More deets on Fab Rats retrieval of sunken boat from Lake Powell, Utah

In an interview with Utah.com, (horse)power couple Paul and Michell Cox of Fab Rats talk about “Operation Yellow Submarine,” the recovery and restoration of a sunken boat that emerged as the Lake Powell water level receded. The story is heartwarming and heart-wrenching at the same time. Watch until the end for an emotional account of what happened on the summer day in 1993 when the boat sank and discover why this job was a Fab Rats fave.

[@patrickstep]

If you're trying to encourage tourist to your great state, then keep your DWR officers under control

[@patrickvanhoesen9425]

Pretty darn sure said DWR officer is either benched or canned. Lol. He fkd up and tried to screw over the wrong couple.

[@Clawson_customs]

He has done the same basic thing to people way more powerful than the fab rats in this state of ours and gotten away with it

[@SuperSummit123]

There's a video on KZbin of the same officer giving a man a ticket for his ice fishing hole being 3in too wide.

[@michaeld53]

The man is jealous.

[@michaeld53]

@@SuperSummit123. Too extreme. The letter of the law is some peoples crutch.

[@jps99]

Paul and Michelle and the rest of the Fab Rats crew are a true resource for Utah. Between them, Matt's Off-Road Recovery and Robby Layton's channel, I'm sure there has been a big boost in Utah tourism.

[@gameaccount3315]

Add Rory Irish to that list.

[@brettperkins4643]

And chads fab

[@harveywallbanger2899]

Yeah I can’t wait to get my brand new Bronco beat up and stuck. Long live small brains.

[@makapa2u]

Followed Fab Rats for years- the rebuild of the granddads truck and boat - good job guys

[@ron.v]

If their channel is appealing for Utah tourism, maybe the officials in charge of tourism in Utah can lean on their elected representatives to do something about the bozo who gave them such a hard time about taking the boat in the first place. So what if undesirable mollusks were attached. After such a long time out of water, there's no way they were still alive!

[@jennasmith1249]

The UTAH DWR recently issued Fab Rats a citation saying they transported mussels across state lines. Then Fab Rats posted a video about fighting it. Then when it went to a judge, it was thrown out. The DWR officer is on one of their videos saying the mussels were dead. (this officer has been in trouble before but he is still continued to do these things). The boat had been out of water for about a year and the policy only states if it’s been in the water the last 30 days. They cleaned it before transport, then it sat in Glendale UT for a winter, then went to AZ and got pressure washed again. The DWR was saying it needed to be an approved pressure washer, but that's only if the boat was removed from water in the past 30 days. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnStYq2XiJyHm9E AND kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGKqo5eOhddlodk. The original finding of the boat was posted on December 27, 2021. The rear was still in a bit of water. It was not in any water when Fab Rats went to look at it the first time. Then an ignorant news channel does a story on it and tries to degrade a local KZbinr. ABC4 UTAH does not do any research

[@xerosouls]

Fab rats posted a video 2 days ago as of this comment that gives an update on the legal battle, the judge and the county attorney threw out the case the day before Fab rats was going to appear before a judge.

[@sjsmith801]

DWR operations around the country can be some of the most jackbooted thug organizations around. And they are so hypocritical about it, just like the jackass DNR guy at lake powell - he comes to Paul's shop and he's so nice and friendly and trying to shoot the breeze, he even admits the mussels are dead, and then months later slams them with crime accusations. Definitely need more accountability among DWR officers. These are cops yet they are not held to the same kinds of standards as normal cops.

[@xdabus]

@@sjsmith801 there is no standard with state and federal employees. you just need to know somebody

[@donniemcdaniel537]

The ticket/citation has been dropped, dwr officer should be forced to pay legal fees for the Cox family, and then fired.

[@donaldfrazier5244]

Sure liberal in calling them a news channel most reporters have to be educated and pass exams to be allowed to report ,their job is journalism,the definition speaks for itself but the main stream media is owned and controlled by a leftist group!

