Underwater logging?

Why are sunken logs so valuable? I can't figure out how it is possible for guys to make a living pulling up one sunken log at a time with all the labor and risk and gear involved.

 

I cannot speak about making a living out of pulling up sunken logs but I will take a stab at explanning why they are in demand and if someone shoots me down so be it.
Sales appeal. " I've got a 85 year old sunken log well seasoned." The logs I am familrer with that last under water are the California costal Redwood and the southern Cypress. There may be a few others that do not rot. The color of the cut wood is set. The texture is set. The rest is all sales appeal such as we do not remove it from the water untill you want it cut up and dried. It is special, unique, and it can be yours............It is old growth...........And it is only $ 9.50 a board foot.

 

I used to do it on the weekend in the summer when the mill was closed.

We'd load a couple dozen up on the pico and lift them clear of the water to drip.

They paid us by diameter, length and species.

It was kinda dangerous but nobody ever got hurt.

 

Up here in the Pacific Northwest they use giant cargo helicopters (at about $1000/hr operating expence) to haul large old growth logs from remove areas. this also struck me as costly but if you consider they do not need to build any roads, they do not need to any heavy equiepment in the back country, and they do no damage to the mountains or creeks in moving the logs to a loading area only 5 to 10 min away by air (but could be several hours away by road if there were any). It can all be done very profitably. the same issues with sunken logs, no roads to build, no heavy equipment, likey less or similar working hazards (conventional logging is one of the most dangerous careers in the world).

It can be done especially for specialty lumber of rare species. I know around here, a single large, clear old growth cedar log can be worth $7,000-8,000! Redwood or larch could be even more.

 

The advantage of these old logs is that most of them are true old growth lumber that is worth a lot more than farmed logs. The grain pattern is much tighter due to the slower growth of the trees. In addition to tighter grain, it also makes the logs stronger.

Some logs can also gain color and stains from being under water.

 

I have heard of some of the wood is being used for soundboards in musical instruments. The lignun or something disappears over time making them resonate much better, it was speculated Stradivarius used that type of wood in his violins.

 

You have to be careful though taking sunken logs. One fellow up here got charged with theft and taken to court for taking logs out of rivers and lakes that are owned (the logs) by the the state.

 

yes, the logs are property of the state, that is why you need permits to take them, either standing or in rivers and lakes. many creeks and rivers also have critical runs of salmon and other fish, so there are seasonal restrictions not to mess up the waters during spawning season.

Same is true of deer and other game animals, they belong to the state that is why you need a license to "buy" the right to take them.

 

What about harvested logs that sunk in transit?

 

This is big business in the tropics.
There is lots of ebony and mahogany underwater, some in areas that have become flooded, and some left from previous logging operations.
http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/19/save-a-tree-log-underwater/

 

Maybe thats some kind of salvage.... or removal of hazards to navigation?..... I'd love to find some logs, there's a terrific story, based on his life by a bloke called John Wray about a boat he built from salvaged logs, here is some info http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?112955-South-Sea-Vagabonds-Ngataki-Photos

Jeff