Salvaging a Sunk 25' Boat Out of South Florida Inlet, Parbuckle, and Tow In To Safe Harbour

[@matter1234]

This was my uncle's boat, it's wild to see video of you saving it! thank you so much

[@CaptainRetriever]

Yeah, I've known Jackie and this boat a long time, back when he was fishing out of Seasport early 2000's in Jupiter. Hopefully the boat is salvageable, I know the feeling, been there too..

[@RisenThe]

He should probably try to remember where he parks it next time!

[@OGMoses_]

How did he capsize it if you don’t mind me asking?

[@nailbanger2]

The owner probably abandoned it when it started to take on water, then the ocean took over. I thought this looked familiar, and when he mentioned Sandsprit Park I said welcome to Stuart out loud. LOL

[@stevendegreef93]

@@OGMoses_ Plug came out on high speed. You don't notice that while on plane, because then the plug sits above the water level. Once you stop planing (lower speed) water starts coming in, after 10 minutes you notice the water and may be unable to think about a plug that was lost. There isn't much time, soon the water rushes in over the edge.

[@jackmarks2176]

I lived on a sailboat for several years and seen a lot on the water, but that operation was totally slick. As you started moving and picking up speed I realized what was going (or should) happen. Again really cool, take care.

[@fsj197811]

Very well done! Granted this is from someone who's never seen a boat flipped upright like that. Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

[@gabrielchirinos9992]

Good job Captain. I'm glad we have you in Stuart I love boat U.S

[@notsure7874]

#1 culprit is the drain plug. I keep some expanding ones that fit the hole even though mines threaded (I also keep threaded ones). If I'm taking on water, I'm putting an expanding one in the hole from the inside (I'm not getting under an outboard being tossed around by waves) and get to bailing. On a boat that size, there are positive displacement lever type pumps that move a whole lot of water, and they basically stay out of the way. They're a hell of a lot better than buckets / hand pumps. Still carry hand pumps though, the more the merrier!

[@beachcouple1741]

That was a great job, especially for just one person 👍

[@andrewskater8813]

just one man and he made it look very easy. Never heard of parbuckling before

[@MrBugsier5]

Textbook manouvre, Nice job!

[@paulkersey2179]

Nice work, that's pretty cool doing that by yourself. Thanks for sharing

[@yakacm]

The police boat was there too.

[@88888gerald]

when he first started the pull the bubbles his boat kicked backward starting seemed to be pushing water out of the hull pretty good....nice job...

[@joels1234]

wow...that was definitely cool... flipping the boat over and dragging it in, and saving the boat...nice

[@alessandrocristofani6975]

Well done!!! you are very expert , congratulations

[@kick1574]

My role of thumb is when you pull the boat out you pull the plug as soon as there’s no more water you put the plug back in tight and double and triple check that your plug is always in and I always keep a spare plug if I have to jump in the water and put one inthat is the first thing I look for if a boat going down

[@dennisbyron3168]

Buddy that was some real good work there. Hats off to you.

[@chuckfrumunda1835]

Amazing work 👏

[@SamCyanide]

Nice video. That cage around your motors is strong

[@snoopstp4189]

always fun to watch a parbuckle haulout, thats a lot of work for 1 skipper..

[@camojoe83]

That didn't look like a frequent trailer boat, not with the hull that green... Did the plug just get kicked out from flexing over time or did it just get old and give up?

[@markcrume]

Great recovery Capt.

[@someguydino6770]

my grand daddy used to say that "just because you can buy a boat; don't mean that you are a captain" nice how the boat drained as it was pulled forward at speed

[@TheCapthof]

I'm impressed, a little concerned about your safety, but impressed.

[@bigKANG420]

Good thing he's running the show not you

[@atexan]

A one-man retrieval.... very impressive!!

[@antonioalarcon2930]

Eres un crack ,no solo lo has rescatado sino que le has dado la vuelta y lo has dejado flotando jejej 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@DLBard-bv2nd]

What a great professional ! 🤗🇺🇸👍

[@tonyb456]

love watching this work

[@gbass7328]

More good work. Where was the captain?