[@randylester1219]

That story just shows how good the whole FabRats crew with Merlin and family are. They went through all of the hoops to legally bring back a boat to a deserving family that encountered such a horrendous tragedy that fateful day. Kudo's to Paul, Michelle and everyone involved. Need more people like this in the world 🌎.

[@Barty.Crowell]

And they still had to go to court for it because of a DWR officer on a power trip.

[@samuelspencer9194]

Mister Paul back when I was 17 years old I was driving a dump truck for my dad and I saw a house on fire I stop and ran up to the woman and asked if anyone was in the house she said her baby's were in I went into the house 3 times and couldn't find them she finally said that she had all of them I asked if she was sure she was I told her that I was going back to work and left some 40 years later my son broke down with his motorcycle and some young boys stop and help him get his bike on the trailer that they had and took it to there mother house I went with him the next day to get the bike and it was the same woman that I had tried to help she said she never new who had tried to help all she new was that It was a white guy and by the way she was a African American but I can say that made no difference to me but what I will say is what comes around go around love your videos be safe and have a great day Sam

[@jrzyboy99]

The Cox family are good genuine people…really shows that great American families still exist out there.

[@timford3599]

I totally agree! The entire Fab Rats Family are, to me, "The Heart of America." In this age of so many ignorant people bad mouthing this great country it's wholesomely refreshing to know that there truly wonderful people out there giving of themselves for no other reason other than their desire to "Do The Right Thing!"

[@jamesmatheson5115]

Utah is the most beautiful arid state Ive ever seen, as a Aussie who lives on the most arid continent on the planet, was just amazed by the states beauty.

[@skyepilotte11]

The Yellow Submarine series was in my opinion the best ever...amazing back story and ultimate return of a long lost boat...Great work Paul, Michelle ,Merlin and everyone else that worked on this project.

[@giaxxone]

I love this. There’s plenty of comments here about what’s been going on, but to see the state of Utah put this family forward as representative of the people of Utah(effectively) says a lot about the people running your state. The reason their KZbin channel, and a few associated or similar channels, are doing so well is because they’re just good people. Yeah they’re doing cool stuff, but there isn’t a whole lot of people simply being human in our media these days and a lot of us need there to be.

[@gungadingo]

They’re only scrambling to save face! They absolutely need to fire that officer and strip him of his pension. That may wake up some other like minded officers.

[@ruston723]

have met both of them in person some of the best people you will ever find.

[@Sanderly1820]

I'm from the UK , I started watching this awesome channel when London got his first truck video,2yrs ago when I was in hospital, I'm terminally sick and I have extreme depression and anxiety severe night terrors and extreme ptsd with suicidal tendencies which is a result from a work injury. I watch these everyday without fail because their down to earth honest working true family values help me to escape a very dark place where the deamons are saying nasty things. These give enough light to help me out of the darkness for another day, what's happening with them, is absolutely ridiculous, and that officer isn't someone you need advertising your stare county for trying to encourage people to come and spend time and money. He needs to be sacked

[@johnlennon335]

Hang in there because there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep focused on the positive and let the negative go. If you can find something that makes you laugh, or if you can make someone else laugh, it is a good day! If you can help someone that is even worse off than you are, that helps too.

[@Drifter35417]

Love and prayers for you!

[@johnme7049]

@phil2508 Best wishes brother, you are not alone, your pain is real. Hold on to anything that helps because it WILL get better. There IS hope and there ARE people who care. I care. YOU MATTER! Be safe, and be well, as much as you can

[@goin200mph]

Such wonderful people. They rescued the boat and plan to return it to the owners and the DWR officer decides they need to be punished for their trouble after not breaking a single law. How disgusting

[@spacenut708]

Right? After he admits he knows the mussels are dead? Maybe they are magic mussels?

[@vanwrinkle-01]

I couldn't believe how arrogant and two faced that officer was. I agree, he needs to be fired. Not a good image for the state.

