Sunken Sailboat Recovery in Citrus Springs

Deck core soft around every stanchion told the story of the 26 ft Pearson 26: water had been getting in for years, through every fitting. Eventually the hull took on so much weight that only the cabin roof showed above the lake.

Rigid access was the issue. The dock was narrow, with no room for a workboat to sit alongside, so we brought the gear over a short path and launched a small skiff. With the deck soft, we avoided deck fittings entirely and rigged bags to the hull. Pumps were not needed once the bags took her up.

The job took about four hours. The deck core was wet through, and fixing it would cost more than the hull is worth, so the tow went toward Sugarmill Woods and our yard for dismantling and recycling. The sunken boat removal is complete, and the salvage was the lead keel.