"Mikel Warehime" wrote in news:rIJbd.8026
:

What is the best way,To Raise a 50' Wooden Boat.
It is sitting in 15' of water. This boat has a concrete keel &
the weight is around 40 tons. The Keel will be removed,
after it's out of the water. It was added in the late 70's
I forgot that it is a 1967 Navy Boat. The only thing,
above water is the radio antenna.




The problem is both that it is wood and it is heavy. If you simply seal
the hull and pump air in or fill the hull with inflatable bags you will
most probably 'pop the top' i.e. the deck and superstructure will break
away from the hull. This can be alleviated by placing support straps
under the hull and keel with inflatable bags attached on each end. Then
as air is introduced into the hull the outside bags are also inflated,
balancing the forces. All in all not an easy or cheap thing. I once did
this with a steel hulled 40' riverboat. The trick is to evenly apply the
air at the same time and rate inside and outside and sise to side to
avoid 'popping, as well as capsizing

The second alternative is to bring in a barge mounted crane and sling.
ALso not cheap. That boat better be worth a pretty penny 'cause that's
what it will cost to recover it.
g'Luk

--
MonteP
"Against stupidity, the very gods themselves contend in vain." -
Friedrich von Schiller
"Ignorant voracity -- a wingless vulture -- can soar only into the depths
of ignominy." Patrick O'Brian
-=The answer is simple...send pretzels to the Whitehouse!=-