Path to surface for sunken sailboat in Hudson River

BETHLEHEM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -A sailboat has been stranded in the middle of the Hudson River, passerbys say, since the early summer of 2024. When State officials will remove the sunken boat from the water however is unclear.

On their many trips to the nearby eagle nests, Bob Harlow and Nancy Henry told NEWS10's Anthony Krolikowski they saw the sailboat up above the water. Neither of them thought to be concerned for many months.

"So maybe somebody lives there and goes back and forth is a little dingey or something and goes off to work but we never saw activity on the boat," said Harlow.

But now, only the mast is visible. "I wish in a way that we would've probably followed up to make sure that everything was safe. We just assumed so yeah, it's a shame that it's had to be a disaster, a tragedy and a beautiful boat is lost," said Henry.

So, how do you remove a 30-some-foot sunken sailboat from the Hudson?

"The operation over here requires divers. We have to use the salvage lift bags which are actually buoyancy devices that get attached to the vessel. The vessel reaches the surface then we dewater the vessel and have to put it on shore on the trailer to be disposed," explained Zdenek Ulman, Owner of Marine Diving Service.

Ulman came to Bethlehem to talk to Town officials about the process. It could cost taxpayers at least $20,000 if the owner doesn't have insurance. "Because DOT and New York State don’t require it so unfortunately, taxpayers or people who never owned boats, they give portions of their salary to recover these boats."

In the meantime, the sailboat looks to be securely anchored and out of the way of other vessels according to State Police. A couple did sail by the wreck.

The DEC adds that the sailboat has not impacted the environment or public health but Ulman thinks that could change. "The engine will start leaking the oil and unfortunately this oil will create pollution. The other pollution is fiberglass which creates false food for marine life."