[@Steves-garage444]

Yellow submarine is one of my favorite episodes on your channel. Fab eats is awesome

[@deshb22]

Utah is lucky to have such wonderful people such as Paul and Michelle. I hope the state gets a grip on DWR officer Duffy and his deer shooting co workers

[@Johnnysax69]

I live in NY and I don't think there's anyone who would do something like this for a stranger. Utah has some really caring people from what I can see. Everyone is always so nice on these videos. I wish we had that here.

[@metalmulisha963]

NY blows... That's why I left... Beautiful for the most part, but the people suck

[@topazblahblah]

U be that guy in NY. Start it there.

[@mazevx2451]

@@topazblahblah best comment! Thank you!

[@ericteipen]

That's because the vast majority of people in the Northeast are straight up assholes! Sad but very true!

[@terryfoust4802]

hats off for FAB RATS/MATTS OFF ROAD RECOVEREY/ROBBY LAYTON'S All Are AMAZING

[@Knight_of_NI]

I'm been a part of Law Enforcement for years and I'm genuinely ashamed of the DWR Officer who brought charges against Paul. Fab Rats did nothing wrong, and everything by the book and this officer abused his authority because he could. The officer admitted he knew the quagga mussels were dead when at their shop but still filed charges. Nobody hates bad cops more than good ones and that DWR Officer is clearly a bad one. Thank you Fab Rats for all you to do make Utah a better place, RESPECT

[@bdjm8595]

Paul and Michelle and Merlin are some really great people, well done !!!

[@donaldfrazier5244]

People like the Cox family and the Laytons are what gives us hope that humanity will survive the tough times! Thanks for sharing your life and stories about your part of the world!

[@johnnyb8629]

this was really cool series.

[@Jim-fe2xz]

Glad to see the state of Utah telling this story! Could it be they've finally realized they have a rotten apple in the DWR? (We can only hope!)

[@spacenut708]

They know he's an arse hole but for some reason won't get rid of him

[@NDMikefromVelva]

Your channel is one of my favorites. As you’ve grown, I got to know Robby, Merlin, Chad and Matt along with a few others. Being 53, I learn so much from all of you. The hard part for me is that I never detect a malicious or law breaking bone in anyone’s body. Keep your chin’s up and continue to do the right thing!

[@nickrudd2568]

Best KZbin channel on my list, Fabrats have become part of the family through the screen.

[@grichardson7182]

The yellow submarine story is how I found your channel and have been watching you ever since. Keep up the great work.

[@lonhoschar1943]

I watch the Fab Rats channel so when this story started I made sure I didn't miss an episode!!

[@vinamerosa1923]

Not about pointing fingers or caring about getting back at someone, but Paul and Michelle , you just STUCK TO THAT JERK ! excellent content as always , love you guys and I am so glad it all worked out.

[@poogan1239]

Please also include the part where a Utah DWR office came and harassed them and tried to fine them for quagga mussel transport forcing them into unnecessary legal fees. The same officer who tried to kill a families pet deer in their backyard if I am not mistaken!

[@patvirgin8822]

The story I heard is he successfully killed the pet deer.

[@KrisD007]

IKR? Magic Mussels after sitting out of water for a year then outside in a Utah winter. ABC4 UTAH did a story saying Fab Rats was threatening the DWR! Make Journalists Give Facts Again!

[@poogan1239]

@@patvirgin8822 I believe it survived and the bullet grazed it.

[@AKUSUXs]

Wholesome, American Family and Values... Plain and simple! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@everettdegrasse8478]

Wonderful story.

[@majorpayne4098]

You are leaving a wonderful gift of your legacy for generations to come when they marry into to just meet you all. Well done. A wonderful family

[@randyanderson5653]

Hey Guys. I've been watching Fab Rats for a few years now. This Yellow Submarine story is still one of my most heartfelt things my Hero's at Fab Rats have done yet. Love the things Paul and Michelle and the whole crew do. Keep it up Fab Rats!!! You Rock!!

[@johnollom999]

Love this story. Love this family! Michelle had me cryin very emotional story for sure. Utah is great other than that corrupt officer.

