Dive recovery of lost outboard w pics

[27 sailfish]

27 sailfish
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Join DateMar 2003Posts20,172

Dive recovery of lost outboard w pics

Got a call Monday afternoon from fellow TFer dayjtradr ( John ). His friend - also named John had lost a 25 HP outboard off the transom of a crabbing skiff near Hart / Miller island.

John wondered if I could try to find it with scuba gear. He was certain he could get me within 100 feet of the location.

We agreed to meet Weds afternoon as time was of the essence. The longer it was on the bottom - less likely it could be restarted. Got to his house and saw tools laid out. Liked his confidence that we would find it.







Left John's dock about 2:00 after loading the dive gear into his other boat - 16 foot rowboat. Ran out to the location - he had already placed a marker with a cinder block. Water was flat.






We looked the area over with a regular depth finder and saw a sharp drop from 4 to 12 feet. John was sure the engine was in the deeper water - narrowed down the search area. Noticed current was running fast - outgoing but hoped it would not hinder my search.

Hats off to the fellow TFers who volunteered side scan units on such short notice.


Went over the side into the warm water and down to bottom. Pushed a long metal stake into the sand and then tugged the line so topside could pull cinder block out of my way. Visibility was only about 6 inches but better then true zero conditions.

Pulled three feet from reel and crawled a circle. No luck - pulled another three feet. Still no luck - pulled another three feet of line to expand search area. Current on bottom was strong but helped me navigate. When I was facing it - knew to let more line out.

Found the edge of the sand bar and now could search from 6:00 to 12:00 positions - like a 180* arc. Going into current was awful - tough to keep line taut. The other way - had to drag flippers to act as a brake.

Bumped into a few rocks about size of bowling balls - each time thinking it was the engine. My hand felt a few smooth objects - glass bottles on bottom.

Had a fair amount of line out and took a few seconds to check air gauge. It showed 900 PSI left from 2,900. I come up around 500 but had another full tank in the skiff.

Going up current - right hand felt steel and I pulled myself to the engine . Tied a 1/2 inch rope around the lower unit and sent rope up with lift bag. Followed that to surface and my son Tyler and John came over.

They tied the skiff to the rope while I went back under to reel in my line and pull the metal stake.

In mean time - John's friends came over with a larger boat that had a swim platform. I handed in the metal pole and went down the rope with another 1/2 inch line. Tied that one to engine as well - did not want to risk losing it.


Tell me TFer's are not good folks. While securing second line underwater - 5th Tutition swung by but guys told him we had found it.
Marty has a side scan unit and made a trip to offer help. He was gone when I surfaced.



The guys on the bigger boat had their hands full wrestling the engine onto the swim platform. Tyler took some action photos.





















Once the engine was on swim platform - both boats headed back. Once on land - looked like a Nascar pit crew as everyone pitched in to get engine cleaned. Plugs were pulled and fogging oil sprayed in.

Engine was gently pulled over and fuel lines were taken off and blown dry. Carb. bowl was emptied and new plugs put in.

First few pulls and no luck. Plugs were pulled again and cleaned of fogging oil.







Next few pulls offered a teasing cough but no start but then the engine sputtered and was idling - burning off the fogging oil.







John planned to let it run about 90 minutes to help dry it out fully and plans to use it next day or two - after securing the transom clamps better.

Last edited by 27 sailfish; 08-08-2012 at 07:30 PM.

[redneck7]

A buddy and I lost our 30hp this afternoon off the transom. I know where we were, because we didn't have a paddle, so motorless, we had plenty of time to memorize our position.

Going to try to get off early tomorrow and bring tanks and regs and take a buddy down there to help me find it. Hope we have as much luck as you did. We're also on a drop-off...but its a steep one in a curve in the creek that goes from knee deep to 25ft deep in the length of my boat...

[redneck7]

To update (since I'm sure y'all couldn't sleep you were so worried about what happened), we didn't find a thing. 3 of my tanks were out of hydro, so I dropped them off and rented a tank for the day...couldn't find my wetsuit, so I wore an old 3/2 I had, with a women's size 3, 7mm farmer Jane over top of it. I'm apparently taller than whatever a women's size 3 is meant for, but aside from mobility (and perhaps fertility) issues, it did keep me warm.

Couldn't see a thing, and by the time we were suited up and in the water, the tide/current was humming and the sun was setting. We went down, but it just didn't feel good...felt rushed and ill-prepared, which is not a feeling I want on the verge of darkness, in zero viz 53deg water...so I dropped to 20' and then eased right back up and called the dive. Buddy agreed, and with weather coming in and temps dropping, we've written that motor off as a lesson learned and an offering to whatever deity looks over the Bennetts Creek.

[27 sailfish]

Redneck - Where abouts is this lost engine ?

[redneck7]

In a muddy turn in the bennetts creek in suffolk, va. As a point of pride we'll probably continue to cook up "great" ideas on how to locate and salvage it for at least the next week or so...but in reality, I think we've accepted it as lost.

[27 sailfish]

That's far from me or I'd give it a try.

I'm close to BWI airport near Baltimore , Md.

One idea - post on Va board and ask for any one with a side scan unit. These will pick up an outboard on bottom and greatly narrow search area.

If they spot it - lower a cinder block on a rope with marker. Side scan again and see how close cinder block is to engine.

Move it until you are really close to it. If you locate it - send me a PM , might be able to lend a hand. You have 1-2 weeks until engine is toast.

Key is once out of water -you have about 1-2 hours - remove plugs and pull over 2-3 times by hand to purge water. Then squirt fogging oil and pull over 2-3 times again.
Drain fuel - then put plugs in and pump fresh fuel through and keep fingers crossed.

Good luck.

[redneck7]

Thanks Sailfish. We might go again Saturday since it actually gives us time to plan/daylight/etc...I'll keep you posted.

[27 sailfish]

Hope I'm not insulting you with this advice but I've learned hard way muck diving.

Good idea to practice with your vest on - in the house. keep eyes closed and feel for your rope , lift bag , EMT shears , etc. Practice laying on your belly , side and back.

Might seem odd but well worth being able to find all your gear by feel alone. I always put same gear on same D rings - it becomes second nature finding the tools I need.

Practice tying knots as well in your rope. I find 3/8 inch good all around but 1/2 or even 5/8 might be better for your engine.
I like the bow line and square knot.

Nothing worse then finding an object - tying rope to it - then inflating bag - only to find knot slipped off. Well , worse might be inflating bag and have it rocket to surface because brass clip was not secured correctly.

Ah , the joy of muck diving.

Hope to read your post with a success story.

[redneck7]

My partner is a Navy diver. Zero viz expert, I am not. He, on the other hand, feels excited to be anywhere with enough viz to read a gauge smashed against his mask. I listen for grunts or taps that might indicate he's in need of assistance, and then play a blind game of charades to figure out what it is he's asking for. I'm more like a mule than a diver.

Once we got tangled together in the Bay in about 45' of water and I could actually understand him, through his regulator, in the pitch dark calmly telling me to "get the *uck off of me". We were looking for a spear that day. The proverbial needle in a baystack.

Our plan for lifting this motor is not to use bags, but to just lift it into my boat from the surface after tying about 3 times the number of lines we think we need to the motor. Though I'm convinced that between the 9mm of rubber I had on and my wing, I could bear hug it and head for daylight...no lines or bags necessary :)

[redneck7]

To update: failed to locate the motor. Next motor will be through-bolted AND it will always have 30' of line tied to it, coiled and terminated in a crab-pot buoy.