Boat Happenings

The following is an ongoing account for the year 2012 regarding what is happening on each of our 2 salvage vessels: The Magruder and The DARE on the Atocha wreck site. Check back to see what the crews recover each trip and what they are up to when they are stuck in port due to repairs or inclement weather. For photos and more detailed information on items recovered visit our extensive http://www.historicshipwrecks.com
The Dare
Click to read about the scheduled routine maintenance occurring on the Dare in the dry dock.
1/18/12 - 1/23/12
JB Magruder
The crew was able to spend about a week at sea during January, which is typically quite windy. They searched new territory uncovering 26 empty holes and one silver coin. Keep up the hard work and good luck next trip!
12/10/11 - 1/3/12
2011 ended with a spell of windy weather and 2012 has started in the same manner. Winds to begin the new year are gusting to 32 miles per hour but are forecasted to decrease as the week continues. Boat Captains will keep an eye on the winds and head out as soon as it is safe to do so.
12/29/11 - 12/31/11
Blue Water Rose
The crew headed out for a brief trip at the end of the year finding 67 olive jar sherds, 1 iron dagger, 3 ceramic bowl fragments, 3 iron hoop fragments, 14 pieces of lead sheathing, 1 jade ceramic blade, 1 Ming porcelain sherd, 1 iron pin fragment, 5 EOs, 1 gold bead, 1 iron spike, 1 iron spike fragment, 2 olive jar necks, 1 iron tack and uncovered 8 empty holes.
12/7/11 - 12/9/11
The Magruder
The crew of the Magruder made a brief trip to the site during a calm weather window to find 1 silver coin, 1 olive jar sherd and they searched an additional 5 empty holes on the site of the Atocha.
12/7/2011
The Dare
The Dare headed out during a break in the rough seas to uncover 1 EO, 1 iron spike at 2 empty holes on the site of the Margarita before having to head back to the dock.
11/30/11- 12/1/11
The Magruder
The crew uncovered an iron ball lock and 9 other empty holes.
11/30/11
The Dare
After holding out for workable weather the crew headed out for a trip that lasted one day before being forced back to port. They found 2 iron spikes, 1 EO and 2 empty holes.
11/16/11- 11/18/11
The Magruder
On their next brief trip the crew uncovered 10 empty holes before being forced back to Key West due to high winds.
11/9/11- 11/11/11
The Magruder
The crew was able to find a pair of iron scissors, 2 olive jar sherds, 1 iron object, 2 silver coins, 1 iron spike and they searched an additional 6 empty holes.
10/11/11- 10/14/11
The Dare

The Margarita wreck site produced 3 iron spikes, 1 gunpowder flask, 1 EO and 20 empty holes this trip.
10/10/11- 10/14/11
The Magruder
The crew headed to the Atocha site and found 7 silver coins, 2 encrusted objects, 1 iron nail and uncovered 24 empty holes.
9/24/11- 12/2/11
The Dare

