Sunken Cuddy Cabin Recovery in Haines City

Most of a year on a mooring had passed for the 21 ft Thompson 21 cuddy cabin, which still had its outdrive removed and never reinstalled. The hole in the transom was the problem. Rain and chop poured through it until the boat settled deck awash with the bow pointing up.

First job was the opening itself. Before any air went into the bags, the crew cut a plywood plate, bedded it with sealant, and screwed it over the transom hole. Without that we would have been lifting a bucket with the bottom cut out.

Then four lift bags brought her off the bottom, and the whole sunken boat removal took about two hours. No engine, no outdrive, a cracked cuddy hatch, nothing to salvage. The owner told us on the phone he was done with it. A short tow carried the boat to the road, and we trailered her toward Auburndale for dismantling and recycling at our yard.