Submerged vessels in Portland's waterways
At Captain Tom's, we know a submerged vessel doesn't wait. In Portland's busy waterways, including the Willamette River, a sunken boat quickly becomes a navigational hazard and an environmental hazard, leaking fuel and debris into water that thousands of people depend on. Our emergency response team handles full sunken boat recovery for boat owners, marinas, and dock operators across Portland and the surrounding areas, including yachts, catamarans, and everything in between.
We're a local team built around complex underwater recovery work. 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 submerged vessels off the riverbed to hauling away that junk boat sitting in your backyard. Here's what we handle.
- Sunken boat recovery — This is our primary work. We use lift bags, cranes, and rigging to raise submerged vessels safely, keeping hull damage to a minimum during the entire recovery process. We also offer emergency services for time-sensitive situations and can assist with insurance claim support documentation along the way.
- Wreck removal and abandoned vessel cleanup — Wrecked, storm-damaged, or abandoned vessel situations require serious logistics. Our team will dismantle what needs to come apart and haul away the rest, handling all the complexity so you don't have to deal with it.
- Junk boat removal and boat disposal service — Got an old sailboat, a jet ski, or a beat-up yacht taking up space? We do junk boat removal on land and water. Whether it's catamarans or small runabouts, we haul it out and handle proper disposal from start to finish.
- Recycling and environmental compliance — After any removal, we sort and recycle as much of the vessel as we can. All hazardous materials get handled in full compliance with environmental regulations, so nothing ends up where it shouldn't.
Why professional removal matters here
Not every sunken boat situation is the same. When you're dealing with submerged vessels, tricky water conditions, or a full wreck removal, you need a crew that's done it before. Here's why Captain Tom's is the right call for challenging recoveries.
- Expertise in difficult recoveries — Our crew handles the jobs that stop general junk haulers cold. Submerged vessels, tangled rigging, underwater obstacles — we've worked through all of it. Whether it's junk boat removal from a marina slip or a full wreck removal in open water, we know what professional boat removal actually looks like in the field.
- Specialized heavy-lifting equipment — We bring the right gear, not just whatever's available. That means high-capacity cranes for yachts and catamarans, lift bags for delicate operations, and everything in between. The sunken boat removal process goes smoother when the equipment is matched to the job.
- Full-service, start to finish — Captain Tom's is a direct service provider, not a broker who hands you off to someone else. We manage the entire boat removal process, from the first assessment through transport, boat disposal, or whatever the situation calls for. Comprehensive boat removal services means we own every step.
- Direct insurance and permitting support — We put together professional documentation your insurance claim actually needs, and we help sort out the required permits so you're not left chasing paperwork. If you have questions along the way, check our Sunken Boat FAQ or reach out directly. Emergency services are available when things can't wait.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sunken Boat Removal in Portland
Make sure everyone is safe, then report it to the authorities and your insurance company right away. After that, call us. Quick action is the best way to mitigate damage before it gets worse, and we'll walk you through the full recovery process from that first phone call.
We specialize in sunken boat recovery, including submerged vessels that have been down for days or weeks. We also handle junk boat removal, wreck removal, storm-damaged boats, abandoned vessels, and general boat disposal. Yachts and catamarans, too. Whatever you've got, we've likely pulled something like it before.
Usually, yes. Marine insurance policies typically cover recovery to prevent a total loss and keep liability off your back. We make sure you have all the documentation for the claim so your insurer has exactly what they need. Think of it as insurance claim support built right into our service.
Captain Tom's provides emergency boat removal throughout Portland and all of Multnomah County. We run frequent operations in areas like the Columbia River Slough and the marinas around it. Give us a call and we'll get a rapid response team moving your way.