[@CaptainRetriever]

@@gbass7328 the sheriff took him to shore after he had been treading water for a few hours

[@louism9790]

Yall the real hero’s out there

[@timburnett6729]

Job well done sir

[@JaymoJoints]

If you forget your drainplug, better remember Captain Retriever's number

[@christopherrhoderick9706]

That was absolutely impressive

[@cgirl111]

You only need the drain plug removed when the boat is on the trailer. When I ran trailer boats I had a drain plug inside and outside the boat. I also installed 2 high water alarms in the bilge. I used the ones made for hot water tanks from Home Depot.

[@ft6972]

Cool

[@notsure7874]

I never plug from the inside unless somehow I lose the one on the outside. I don't want to be under an outboard as its being tossed around by the sea so if that happens, I plug from inside and get to bailing.

[@finscreenname]

Great work as always!!

[@seanseoltoir]

If you have a boat that you trailer, there's a good chance that eventually you will forget to put the drain plug in when launching the boat... It's not a big deal if you catch it quick enough and have it (or something else) that you can jam in the hole (or know to pick up speed so that the hull will drain from the hole)... You might have to jump in the water and put it in from the back though -- depends upon the boat... What SHOULD have been a minor inconvenience for the boat operator ended up becoming an emergency where he also needed to hire a boat towing company...

[@porkchop659]

Just curious - what size is your tow rope? That is a tremendous amount of pressure and I was just wondering!

[@CaptainRetriever]

It's not too much pressure, we use a 3/4 double braid with a break strength around 16,000 lbs. I need to do a video where I bring a scale out there to show how much force is actually on these tow lines.

[@CaptainRetriever]

For the harder tows we use a 1/2" dyneema or amsteel that breaks around 30,000 lbs with no stretch, but it's bad for everyday towing..

[@porkchop659]

@@CaptainRetriever that video would be interesting to see for sure!

[@steventrojanowski3595]

CaptainRetriever Great videos great content, as a cdla heavy tow truck operator I find this extremely interesting… subbed

[@dogpatch8266]

thats a $10,000.00 salvage job for a $200.00 boat.

[@dirtrocket9]

Good job.. what size is that portable bilge pump u use.. I been thinking about adding one as well?

[@CaptainRetriever]

Probably around 25’

[@dirtrocket9]

@@CaptainRetriever I meant bilge pump.. GPH?

[@CaptainRetriever]

@@dirtrocket9 3700 Rule 12 volt

[@mattman237]

What a great job to have.

[@williamjohnson817]

Never in my 53 years have I ever left the drain plug outta my boat. That’s the 1st I do at the ramp after I test the motor to see if it’s gonna start.

[@notsure7874]

I've been boating for ... good god, nearly 40 years now. I forgot the drain plug one time. It was an unfamiliar boat, and I was distracted by other things. Figured it out before I got pulled away from the ramp. Right back on the trailer, and out of the water it came! I never forget that important lesson, and I don't believe I'll ever forget one so long as I live.

[@thelolsdad3354]

You guys got skills

[@williamdejeffrio9701]

AWESOME!! You are one brave soul to jump in unfamiliar ocean water like that...(said as a person who has an irrational fear of ocean water)

[@stevenc9207]

A brave soul? Millions of people swim in the ocean every day?!?

[@davidbarnsley8486]

The old I forgot to put the bung in I would put a big sign on the steering wheel Did you put the bung in

[@MrDannyd9]

That was pretty sick. You are good at your job lol

[@noway9880]

Interesting. Reserve buoyancy?

[@markklement4994]

If it was sunk wouldn't it be on the bottom?

[@roberthunter8990]

What is your preference for the Honda outboards

[@williams-wr5lg]

So do you get to keep the boats you salvage?

[@davidmacpherson8710]

If the sunken boat owner did not hire TowBoat to retrieve, would the person who tows and salvages the boat become the new owner?

[@CaptainRetriever]

Florida doesn’t allow you to just take boats, it’s still registered to the rightful owner. They could agree to sign it over if they want nothing to do with it.

[@davidmacpherson8710]

@@CaptainRetriever Thank you.

[@notsure7874]

@@CaptainRetriever Florida is kind of wild sometimes. This dude in Jupiter had his boat robbed of electronics, and the trailer stolen (boat was on the same property in the water). The thief forged some documents to complete the "transfer" of the trailer at motor vehicles immediately. The police and the dmv told him "that trailer belongs to someone in Hialeah now" as if he signed it over to someone else legitimately.