[@havasubooo8840]

Micah Evans Complaints here: wildlife.utah.gov/law-enforcement/feedback.html

[@ron.v]

I'm not particularly interested in off-roading and such but some of y'all's videos are a Must-See. You should know that human interest stories and true happenings are at the top of viewers interest. Your Yellow Submarine story has it all: drama, intrigue, you name it. It's like Ragu, "It's in there!" Your off-road escapes may not interest everyone but your adventures, discoveries, and challenges are at the top of my list. Thanks! I would be shocked if they don't attract international attention.

[@jeffreyjohnsen3706]

Paul and MIchelle, you are doing the right thing. That fact will bring you through to the end.

[@leonardbixler102]

What a great interview, Fabrats crew are so humble, generous, and family oriented!! ❤❤

[@stevethegrumpyoldman938]

Fab Rats are the Best , Kindest People around. You can't get any better than Them. Love these People and this Channel. ❤

[@richardhill4862]

My favorite projects have been the tow truck, FJ, Ed's Jeep, and the boat. The ride on this boat from the beginning to now in a great build and story. Your good people!

[@dwaynet2184]

I am glad someone decided to let them tell their story on a channel that's not fab rats , and you let them tell it. I saw ABC in Utah this morning and they twisted it all around and were not truthful at all , they even said Paul took it off the water. What do expect from a channel George Sorros owns , he tell's them what to say , no journalism involved at all. I have watched this entire story unfold on Fab Rats and Merlin's old school garage, and I was just blown away that Utah has not fired this officer and sent him packing , all he does is harass people unfairly like a Karen with a badge. Even the Judge threw it out once he saw the evidence. I hope whoever is in charge wakes up and realizes he is costing the state of Utah a lot of money while harassing the people who pay his paycheck. He needs to go !

[@spacenut708]

ABC4 UTAH sucks!

[@jerrymestas1231]

Michelle don't make me cry lol!!!!! Great great story🙏🏼

[@Scotty-kc1co]

one of the greatest storys ever !! greetz from the netherlands, Europe.

[@wesman7837]

It's such a cool story! Thanks Fab Rats that so awesome what you guys do!

[@NCFREEMAN]

Paul and Michelle are really down go earth and very entertaining.

[@whatsoutthere6822]

I watch your videos religiously. What you do for the people in your community and beyond is truly God sent. May God bless you.

[@cody_the_bum8946]

The state doesn't deserve this video after what they tried to do to them for that boat build. Paul and Michelle are too nice and did much good in that one video for what DNR tried to do to them.

[@mphill1491]

This was one emotional story! Your family is truly amazing! Just keep on keeping on!

[@ecurb2]

Paul and MIchelle rock. They are awesom.

[@The805KC]

The fab rats are awesome! One of the many things Utah has to be proud of.

[@kevbev1524]

This was a cool recovery, rescue, Revival, The good out ways the little hiccup from the one fish cop that needed some attention for himself. The story still makes it worth doing 10 times.😊

[@vigunfighter]

"out weighs" ;)

[@donaldfrazier5244]

It’s more than a hiccup that fish cop knows they did nothing wrong but chose to try to make revenue for the state at any cost to reputation!

[@brownh2orat211]

@@vigunfighter Really??? So did publicly pointing out someone's spelling mistake really make you feel so superior?

[@El_Jefe_Zamora]

"Fish cop" haha, thats awesome, lol

[@wiresmith2398]

@@El_Jefe_Zamora I call 'em "Tree Pigs"

[@lory2622]

I knew the story, have watched the series and still my eyes tear up.

[@007twm]

Fab Rats is one of my favorite channels. Thank you for covering their story.

[@saltyreesescup3104]

The Real Story Is What A Good Man Paul Cox Is, His Family, Crew And The Pieces Of Art And Badass Machines That They Create ! 🧂

[@stevehodson9333]

One of my absolute favorites on utube . This series is how I found Fab Rats, Merlin, and Matt It has pretty much replaced regular TV

[@lawrenceengel3330]

Absolutely love the Fab Rats team and all the folks they have as part of their adventures ❤

[@madcratebuilder]

Best YT channel on the planet. The Cox family is a role model for every American. Wishing you continued success.

