Sunken wooden boat

hey guys,

I have a phinisi Indonesian boat in Koh Lanta, South of Thailand. I was trying to rescue it but unfortunately the team that was going to do it back down, and now it's hard to find someone who could help me. Do you know any company that could do that in the southwest of Thailand? I contacted a few companies I found on the Internet, but either they don't reply, or it's not their speciality...
Despite of having a ironwood hull, it underwater for 4 months... Do you think it's still possible/worth it to rescue it and fix it?

Please guys give me some help, this situation really got outta control....

 

Pedro,

Respectfully, may I suggest you provide additional information and if possible photos.

Salvage is a specialised business, but I am sure that prospective salvors would need more information on the location of the vessel and its condition. You also need to be confident what the potential value of the craft would be when returned to viability, if not service.

 

The only experience I have had with salvage is an advanced diver course.
Basically filling a bag with air attached to an object to raise it.

There is only two ways that I know of in raising a sunken vessel:
1. Use a barge witha winch attached to the vessel and wind her up.
2. Attach drums or air bags attached to the vessel and with a compressor topside pump air into the bags to lift it.

Very tricky as you need something to attach the lifting device too, and of course being able to pass slings under the boat would be the best way, unless the vessel is on sand or mud almost impossible.

Attaching the ropes otherwise would need attachment welded on or something secure to attach them too.

A timber boat, not a lot of attachment points and no welding.

Probably the reason why when boats go down, they stay down.

Lot of equipment divers etc. would make the task unprofitable in relation to buying a second hand boat that is currently afloat.

If salvage companies have pulled out, have you asked them why?

Best of luck anyway

Poida

 

Ditto that

How big is the boat ?

How Deep ?

What is it resting on ?

How far from land ?

Local Currents and weather conditions.



If you gave the dive guys such a brief description, no wonder they gave you the brush off.

 

Maybe it's position is indeterminate !

 

The usual case with a vessel that's been down a while, is what damage has occurred since it sank. If in deep water, well the process is daunting and costly, but if in shallow water, the boat often gets beat to death by currents and tides. It doesn't take long for an otherwise intact vessel, to get ripped apart by this action, so only an on site inspection can answer your questions.

Couple this with the lack of professional experience, available in your area; the likelihood of a successful outcome diminishes quickly. As mentioned above, lifting up a vessel is a very specialized trade and the methods themselves can be damaging. Unless the craft is of particular value or pedigree, it's often best to just accept the realities of it's state and the insurance value, rather then raising her.

 

Neptunes revenge makes many such projects less than well advised.