[@FishermanKyle]

​@CaptainRetriever if they decide to not let you salvage do they have to pay you then for your service?

[@CaptainRetriever]

@@FishermanKyle it’s all no cure no pay when it comes to salvage unless we boomed it or something

[@davidbarnsley8486]

It’s obviously somewhat scientific but one minute it’s full of water and partially sunk next thing it’s fully upright and floating As a non boater I have no idea how that works but it very impressive to watch 👍👍🇦🇺

[@traceykelly2603]

👏

[@michaelboyer9429]

OK, so how much did this cost for you to go out and salvage it basically 🤔

[@CaptainRetriever]

This one was just a pro bono one, but typically about 225 a foot, so 5-6k

[@jameshimself1018]

How come drain plug holes don't have a check valve that allows water to go out but not flow in? I imagine this technology already exists. Mabye some kind of retrofit drainplug with checkvalve could be installed?

[@SanchoPanza-wg5xf]

I imagine it's for the same reason that your bathtub doesn't have a check valve. It would get clogged and defeat the purpose of the drain. A small amount of competence on the part of the operator is expected.

[@wiks101]

Wow Great job!

[@madmanmechanic8847]

That woujld be a blast to recover boats like that

[@hotrodhog2170]

The amount of idiot comments in your videos is laughable! I see it in all the channels I watch too, so you are not alone. People criticize ones word choice or how they did or didnt do this or the other thing when this guy obviously knows what he is doing and been doing it for years as a reputable tow operator in a very busy market. Thanks for your FREE content Captain! I been watching since the beginning (less than 50 subs) and still amazed at what you are capable of doing! Fair seas sir

[@CaptainRetriever]

They know what I mean. When the Coast Guard calls out on the radio they say "Vessel Sinking". It's the term we use to describe a boat going down whether fully submerged or not. Comments drive the algorithm so I'm not too worried about it..

[@RonaldDoyle-hk1fy]

Man that a nice boat

[@grasscutter88]

Damn is there a seat belt on that boat? You're going straight through the windshield if you hit a sandbar

[@twosons5290]

Only a true dude jumps into the ocean with a ball cap on

[@hotrod76.]

Was that flex seal.!!😂😂

[@steven.h0629]

Very Impressed 👍😎✊

[@blackbird9813]

Greate job, nice to see

[@chrisgardner6677]

Mahalo! What type of bilge pump did you use?

[@CaptainRetriever]

12 volt Rule 3,700

[@welcometomoorerving5800]

Brilliant job.

[@dwightbernheimer331]

If that was my vessel I just want it to be 100ft down. I want to be able to call the insurance company and work something out... Just sayin'... I don't want that vessel back NOW 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂... Just sayin'... Great job thanks for posting...😊😊😊

[@richardknott2021]

Great job..

[@paulgray2387]

Do you get salvage rights?

[@thaiexodus2916]

Just a general observation not relevant necessarily to this video. Speaking from 50 years in emergency services, one will never find a great concentration of dumb moves than weekend sailors who think the ocean is their toy. Add alcohol and not checking weather forecasts, a perfect recipe for screw ups.

[@GeoEstes]

How can you get it to float with the drain plug out?

[@notsure7874]

Once the boat is moving, most boats inertia pushes the water back out of the drain plug hole. It's when you stop that it starts gushing in.

[@GeoEstes]

@@notsure7874 Ohh. Thanks.

[@corbettcondray]

Thank you

[@madyogi6164]

Nice techique.

[@MvR640]

Would love to see a 2nd boat picking the debris from the ocean

[@fourfortyroadrunner6701]

This is confusing. A simple drain plug mistake, it happens. Why wouldn't the operator use his head and think "where could this be coming from?" Why not beach it, looks like he was not far off from shore? LOTS of damage there, to the top structure, etc.

