Sunken small yacht, Newton Creek IoW

[Mark-1]

I too have been present, and not just a bystander, when a 20ft keelboat, displacement 1.3 tons, was recovered, from just 2m at low water. We had to wait for slack water, the drag of the tide was considerable, even though this one was actually moored, to a thumping great chain and riser. We are a resourceful lot it is true. But this is not to be lightly undertaken. Hundreds of metres of loose rope, afloat and sunk, the rig still up and presenting an obstacle at the very least. All that stuff on deck to be found and recovered, as much as possible anyway. As Captain S says, it’ll need divers, plus a tug or suitable stand in, not just a RIB with 75hp, and these days, insurance cover for the operation. You can bet your last dollar that this character will sue you for damage caused if he can.

I'm agreeing with the guy that says this boat could be moved into shallow water and re-floated by a few hobbyists. It likely can. I've done it myself and I've seen it done by others. I'd guess that every sailing club in the UK has needed to recover a sunk boat from time to time and they aren't all resorting to professionals. I made no comment beyond that.

 

[Daydream believer]

These are our air bags, of which we have 2 . They were supplied by a company (Seaflex)on the IOW and can be hired by the day. We purchased ours for laying moorings.
The first one has a mooring attached which will be released when on station

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I’m with the Captain here. That thing ain’t moving from it’s muddy bed without some proper gear and someone who actually knows what they are doing. It may be possible for it to be lifted with air bags, sure. Fixing them to it in 4m of muddy, opaque water is the first obstacle. Slings? How to get them under. Other fixing points unknown. Rig, it’s definitely going to hinder rather than help. Plus as I said, I personally would not accept the risk. Both to myself, my boat, and the wreck.

 

[Mark-1]

It looks like he's moored his replacement boat alongside the mast of the old one. This was shortly after LW today.

View attachment 190590

I wasn't initially sure, but I think it *is* this one:

Extinction Rebellion Sadler 29

Could have changed ownership one or more times since then, obvs.

 

[Marsali_1]

I quite agree. I have seen it done. The chap was asking why I didn’t crack on myself. My boat wouldn’t make a very good salvage boat, though divers might find it quite convenient.

You could help in other ways...making tea for the ones doing the work, for example

 

[mjcoon]

The water inside is a factor too eve n though it may be ‘weightless’ it is not mass-less. It has inertia and momentum.

So you (one) might need to apply some patience...

 

[Daydream believer]

The water inside is a factor too eve n though it may be ‘weightless’ it is not mass-less. It has inertia and momentum.

What is the strength of the currents in that area. If the seabed is soft the tide will just dig in any heavy weight such as the keel & make things harder. We have had boats just get dragged away by the tide, never to be seen again. Also if the rise & fall is low we have found it difficult to get enough lift to take the slack out of the lifting ropes & buoyancy bags to get the salvage off the bed enough to allow us to even begin dragging.
Specialists take airbags down & attach then inflate. But even that needs a fair bit of depth to work & get lift. This means a dead lift with a crane/hiab on a barge & that can be expensive. Our local tug boat skipper would do it for circa £2500 pre covid. He would drag with a line & hook the vessel then lift enough to find a point to hook on to. However, sadly he is no longer with us.

 

[Sianna]

I'm not entirely convinced this chap will have the spondolies to hire a recovery team, maybe he will pick up the stuff he needs/ lugs about, then he will probably bugger off and leave the problem to someone else, most likely the National Trust.

 

[Mark-1]

So you (one) might need to apply some patience...

Having dragged a sunken boat suspended under bouys to a beach I can confirm that being unable to stop due to inertia was neither a problem or a concern!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Having dragged a sunken boat suspended under bouys to a beach I can confirm that being unable to stop due to inertia was neither a problem or a concern!

Any tide where this event took place? Or any controlling authority like the NT? Or a probably unhelpful owner. He’s replaced the boat, he won’t want it back. Just his wallet and his toothbrush I expect. He’s living life for free, he’s not going to chip in. Probably rather shy about the whole affair, as technically he’s liable. But as he has no address or confirmable ID, he’ll be looking to avoid that

 

[Mark-1]

Any tide where this event took place? Or any controlling authority like the NT? Or a probably unhelpful owner. He’s replaced the boat, he won’t want it back. Just his wallet and his toothbrush I expect. He’s living life for free, he’s not going to chip in. Probably rather shy about the whole affair, as technically he’s liable. But as he has no address or confirmable ID, he’ll be looking to avoid that

My post was in response to a post about inertia & momentum of submerged vessels.