The crew of the Dare headed out to work the site of the Santa Margarita and uncovered 1 musket ball, 1 iron spike, 3 olive jar sherds, 1 olive jar neck, 1 ceramic vessel sherd and they also searched 28 empty holes.
9/23/11- 9/27/11
The Magruder
The crew headed out for a brief trip and found 5 silver coins and uncovered 18 empty holes.
9/8/11 - 9/18/11
The Magruder
The crew hosted a film team and then set up at emerald city. Working along-side our investors they uncovered a beautiful bronze seal, 29 emeralds, a musket ball, 1 iron spike fragment, 9 olive jar sherds, 1 EO, 2 silver coins, 1 silver button and uncovered 12 empty holes.
9/2/11 - 9/7/11
The Dare on Santa Margarita Site
The Dare headed out for a trip to the Santa Margarita site while another storm passed through the Lost Merchant site. They searched 27 empty holes and uncovered 1 iron grommet.
The Dare
The Dare just returned from a trip to the Margarita site while the hurricanes have been running up the east coast. They have been having some issues with the port engine and we will be spending the next week changing out one of the heads and repairing a major oil leak on the engines rear main seal. We will also be getting back our side scan cable from repair next week. It was damaged during the last survey trip on the Lost Merchant project. By the end of next week we should be ready to head back up north and continue the Lost Merchant survey once the seas calm down from "Maria" the latest storm heading toward the FL coast.
8/17/11 - 8/23/11
JB Magruder
The crew headed out to find 1 iron spike, 3 olive jar sherds, 1 gunpowder flask, 1 EO and searched 29 empty holes.
8/4/11 - 8/10/11
JB Magruder
The crew headed out and uncovered 1 piece of modern material, 1 Olive jar neck, 3 pieces of copper sheathing, 1 iron spike fragment, 6 olive jar sherds, 1 iron gunner's dice.
7/14/11 - 7/22/11 and 8/3/11 - 8/8/11
Blue Water Rose
The crew went out right before Mel Fisher Days to find 91 olive jar sherds, 27 piece of lead sheathing, 3 majolica fragments, 20 barrel hoop fragments, 26 ballast stones, 3 glazed sherd, 68 empty holes, 4 EOs, 3 iron sword blade fragments, 2 iron scabbard frogs, 8 animal teeth, 11 spikes, 1 ceramic bowl, 2 tinajas sherds, 1 iron tack, 4 OJ neck fragments, 1 musket ball, 1 spike fragment, 2 glass fragments, 1 ceramic vessel sherds, 1 wood fragment, 1 empty hole, 2 spike fragments, 1 iron grommet, 1 silver folio fragment, 1 wood timber, 2 bricks, 2 olive jar necks, 1 iron pin, 1 silver plate and 1 piece of iron rigging.
7/19/11 - 7/26/11
JB Magruder
The crew headed out after Mel Fisher Days to find 3 olive jar sherds, 4 silver coins, 1 spike, 1 iron object and uncovered 48 empty holes.
7/5/11 - 7/13/11
JB Magruder
During our emerald city trip in July the crew, with the help of investors, found 15 emeralds and searched 4 empty holes.
6/22/11 - 6/29/11
JB Magruder
This trip the crew found a magnificent one-of-a-kind gold and emerald ring, 14 silver coins, 1 silver bit, 1 silver spoon fragment, 1 silver fragment,7 iron spikes, 1 iron grommet, 1 copper fragment, 3 Eos, 4 iron spike fragments,1 iron gunner's dice, 5 OJ sherds, 1 iron cannon ball and 3 iron spike fragments and uncovered 34 empty holes.
6/12/11 - 6/18/11
JB Magruder
The crew found 1 silver coin, 1 gunpowder flask, 1 olive jar neck, 1 olive jar sherd, 1 ceramic vessel sherd, 1 iron spike fragment and uncovered 57 empty holes.
5/27/11 - 6/07/11
JB Magruder
The crew discovered 2 iron spikes, 5 olive jar sherds and uncovered 34 empty holes.
5/19/11
Blue Water Rose
The crew found 1 iron spike, 3 olive jar sherds, 4 ballast stones, 1 animal tooth, 1 animal bone and uncovered 7 empty holes.
5/05/11 - 5/20/11
The Dare
The crew found 2 silver coins, 1 lead strip,. 1 stone, 1 EO, 1 iron spike, 2 copper fragments and 20 empty holes.
5/14/11 - 5/20/11
JB Magruder
During division week with the help of our investors the crew found 24 emeralds a seed and 1 empty hole.
5/7/11 - 5/19/11