[@notrelavent]

Paul and Michelle are a state treasure ....Take care of them Utah

[@JDZiemba1773]

Hats off to this video.....done extremely well .... whoever is behind production is a talented mofo

[@primepropertymaintenance5350]

Yelp made me want to visit Utah. See ya next year ! On vacation 😊

[@havasubooo8840]

Make sure you know all the laws the DNR / DWR might enforce beyond all thought before you go. Paul just had an issue and he had to pay a lawyer until the judge dismissed it because they knew they wouldn't win. Then ABC4 UTAH did a hit piece on Fab Rats.

[@anthonylee2099]

Great Video Michelle and Paul! Your Pure Genuine Hearts know no bound. 🤙😎

[@robertpluszczynski4383]

What an awesome style video. Nice change up. Yall always wear your heart on your sleeve and this " fire side chat " was no different. Keep up the great work! Thank you for years of entertainment

[@Westerntraveler]

I can't wait to see the Toyota rebuilt. I love following The Fab Rats 🐀

[@armithel3133]

Fab Rats is just full of exceptional people. DWR needs to get an actual life.

[@davidhillman3410]

It was an awesome series! I watched every episode and the story still brings tears to my eyes!

[@DWBurns]

You are the kinda folk I like to hang with. Back when I could move better I would say let’s go play Jeep, but today I watch my kid show her horse.

[@Kiki-Kauai]

We are boaters and I love Fabrats YT channel so this story got to my heart. While we boat in Hawaii in a large Zodiac like the Coast Guard, we have been caught in some bad storms with 6ft+ swells. It can be terrifying. Staying just a few minutes too long before heading back to port, having fun and not wanting to leave, or just something happening to the boat, if you’re a boater, you’ve had happen. We waited 20 yrs to buy our boat after moving here but we were boaters our whole lives prior. Your boat is your pride and joy. It’s your one indulgence. To have something like that happen is traumatic, heartbreaking, and frankly a huge financial hit. Needless to say I cried watching this Fabrats series. Utah tourism, you should treat these channel creators like gold as they are your free Press Machine. I’ve worked in a states tourism so I know how much it means in terms of a financial windfall for Utah. Putting them in a position to have to hire an attorney. Shameful. There isn’t a more wholesome representation than Michelle and Paul Cox and their entire family and friends. Plus they cleaned up a boat that the state would have had to pay to retrieve. Just bad all the way around how they were treated.

[@ronaldwarren5220]

One of the most enjoyable episodes I have ever watch was you guys restoring that boat. You are good people.

[@kimetherington2252]

The yellow submarine saga has been a great series to watch with good content, with friends being made, from the lost being found, a good time turning to a sad time from memories of the past, the good doers vs a bad guy, the wrongfully accused was made to be right and a family making better times with their loved ones in the times to come from the goodness of peoples hearts! Let us not forget theres still a lot of love and kindness in this crazy world of ours! Winners always come out on the right side!

[@bryanblack7828]

You two are amazing people! This world needs more people like yourselves and there would not be many problems at all! I am in Colorado,and it has changed for the worse,not where I grew up anymore..so much crime that gets overlooked,because there ai not enough man power...you two are great!

[@robertmarsh2656]

Fab rats, you guys rock definitely one of my favorite KZbin channels. They put out three videos a week, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

[@shaunepegrum]

That was a awesome mission you were all on and it was so emotional. It’s nice to remember it from this video. Keep up the great work guys 🤙😎🇦🇺

[@idiotfish76]

Fab Rats crew are great people

[@assocrec]

such a sweet American family! Only wish the best for them all! There are good people still around, thank God

[@stephenpoe2037]

I remember that ! I don't think you ever said what the Hull was ? Will be glad to see you deliver back ! Have fun on the Jet Skis !

[@user-gi2ex8rw5z]

Thanks for a great story, and for doing what real Americans do for each other. Stay strong my friends.