 

[Boathook]

What is the strength of the currents in that area. If the seabed is soft the tide will just dig in any heavy weight such as the keel & make things harder. We have had boats just get dragged away by the tide, never to be seen again. Also if the rise & fall is low we have found it difficult to get enough lift to take the slack out of the lifting ropes & buoyancy bags to get the salvage off the bed enough to allow us to even begin dragging.
Specialists take airbags down & attach then inflate. But even that needs a fair bit of depth to work & get lift. This means a dead lift with a crane/hiab on a barge & that can be expensive. Our local tug boat skipper would do it for circa £2500 pre covid. He would drag with a line & hook the vessel then lift enough to find a point to hook on to. However, sadly he is no longer with us.

If it I by the entrance there is a fair amount of current, especially on springs. The bottom is mud, though I'm not sure on how deep.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

My post was in response to a post about inertia & momentum of submerged vessels.

Your posts are intentionally argumentative, you mean, because you think I’m wrong, and he’s acpoor innocent yachtsman who’s lost his boat. The origin of his new one should tell you something. If you actually agree with all that then this conversation ends now.

 

[Boathook]

Any tide where this event took place? Or any controlling authority like the NT? Or a probably unhelpful owner. He’s replaced the boat, he won’t want it back. Just his wallet and his toothbrush I expect. He’s living life for free, he’s not going to chip in. Probably rather shy about the whole affair, as technically he’s liable. But as he has no address or confirmable ID, he’ll be looking to avoid that

So he is back to two boats already. That didn't take long.

 

[Mark-1]

Your posts are intentionally argumentative, you mean, because you think I’m wrong, and he’s acpoor innocent yachtsman who’s lost his boat. The origin of his new one should tell you something. If you actually agree with all that then this conversation ends now.

I haven't written anything remotely indicating that. I addressed one 'issue' about the practicalities of Heath Robinson boat recovery and then the inertia and momentum 'issue'. I also posted a photo of (I think) the boat from a while back. That's my entire contribution to this thread.

EDIT: ^^^^^ Incorrect sentences struck out. I posted early on about the you tuber and christ knows what else.

 

[capnsensible]

I haven't written anything remotely indicating that. I replied to one post about the practicalities of Heath Robinson boat recovery and then the inertia and momentum post. I also posted a photo of (I think) the boat from a while back. That's my entire contribution to this thread.

Are you saying we should ignore your other 12 posts on this thread?

 

[Stemar]

Sorry to lower the sympathetic tone around here but this character needs to be seriously prosecuted. You cannot just rock up like this with all your wordly junk and then start trashing what is left of our once beautiful countryside. Yes I get the English eccentric bit but there are limits. Without any sort of deterrent and, with the current state of the housing market, without control this sort of caper is only going to become more prevalent. It's not on.

I have a lot of sympathy for the idea - it Ought Not To Be Allowed, and Something Must Be Done, but what would the outcome be in practice? If someone is living on a small boat at anchor far from mains power in winter, is it likely they'd be doing it from choice? Slap them with a big enough fine to be a deterrent, plus enough costs to cover the salvage, and all you're going to accomplish is one more unfortunate cluttering up a prison for non-payment. Then, on their release, they'll be sleeping in some doorway, with no assets and no prospects. But, no, I haven't got an answer to the problem of homelessness and other forms of indigence, either.

 

[mjcoon]

... But, no, I haven't got an answer to the problem of homelessness and other forms of indigence, either.

That's a good word. Must be something to do with the old rule: "if you are in a hole, stop indigging!"

 

[Mark-1]

When I did this I didn't use the fenders on the boat. It didn't have any and if it did they'd have provided very little buoyancy. We went to a nearby sailing club and fishing boat quay and sourced various substantial marker buoys and fenders.

It's doable. Hope I haven't doxed myself or the owner.

Turns out there were 'normal' fenders on the boat after all but they clearly weren't doing much lifting.


.

 

[Flynnbarr]

Sorry to lower the sympathetic tone around here but this character needs to be seriously prosecuted. You cannot just rock up like this with all your wordly junk and then start trashing what is left of our once beautiful countryside. Yes I get the English eccentric bit but there are limits. Without any sort of deterrent and, with the current state of the housing market, without control this sort of caper is only going to become more prevalent. It's not on.

It already happens on the canals and rivers of this country and has been for years.