time on Aluminator and helping
with boat salvage and boat recovery. Click link to view Brock’s boat salvage video https://bjsbargeservice.com/marine-salvage-lake-tahoe-california/from-the-depths-video-lake-tahoe-california/. He also has a knack for finding small items lost overboard while boating on Lake Tahoe, He recovered a wallet for a woman in distress from the loss of her ID which she was in need of to board her flight the next morning.
What Is a Boat Salvage or Boat Recovery
When a marine vessel, or boat is submerged in water and needs a professional marine salvager, or a boat recovery vessel to come and raise and pump out the boat. B.J.’S Barge Service will arrive on scene promptly after owner has called and given permission.
What we do;
- Assess the marine vessel/boat and surrounding area.
- Prepare diver and pumps, lifting straps/rigging and miscellaneous tools
- Diver in water assesses marine vessel or boat underwater
- Begin the attaching of lift bags, nylon lifting straps/bridle
- Lift marine vessel or boat up with Work Boat Crane
- Once vessel breaks surface of water pumps begin to dewater boat
- Diver secures miscellaneous items on marine vessel/boat
- Diver collects debris from the bottom of lake ( outdrives, docking lines, seats, swim platforms etc….
- Marine vessel/boat is than towed to the nearest marina
Marine vessels or boats need to be salvaged or recovered when they sink on the mooring or break away from the mooring in a storm. A Marine Vessel/Boat is considered sunk when the dip stick is wet or the engine is wet. Hard Aground is just that, up on the beach no water in the marine vessel / boat, no holes in the hull, and minimum sand in the marine vessel/boat.