[@bst0125]

I watched the whole series on the yellow submarine! Was a tramindous job an stor y! Even my wife got a lil emotional when she watched the final installment with the owners! An excellent job & story...👍

[@michaelwenzel3196]

Paul Michelle and the rest of the Fab Rats are the best!

[@jimmyzgarage5430]

This was an awesome story and Fab rats it's one of the best vehicle related KZbin channels on the internet. I'm glad I found the channel a few years ago and look forward to their videos every week.

[@dstevens7614]

You and the family all show the Family Great Quality in every Post. I am a better person with every video. Don’t change a thing. ❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍😁

[@jamesplymire5342]

😢❤ Love it!! Stuff like this restores my faith in humanity more and more.

[@wynottgivemore9274]

I watched everything you guys have done ,ever since the golden nugget adventure 👍👍👍 and got somewhat caught up on your previous vids. Love watching your videos,I've watched the whole yellow sub rescue and restoration project,man this clip made me a little teary eyed talking about your Dad,and the tow truck build,then it really hit on the recap of how the boat ended up at the bottom ... Anyway, yes people were just as nuts back then as they are now... Taking their baby on a little boat on a big lake 🤪 yikes ! Glad they made it out alive . That just isn't a place for babies, nor is a drag strip race with alcohol cars, I remember being 11 and having to take my baby nephew out of the stands ,cause he was just not having it. And my brother in-law and sister didn't get it. But that didn't even help, he just was screening for his moma 😭 the whole time. That was 40 years ago. Same with kids in the back of campers while driving down the highways. My one boss lost his 7year old that way😪. That's just not allowed now adays.

[@mattsmith5802]

I love this story! You and Merlin have my very most favorite channels on KZbin I hope to meet you folks one day. I look forward to seeing new content!

[@garymitchell1582]

No good deed ever goes unpunished.

[@coraphelps1722]

I REALLY ENJOY WATCHING ALL YOUR WORK

[@Kls1972sm]

A new channel I SEE..Nice story peps..KEEP them com n...

[@mbyrd6580]

Love the Fab Rats, seen every video, and some more than once!

[@milomiller909]

The boat story is awesome. God bless you all.

[@indyfastal]

Anybody would be blessed to have y'all as friends...

[@jeffwinburn1283]

what a great story.I wan't to thank y'all for doing the right thing.god please you. I would ;I've to come there and meet you and your family. Jeff. This so touched me.

[@markwitte6458]

i allready saw the whole series on the fab rats channel. this time i cried again by the story of the family who were in distress. how hopeless they were,... luckely the escaped in time

[@jags01071]

It was great to see you fight back, sometimes it's worth the fight

[@GoodForYou4504]

Thx for highlighting this great family and story.

[@ryderdemcycles2434]

Great people doing great things just because it's a great thing to do. If the whole world did just a little of what Paul and Family do on a regular basis, how wonderful our world would be. God Bless them and anyone else who shares similar mindsets. As for the "officer" who tried to darken their day......what goes around, comes around. Darkness begets darkness. Pray he figures that out at some point. 🙏

[@mudduck754]

I found fabrats because of grandpa sherms truck I had just had an under the hood fire and I used shots of sherms truck to figure out where to route my wiring. Then got into Ezduzit racing. And been a fan since then

[@suchislife63]

great story :) watched all episodes of that.

[@toddfryman6178]

awesome story thank you for doing what you did and sharing it really touched me

[@lucaskroll1924]

This story really touched my heart! I thank you for that it puts you. As good people with a great respect for others and the most important a kindness of caring for people you truly deserve it back ten fold ,and I pray for you. That God will touch your heart again

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Such an awesome video series and people behind Fab Rats! Their channel is a family favorite.

[@johnperun232]

The whole episode is About beautiful 😍 Thanx for sharing your experience 👍and 👍just all you do to keep us entertained Have a Great Day 👍 God Bless America 🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸

[@SunnnyDay]

Great story, even better storytelling !!

[@mr_mongo7228]

I love that story!

[@Weidjeep]

Paul and Michell did this great thing for the owners of the boat, to only have the State of Utah attack them for some dumbass muscles. Gov ruins EVERYTHING.