Sunken Boat Removal and Professional Boat Removal in Bakersfield

Submerged vessels and how we recover them

At Captain Tom's, we know a submerged vessel doesn't wait. In Bakersfield's active waterways along the Kern River, a boat on the bottom becomes a navigational hazard and an environmental hazard fast, leaking fuel and blocking traffic within hours. Our emergency response team handles sunken boat recovery for boat owners, marinas, and property managers across Bakersfield and the surrounding areas, getting to you before the situation gets worse.

Our local underwater recovery crew works in docks, open water, and every marina in between. Fully or partially submerged, our certified divers are ready to respond now.

Comprehensive boat removal services we offer

Our boat removal services include everything from pulling submerged vessels off the lakebed to hauling off that junk boat that's been sitting on your property for years.

• Sunken boat recovery — This is our core work. We bring in professional-grade lift bags, cranes, and rigging to raise submerged vessels safely. The goal is getting your boat up without making the hull damage any worse than it already is. We also provide insurance claim support to help you document the loss.
• Wreck removal — Dealing with a wrecked, abandoned vessel or storm-damaged boat is a different kind of job. We handle the full scope, working through the logistics of how to dismantle the boat on-site and haul away the pieces. No half-measures.
• Junk boat removal and boat disposal service — Got an old sailboat, a dead jet ski, or a neglected yacht sitting around? We haul away boats on land or water, including yachts and catamarans, as part of our professional removal process. It's a straightforward boat disposal job, and we do it clean.
• Recycling and proper disposal — After any removal, we don't just dump and walk. We recycle as much of the vessel as we can, and all hazardous materials get handled in full compliance with environmental regulations. You won't have to worry about where it all ends up.

Whether you need emergency services for a boat that went down last night or you've been sitting on a problem for months, our comprehensive boat removal services cover it. Check our sunken boat FAQ or call us directly if you're not sure where to start with the sunken boat removal process.

Professional removal: why Captain Tom's gets the call

Not every job is a simple tow. When you're dealing with submerged vessels, tricky rigging, or a full wreck removal, you need a crew that's handled it before. Here's why Captain Tom's is the right call for challenging recoveries.

• Expertise in difficult recoveries — Our crew has pulled submerged vessels from the bottom when general junk haulers turned and walked away. We know the sunken boat removal process cold, from initial assessment through full wreck removal, and we don't get rattled by underwater obstacles or awkward conditions. Check our Sunken Boat FAQ if you want to see the kinds of jobs we take on.

• Specialized heavy-lifting equipment — We bring the right gear to every job. High-capacity cranes for yachts and catamarans, lift bags for delicate or confined recoveries, and everything in between. Our comprehensive boat removal services mean we're not borrowing equipment or guessing. Emergency services calls get the same full setup, no shortcuts.

• Full-service, start to finish — Captain Tom's is a direct service provider, not a broker passing your job to someone else. We manage the entire boat removal process ourselves, from the first look at your situation through professional removal, boat disposal, and junk boat removal. You deal with us, nobody else.

• Direct insurance and permitting support — We produce professional documentation your insurer can actually use for your insurance claim, and we help sort out any permits the job requires. Insurance claim support isn't an afterthought here. It's part of what makes professional boat removal with Captain Tom's less of a headache from day one.