Blue Water Rose
Artifacts found this trip include: 1 silver coin, 1 iron grommet, 10 EOs, 8 olive jar sherds, 1 barrel hoop fragment, one copper fragment, 1 iron pin, 10 pieces of lead sheathing, 1 iron hinge, 1 animal bone, 1 animal tooth, 2 iron spikes, 1 iron pin fragment, 14 ballast stones, 10 pieces of modern material and they worked 157 empty holes.
4/26/11 - 5/8/11
JB Magruder
The crew found a large gun powder flask, 1 silver coin, 1 EO, 8 OJ sherds and 52 empty holes.
4/26/11 - 4/30/11
Blue Water Rose
The crew headed to the Margarita site and found a spectacular gold and emerald ring, 1 gold flake, 1 brass object, 2 barrel hoop fragments, 1 silver coin, 2 lead musket balls, 4 olive jar sherds, 1 iron tack, 2 animal bones, 9 pieces of lead sheathing and uncovered 3 empty holes.
4/7/11
The Dare
The crew found 1 silver object, 2 iron spikes, 2 iron objects, 1 EO and 7 empty holes.
4/11/11 - 4/19/11
JB Magruder
The crew has continued their hot streak finding a gold bar this trip! They've also uncovered 14 silver coins, 5 EOs, 1 pottery sherd, 4 spikes, 2 square spikes, 1 piece of copper and uncovered 44 empty holes. Everyone is very excited to see what they discover on the next trip out!
3/28/11-3/30/11
The Dare
The Dare crew has been working with the new technology that will be used to survey the Lost Merchant wreck site. They have been taking the time to test each part to avoid any complications once they arrive at the search area. While waiting on a part they made a quick trip to the Atocha site and found 2 iron spikes, 2 silver coins, 1 piece of lead sheathing, 1 ballast stone and 6 empty holes.
3/23/11 - 3/28/11
JB Magruder
After a bout with windy weather the crew was able to head to sea and found a phenomenal gold rosary, an intact olive jar, 19 silver coins, 4 iron spikes, 2 Eos, 1 olive jar sherd, 1 ceramic vessel sherd and they uncovered 44 empty holes. They are in a hot area and will be heading back out as soon as possible to continue excavating the area.
2/15/11 - 2/23/11
JB Magruder
The crew headed to the site and found a remarkable 22 silver coins, 5 iron spike fragments, 2 pieces of copper sheathing, 1 piece of organic material, 1 piece of modern material, 1 silver object, 2 iron spikes, 1 iron cannon ball, 5 olive jar sherds, 1 EO and also uncovered 38 empty holes! This should be an exciting season!
2/14/11 - 2/24/11
The Dare
The crew headed to the site and uncovered 1 glazed bowl sherd, 1 piece of modern material, 1 encrusted object, 1 silver coin and searched 33 empty holes.
2/11/11 - 2/24/11
Blue Water Rose
The crew has been checking some survey hits and has come across 34 pieces of modern material, 2 in tact iron barrel hoops and 18 empty holes.
1/27/11 - 2/03/11
JB Magruder
The crew headed out and found 5 silver coins, 6 nails, 3 spikes, 3 EOs, 2 animal bones and 1 piece of pottery. They're back in port to provision the boat and will be headed out just after a short bad weather front moves through the Keys.
2/03/11
JB Magruder
The crew is currently out at sea finding artifacts, including 5 silver coins, and will be back in port over the weekend. A complete list of what they found throughout the trip will be available next week.
2/03/11
The Dare
The crew is still working with new technology preparing the boat to search for a new wreck dubbed "The Lost Merchant".
1/01/11- 1/22/11
JB Magruder
The crew of the Magruder headed out for trip to the site to find a gunpowder flask, an animal tooth, encrusted object, iron spike, a stone and a ceramic vessel sherd before the next cold front moved in.
1/01/11- 1/21/11
The Dare

The crew continues to run tests and work with new equipment that will be used in the new "Lost Merchant" project.

 

Archive boat happenings information for 2008 can be viewed at: Boat Happenings 2010.

Archive boat happenings information for 2008 can be viewed at: Boat Happenings 2009.

Archive boat happenings information for 2008 can be viewed at: Boat Happenings 2008.