“No One Did More for America’s Recreational Boaters than Richard Schwartz”
ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 13, 2015 — Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) Chairman and Founder Richard Schwartz, who created and grew the association to become the predominant advocacy and boater services organization for the nation’s recreational boat owners, passed awayWednesday after a short illness. He was 85. Continue reading →
What turned out to be a leisurly day boating off the coast of Mission Bay turned into a boaters nightmare. While attempting to enter the Mission Bay Chanel a large set of swells pushed the small vessel into breaking surf. The operator, knowing the vessel would flip in the huge surf if he turned around, throttled up and rode the huge wave several hundred yards to the beach. All of the passengers were able to get off the boat without injury. Continue reading →
During the sixties private boats started popping up on lakes and waterway making boating an American favorite for relaxing on the water, fishing , or just sightseeing. Most if not all of these boats were made out of Wood. Made from high quality wood and hand craftsmanship they were built to last a life time, or so the builder thought. The late sixties brought a new type of boat Fiberglass. Continue reading →
The deep water vessel recovery team at Vessel Assist San Diego, led by Captain Robert Butler, was tasked with raising a 21’ vessel from almost 200’ of water before the record spring thaw filed the lake. The Vessel was on the remote side of Lake Powell near Bullfrog Marina. The 15 hour drive, for the three truck and trailer caravan, was slowed by winds in excess of 40 miles per hour. Continue reading →
Once again faulty wiring looks to be the cause of another boat fire. This one was at the Lowes Coronado Marina. A 55’Cabin Cruiser and a 45’ Trawler were burned beyond repair Thursday night. Vessel Assist San Diego deployed an 8 man crew with two boats and two truckloads of equipment, to secure and remove the first boat, a 45’ Trawler. The second boat, a 55’ Cruiser was sunk after it burned to the decks. The night before, Coronado Fire Department responded in full force, keeping water on the fire from land. The new, million dollar San Diego Harbor fire/police boat, was put into real action and performed as expected. The new 32’ Metal Craft and and its well-trained crew, used its high powered water cannons to attack the fire and keep it from destroying other boats. Continue reading →
Often time’s boats lose power and the boat survives to see another voyage. This was not the case for a 38’ shock sail boat after the operator reported to be out of fuel was repeatedly slammed against the giant sea wall that protects LA/Long Beach Harbor from the Ocean. Life Guards were able to get a line on the boat but the line parted. The giant swell and pounding waves made the conditions too dangerous for even the most experienced Life Guards. Continue reading →
Often times when the call comes in to raise a boat after it sinks in its slip, two things are pretty common. One, Vessel Assist San Diego’s crew are usually on scene and working within an hour or two of mobilizing. Two, the boat is usually less than 40 feet long. Continue reading →
For years most commercial marine companies have required all personnel to wear lifejackets (PFD’s). Now Personal Locator Beacons (PLB’s) has become required equipment in several marine companies and for good reason. Cases have come up where a vessel sinks and the EPIRB has gone down with the boat or boaters drift away from the beacon. Continue reading →
Vessel Assist San Diego specializes in raising boats after they sink. Weather the boat is in a slip or in 400’ of water Vessel Assist San Diego can raise it. Most boats that sink in slips are under 40’. The Cathy Ann was a steel commercial fishing vessel 80’ long and weighed over 150 tons with the cement ballast added inside the hull to stabilize her for the rough Pacific Ocean. Vessel Assist San Diego was given the task of raising the monster vessel from 50’ of water. The steel vessel offered many challenges. One, the sheer weight and steel hull with cement inside offered zero buoyancy. Two, the vessel was resting on a steep slope bottom leaving only the roof out of the water and the only accessible hatch 7’ under water on the lowest tides. Three the salvage had to be done on a negative tide making the start date of the job New Year’s Day. Continue reading →
Salvaging a sunken vessel in the open ocean is extremely challenging. A vessel sunk in the surf line even more difficult; salvaging a cement vessel in breaking surf makes for one of the toughest salvage situations. When the 32’ Ferro Cement Vessel grounded on the beach in Huntington Beach Vessel Assist Long Beach made a valiant effort to pull the stricken vessel into deep water. Continue reading →