Salvage Boats for Sale: A Buyer's Guide to Working Vessels

 




For maritime buyers seeking a versatile boat built for heavy lifting and towing work, a salvage boat may be the perfect choice. When recreational boats meet their limits, salvage boats keep going. Their resilient construction and brute power offer unique capabilities prized by workboat operators.

For salvors, police and port agencies, oil spill responders, underwater explorers and others, the sturdy and capable salvage boat fulfills a vital niche. As these boats become surplus, they also offer an opportunity for civilian buyers. However, purchasing a pre-owned salvage boat has some key considerations.


The Allure of Salvage Boats


It's easy to understand the appeal of salvage boats on the brokerage market. These boats exemplify seaworthiness and utility.

Built to rescue ships in distress often far offshore, salvage boats boast superb deadweight capacities, tow points and winches. Their tankage gives extensive range for long missions. Large open aft decks accommodate bulky salvage equipment.

Such boats also handle well. Shallow drafts combined with powerful engines provide maneuverability for precision work. High bows mean driving into rough seas rarely slows them. Everything about their design focuses on strength, capacity and accessibility.

These virtues make salvage boats attractive for applications like:

  • Towing heavy barges or disabled boats
  • Serving as platform boats for diving operations
  • Operating as utility tenders for offshore infrastructure
  • Responding to marine emergencies and oil spills
  • Conducting oceanographic and geoscience surveys

For workboat roles, retired salvage boats offer a compelling set of assets.


Factors to Consider


While their capabilities impress, evaluating salvage boats takes careful scrutiny. Their previous working life brings unique points to consider:


Age and Wear - Salvage boats tend to have lots of hours and wear. Checking aged engines, pumps, winches and generators for signs of deterioration is critical.

Regulatory Requirements - Retrofitting may be needed to meet current standards for commercial use. Factors like stability, safety systems and crew accommodations must be weighed.

Corrosion - Saltwater exposure and steel construction mean corrosion deserves close inspection. Costly hull and superstructure repairs could await.

Operating Costs - These big boats drink lots of fuel. Maintenance and insurance costs run high as well. Budgeting for real-world expenses matters.

Documentation - Verify that vessel documentation and registration can be transferred for the buyer's intended use.

Surveys - Given their complexity, a pre-purchase survey by a qualified marine surveyor is strongly advised before purchase.

Buyers should approach inspections with an extra degree of diligence to ensure there are no hidden issues or surprises after purchase.


At the Docks


When evaluating salvage boats in person, key aspects deserve attention:

On Deck

  • Condition of towing winches, capstans, cranes and other deck hardware
  • State of bollards, bitts, safety rails and nonskid deck surfaces
  • Integrity of watertight doors, hatches and portholes leading below decks
  • Presence of critical safety gear like PFDs, life rings and medical equipment

In the Wheelhouse

  • Electronics like radar, GPS, depth sounders and radios vital for operation
  • Clarity and function of controls, switches, alarms and internal communications
  • Overall visibility and blind spots that could impede navigating or working

In the Machinery Spaces

  • Hours logged on engines, generators, pumps and auxiliary equipment
  • Service records verifying proper maintenance over the years
  • Leaks, corrosion, wear and general condition of mechanical systems
  • Spare parts inventory to support equipment uptime

Tanks and Piping

  • Condition of fuel, water and waste tanks
  • Checking valves, pipes and hoses for leaks and needed replacements
  • Proper bonding throughout to avoid sparks and explosions
  • Ventilation condition to prevent gas buildup in confined spaces

Sea Trials

In addition to dockside inspection, sea trials allow assessing salvage boats in real-world conditions. Trials should include:

Operation at Cruise Speeds - Evaluate performance, handling, engine sounds and any vibrations.

Maneuvering - Test slow-speed control during towing, docking and working situations.

Stopping and Backing - Assess responsiveness when reversing thrust and stopping from cruise speeds.

Emergency Response - Demonstrate capabilities like towing, lifting and pump operation.

Sea trials reveal much that dockside exams cannot. Take advantage of this critical part of due diligence.

Professional Crews

For buyers seeking turnkey workboats, many salvage vessels can be purchased with professional crews. Inheriting experienced captains and engineers eliminates staffing hurdles to immediately commence operations after purchase.

Crewed sale options are also ideal for new owners still climbing the learning curve. Letting seasoned crews handle operations while owners get up to speed lowers early risks and liabilities.

However, crew costs and compatibility merit consideration when pursuing crewed vessels. Integrating new owners and existing crews can take work and compromise.

Finding Available Boats

So where do buyers find salvage boats for sale? Dedicated Salvage Reseller offer a prime starting point.

Contacting salvage companies directly about surplus boats can yield opportunities.

Attending used workboat auctions provides occasion to bid on salvage boats and similar commercial vessels as well.

For determined buyers, retired salvage boat possibilities do exist. Willingness to search far and wide opens more options. Though demanding vessels to own, their utility and capabilities offer compelling incentives for buyers with suitable projects in mind.

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