[@pepperypeppers2755]

I've never known regular ole human beings to make mistakes. Perplexing indeed 🤔

[@scottallen7195]

Hondas hard at work .. I pray im never in this predicament 20 miles out or ever

[@CaptainRetriever]

Just make sure you have an epirb.. Sometimes it happens fast, and people get so caught up thinking about saving the boat they forget to grab their communication devices

[@Hurst6969]

Seems logical to tie the "bowline" to the "bow"

[@yakacm]

What about the financial side thou? No offense to whoever's boat this is, but it doesn't look like it's worth anything? Maybe the outboard but that's been submerged in salt water for however long. Would insurance pay, or the city if you couldn't find the owners?

[@CaptainRetriever]

@@yakacm liability insurance usually covers it due to oil, fuel, and hazard to other boaters. Owner didn’t have any money for recovery, I just did it because Ive known him forever. But actually our county has a derelict program you sometimes can just sign the boat away, or they charge you with felony dumping in some cases.

[@yakacm]

@@CaptainRetriever I'm from the UK, but I remember seeing a case on The First 48 when they used to do Miami There was a murder involving homeless living on an abandoned boat. The cops based on the police boat was talking about how big a problem abandoned boats are in Miami.

[@richardbrown2447]

Im not be impressed offer But I am today The way you towed that boat Amazing

[@mike_oe]

What??

[@MrBe787]

What a cool job to have.

[@luckyluke33]

why leave the anchor ?

[@CaptainRetriever]

Did this for no charge, recovering an anchor solo on a sunk boat gets a little tricky sometimes, and it was a busy weekend so I had to do it quickly. But the spot is marked, rocky, and only 10’ deep

[@NicPoisel]

Rad video

[@JohnD357]

Amazing you can do all that work without a second guy.

[@RHaarFl]

We are used to it

[@mikej1097]

What a great advert for those Honda outboards

[@captng]

Folks like these are what put the kids through college 😂

[@robertstancer4469]

A view from the UK. Gotta ask, do you yanks do EVERYTHING in a baseball cap? Did you wear one on your wedding night perchance. Was the bride alright with that?

[@CaptainRetriever]

To be fair, it's a visor, and I've given many a salt bath to keep sun off my face, salt just gives it character.

[@4stringmanagmaildcom]

Helps reduce incidence of skin cancer on the face when you are on the water all day, every day, especially in a sunny climate.

[@unseenpresence]

I pretty much do....

[@jeffparker3334]

We pretty much do yeah 😊. My wife and I both wore one on our wedding night….

[@robertstancer4469]

@@jeffparker3334 Just tell me you wore them 'back to front' during consummation PLEASE! Or did you 'dance' peak to peak? It's not me asking Jeff, it's the wife.....

[@lewispaine4589]

The dreaded drain plug fail

[@doctortheopolis3122]

I'd say it looks more capsized than sunk.

[@safvue1]

amazing how he flipped that boat

[@Adam-mf9cl]

How is the drain plug not the first thing you check when taking on water.. I double check the drain plug after a pint of whiskey before I get to my duck hunting spot with my shotgun.. If there’s anything you’re going to forget while drunk at 6am it’s the damn drain plug…

[@barqwoof]

Not your first rodeo. Well done. Jim

[@martinwertz1988]

Cool

[@justicekalash]

good job

[@joehulbert8514]

i like it. hook up hammer down.

[@bobvecchi304]

Maybe the owner was trying to scuttle the boat, and his plan back fired?

[@CaptainRetriever]

He went to the hospital, definitely no insurance, and was out there sunk for 5 hours.. This was definitely an accident

[@richardthomas1566]

I always thought Sunk was under water

[@buick72racer]

sooo what about all the shit that came out of the boat and into the water when it was righted

[@ralphchristian9273]

And always carry extra plugs

[@e.c.listening326]

Can’t park that there, mate

[@dansw0rkshop]

3:27 lost something

[@steveoadams2434]

Its looked like a tuggy 😂in the thumbnail

[@petersalt2342]

a floating sunk boat...

[@willhall7777]

I only take my drain plug out if I'm in the water.

[@fenceman53]

Big bill coming. Another hole in the water you fill with money 💴

[@CaptainRetriever]

This one was one of the very few I did for free. We’ve all known the guy for years..

[@ShainAndrews]

Man I would have lost that bet.

[@1stofer]

Amazing how such a small thing as a plug falling out can sink boats worth tens of thousands of dollars if not hundreds and no one has invented a safety of some kind. Like a hydraulic plug or something idk