Professional Sunken Boat Removal in Milwaukee, WI

Submerged vessels in Milwaukee, WI

When a boat goes under, every minute counts. At Captain Tom's, we respond fast because a submerged vessel in Milwaukee's busy waterways — including Lake Michigan — becomes a navigational hazard and an environmental hazard almost immediately. Fuel, oil, and fluids start spreading. Boat traffic gets rerouted. The situation compounds quickly. We handle emergency response for sunken boat recovery across Milwaukee and the surrounding areas, working with everything from small runabouts to yachts and catamarans. Our team knows these waters.

We're a local crew that specializes in complex underwater recovery. Whether your boat is fully submerged or partially down at a dock, in a marina, or out in open water, our certified divers are ready to move.

Comprehensive boat removal services we offer

Our boat removal services include everything from pulling submerged vessels off the lake floor to hauling away old junk boats sitting in your yard.

• Sunken boat recovery — This is our core work. We use professional-grade lift bags, cranes, and rigging to raise submerged vessels safely off the bottom of Lake Michigan or the Milwaukee River, keeping hull damage to a minimum during the whole sunken boat removal process.
• Wreck removal and abandoned vessel cleanup — We handle the full wreck removal job from start to finish. Our crew takes care of the complex logistics, including the decision to dismantle what can't be moved in one piece, then haul away every last bit of the wreckage.
• Junk boat removal and general boat disposal service — Need to get rid of something that never touched the water? Our junk boat removal covers old sailboats, jet skis, yachts and catamarans sitting on land taking up space. We haul it, you're done.
• Recycling and proper disposal — After any removal job, we recycle as much of the vessel as possible. All hazardous materials get handled in full compliance with environmental regulations, so you're covered from the first call to the last cleanup. We also offer insurance claim support to help document the job properly.

Why Captain Tom's handles wreck removal better

Not every boat removal job is the same. When you're dealing with submerged vessels, tight marina access, or a full wreck removal situation, you need a crew that's actually done it before. That's where professional boat removal from Captain Tom's makes all the difference for challenging recoveries.

• Expertise in difficult recoveries. Our crew has pulled submerged vessels from the bottom of Lake Michigan and navigated the trickiest spots Milwaukee's marinas throw at us. Complex rigging, underwater obstacles, emergency services calls at odd hours — none of that stops us cold the way it stops general junk haulers. We know the Sunken Boat Removal Process inside and out, and we bring that experience to every single job.

• Specialized heavy-lifting equipment. We bring the right gear, period. High-capacity cranes for yachts and catamarans, lift bags for more delicate wreck removal situations, and everything in between. No improvising, no renting something that almost works. The right tool shows up with our crew on day one.

• Full-service, start to finish. Captain Tom's is a direct service provider, not a broker farming your job out to somebody else. We manage the entire boat removal process — assessment, rigging, transport, junk boat removal, and boat disposal if that's where things land. Comprehensive Boat Removal Services handled by one team, one point of contact, zero handoffs.

• Direct insurance and permitting support. We provide professional documentation that holds up with your insurance claim and walk you through any permits the job requires. Insurance Claim Support is part of what we do, and we know how to put together the paperwork that actually moves your claim forward. Less stress on your end, handled correctly on ours.