Submerged vessels and how we pull them out
At Captain Tom's, we respond fast because a submerged vessel doesn't wait. In Atlanta, busy waterways like Lake Lanier can turn a sinking boat into a navigational hazard and an environmental hazard within hours, threatening other boaters and the water itself. We handle emergency response and full underwater recovery for sunken boats across Atlanta and the surrounding areas, including everything from small runabouts to yachts and catamarans.
Our local team specializes in complex underwater recovery. Whether your boat went 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 sunken vessels off the bottom to hauling off that old junk sitting in your backyard. Here's what we handle.
- Sunken boat recovery — This is our core work. We bring in lift bags, cranes, and rigging to raise submerged vessels safely off lake and river floors. Every step of the sunken boat removal process is handled with care to avoid making hull damage worse during the lift.
- Wreck removal and abandoned vessel cleanup — A wrecked or storm-damaged boat doesn't get easier to deal with the longer it sits. We manage the full wreck removal job, including all the logistics to dismantle the boat and haul away every piece. Whether it's an abandoned vessel tied to a dock or a hull half-buried in silt, we take care of it.
- Junk boat removal and hauling — Our junk boat removal covers boats on land and water alike. We'll haul away old sailboats, pontoons, yachts and catamarans, jet skis, and anything else taking up space. If you need a boat disposal service for something that's just been sitting there for years, we're the call to make.
- Recycling and proper disposal — After any removal, we sort through what's left and recycle as much of the vessel as we can. All hazardous materials, fuel, oil, batteries, and fluids, get handled in line with environmental regulations. Proper disposal isn't optional for us, it's just how we work.
We also offer emergency services for vessels sinking right now, and our team can work alongside your insurance company to support an insurance claim if you need documentation of the removal. Whether it's a single jet ski or a fleet of submerged vessels, professional removal is what we do every day in Atlanta.
Why professional removal matters here
Not all professional boat removal jobs are created equal. When the situation is complex, you need a crew that's handled it before. Here's why we're the right call for challenging recoveries in Atlanta.
- Expertise in difficult recoveries — Our crew has pulled submerged vessels from murky lake bottoms, navigated underwater obstacles, and rigged boats that stop general junk haulers cold. Wreck removal is what we do.
- Specialized heavy-lifting equipment — We bring the right gear to every job. High-capacity cranes for yachts and catamarans, lift bags for delicate work, and everything in between for the full sunken boat removal process.
- Full-service, start to finish — Captain Tom's is a direct service provider, not a broker. We manage the entire boat removal process, from emergency services and initial assessment through final transport and boat disposal. Comprehensive boat removal services, handled in-house.
- Direct insurance and permitting support — We handle insurance claim support with clear, professional documentation your adjuster can actually use. We also assist with permits so you're not buried in paperwork on top of everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sunken Boat Removal in Atlanta
First, make sure everyone is safe, then report the incident to the authorities and your insurance company right away. Quick action matters, it helps mitigate damage to the hull and surrounding environment before things get worse. From there, call us and we'll get the recovery process moving fast.
We're specialists in sunken boat recovery, including submerged vessels of all sizes, yachts and catamarans, and storm-damaged wrecks. We also handle comprehensive removal services for junk boat situations, abandoned boats, and general boat disposal. If it's in the water or on your property, we can deal with it.
In most cases, yes. Marine insurance policies typically cover wreck removal and recovery to prevent a total loss and reduce your liability exposure. We handle all the insurance claim support you'll need, including providing complete documentation for the claim so you're not chasing paperwork on your own.
Captain Tom's provides emergency boat removal throughout Atlanta and all of Fulton County. We run frequent operations in areas like Lake Lanier and the surrounding marinas. Give us a call and we'll get a rapid response team out to you.