Tried a new lift bag setup on a small salvage job in Mobile

Seth Hall · 2026-03-18T03:15:07.482165+00:00

Used a 500-pound bag on a sunken outboard motor, but it shot up so fast it nearly clipped the boat's prop. Learned the hard way that even small loads need a controlled ascent line. What's your method for keeping lift bags from going ballistic on shallow water jobs?

casey3936mo ago

So, trying to launch that motor into orbit?

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blair6266mo ago

Man, that's a classic rookie move we've all done. Calling it a "controlled ascent line" is a bit off though. It's really about managing buoyancy, not just having a line. For a small motor, I'd use a much smaller bag, maybe 100 pounds, and fill it in short bursts from my regulator. Let it rise a foot, stop, check it, then give it another puff. That way it creeps up instead of rocketing.

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hugo_jones5mo ago

Nah, that's overcomplicating it. Just use a bigger bag and let it rip, you just need to get clear faster.

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