Choosing between a lift bag and a crane for a salvage job in Tampa Bay

We had a sunken 30-foot boat in 80 feet of water, and the boss gave me the call on how to bring it up. I went with the lift bag because the crane barge was booked for three days, and honestly, controlling the ascent myself felt safer. Anyone have a good rule for when to call in the heavy equipment versus handling it with just your team?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason_craig3423d ago

I used to be a crane-only guy after a bad lift bag job in Lake Michigan. We had a 40-foot sailboat with a cabin full of silt, and the bag got stuck under the deck. Took us six hours to sort that mess out. But your point about control in clear water like Tampa Bay is huge. For a clean hull in good vis, managing the lift yourself can be way smarter than waiting on a barge.

dylanjohnson23d ago

That silt problem @mason_craig34 had is key. For a clean hull in clear water, a lift bag is fine, but any real debris or bad vis means you call the crane.