Submerged vessels in Oakland's waterways
At Captain Tom's, we know a submerged vessel in Oakland's waterways doesn't wait around. The San Francisco Bay gets busy fast, and a sunken boat becomes a navigational hazard and environmental hazard within hours, leaking fuel and blocking traffic lanes. We run emergency response operations across Oakland and the surrounding areas, pulling boats off the bottom before the damage spreads and the situation gets worse.
Our local underwater recovery team handles everything, dock to open water. Fully submerged or halfway down at a marina, our certified divers are ready to move.
Our comprehensive boat removal services
Our boat removal services include everything from pulling sunken vessels off the bay floor to hauling away old junk boats sitting on land. Here's what we handle.
- Sunken boat recovery — This is our core work. We use professional-grade lift bags, cranes, and rigging to raise submerged vessels safely. Whether we're dealing with small skiffs or larger yachts and catamarans, we protect the hull during every stage of the sunken boat recovery process.
- Wreck removal and abandoned vessel cleanup — Storm-damaged, derelict, or just left to rot, we manage the full wreck removal from start to finish. Our crew will dismantle what needs to come apart and haul away the rest, handling all the logistics so you don't have to.
- Junk boat removal and hauling — Junk boat removal isn't just for marina disasters. We also haul away old sailboats, powerboats, and jet skis that are eating up dock space or sitting in your yard. Our boat disposal service covers land and water, and we can assist with insurance claim support documentation when needed.
- Recycling and proper disposal — Once the boat is out of the water, we don't just dump it. We recycle as much of the vessel as possible and make sure all hazardous materials are handled in full compliance with environmental regulations. Proper disposal is built into every job we do, not an afterthought.
From emergency services calls in the middle of the night to planned professional removal of long-abandoned submerged vessels, our team is set up to handle it all in Oakland. Got questions about the process? Check our sunken boat FAQ or give us a call.
Professional removal when others walk away
Not every job is a simple pull-and-haul. When you've got submerged vessels, tricky access, or a wreck removal that's stumped everyone else, professional boat removal takes real experience. Here's why we're the right call for challenging recoveries.
- Expertise in difficult recoveries — Our crew has worked every kind of sunken boat removal process Oakland's waterways can throw at us. Submerged vessels, tangled rigging, murky underwater obstacles — these are the jobs that stop junk haulers cold. We don't.
- Specialized heavy-lifting equipment — From high-capacity cranes handling yachts and catamarans to lift bags for delicate wreck removal work, we bring the right gear every time. No improvising. No subcontracting to someone who figures it out on the fly.
- Full-service, start to finish — Captain Tom's is a direct service provider, period. We own the entire boat removal process, from the first assessment through junk boat removal, boat disposal, and final transport. Our comprehensive boat removal services cover emergency services calls too, day or night.
- Direct insurance and permitting support — We put together professional documentation your adjuster can actually use for your insurance claim. We also sort out the permits, so you're not chasing paperwork while a waterlogged wreck sits at your dock. Check our sunken boat FAQ if you want to know exactly what that looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sunken Boat Removal in Oakland
First, make sure everyone is safe, then report the incident to the authorities and your insurance company right away. After that, call a professional removal crew. Quick action is the best way to mitigate damage to the vessel and get the recovery process moving before things get worse.
We specialize in sunken boat recovery, including submerged vessels of all sizes, yachts and catamarans, and storm-damaged wrecks. Our boat disposal and junk boat removal services cover abandoned boats and old hulls too. Basically, if it's in the water and shouldn't be, we handle it.
In most cases, yes. Marine insurance policies typically cover recovery to prevent a total loss and reduce your liability exposure. We handle the insurance claim support side too, giving you all the documentation for the claim your insurer will ask for.
Captain Tom's provides emergency boat removal throughout Oakland and all of Alameda County. We run frequent operations in areas like the Oakland Estuary and the marinas nearby. Give us a call and we'll get a rapid response out to you.