What to Do When Your Boat Sinks in Florida

It happens faster than you expect. One minute your boat is at the dock — the next it's taking on water. Whether it's a failed bilge pump, cracked fitting, storm surge, or a collision, a sinking boat is one of the most stressful emergencies a Florida boat owner can face.

What you do in the first 60 minutes matters enormously — for safety, your insurance claim, and your ability to recover the vessel. Here's exactly what to do.

Step 1 — Get Everyone Safe First

Before anything else — get everyone off the boat and onto a dock, another vessel, or solid ground. A sinking boat can shift, roll, or go under quickly. Don't risk lives for belongings.

• Account for all passengers and crew immediately
• Keep everyone away from the sinking vessel — suction as it sinks can pull people under
• If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately
• In open water, deploy life jackets and activate your EPIRB or VHF radio

Step 2 — Call the Right Authorities

Depending on where your boat sank, you may be legally required to report it. Failure to report can create legal complications — especially if the vessel creates a navigational hazard or environmental contamination.

Step 3 — Document Everything Before Anyone Touches Anything

Create a comprehensive visual record before anything is moved. This documentation is critical for your insurance claim.

• Photos and video from multiple angles, above and below the waterline if safe
• GPS coordinates or exact address of the incident
• Time and date you discovered the sinking
• Witness names and contact info
• Known cause — mechanical failure, collision, storm, etc.

Step 4 — Contact Your Insurance Company

Call your marine insurer as soon as everyone is safe and authorities are notified. Most policies require prompt notification. Have ready: your policy number, exact vessel location, vessel description, and the cause of sinking if known.

Ask specifically about salvage coverage — many comprehensive marine policies include professional salvage and wreck removal costs. Get pre-authorization in writing if your policy requires it before hiring a salvage company.

Step 5 — Call a Professional Marine Salvage Company

Call AAA Boat Salvage at (786) 981-4777 — we respond 24/7 anywhere in Florida. When you call, have ready: vessel size and type, exact location, approximate depth, whether fully or partially submerged, and access conditions.

We deploy the right equipment — air bags, lifting frames, pumps, support vessels — to safely raise and remove your boat. We also provide full documentation for your insurance claim as part of every job.

Step 6 — Do Not Attempt DIY Recovery

The impulse to save your boat yourself is understandable. But DIY recovery of a sunken vessel is dangerous, often illegal, and almost always makes things worse:

• Structural damage: Improperly raising a waterlogged vessel can cause it to collapse or break apart
• Environmental violations: Disturbing a sunken vessel can release fuel and oil — creating a spill you're liable for
• Insurance complications: Unauthorized recovery attempts can void your coverage
• Legal issues: Removing a vessel from navigable waters without authorization may violate federal law

The Environmental Liability Risk

A sunken boat isn't just a financial loss — it's an environmental hazard. Every hour it sits on the bottom it risks leaking fuel, motor oil, hydraulic fluid, battery acid, and antifreeze into Florida's protected waterways. As the vessel owner, you bear liability for all cleanup costs and FDEP penalties. Acting quickly limits your exposure significantly.

What Does Sunken Boat Recovery Cost in Florida?

• Small boat under 20 ft in shallow canal: $800 – $2,500
• Mid-size boat 20–35 ft: $2,500 – $6,000
• Large vessel 35 ft+ or offshore recovery: $6,000 – $15,000+

If your marine insurance includes salvage coverage, much or all of this may be covered. We work directly with your insurer when applicable.