the Pelican State
Boat Refloating in Louisiana
Grounded or swamped, back on the water without a wrecker.
Boat Refloating across Louisiana: grounded or swamped, back on the water without a wrecker. Lucky Hauling covers Greater New Orleans, Acadiana and the Northshore and beyond with the rig the job needs and a free on-site estimate. Searching "boat refloating near me" brought you to the right place.
Nobody has more boats per capita or more reasons for one to end up in the yard. We pull swamped bass boats from the bayou, haul flooded campers out of the Parishes, and handle the cleanouts that follow every storm.
- Licensed & insured
- Free on-site estimate
- Same-week scheduling
- Donate & recycle first
- Boats, RVs & oversized loads
- 20 states covered
the Pelican State
Boat Refloating in Louisiana: where we work and what we see
We serve 155 cities and towns in Louisiana, from New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport to the small towns in between, across Greater New Orleans, Acadiana, the Northshore, the Florida Parishes, Central Louisiana, Southwest Louisiana and North Louisiana.
Boats in Louisiana live on Lake Pontchartrain, the Gulf Coast, the Atchafalaya Basin and the Mississippi River. Titling runs through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and we handle the paperwork for titled, untitled, and abandoned vessels.
Hurricane season defines the calendar: storm-damaged boats, flooded campers, and whole-house cleanouts after every named storm.
What we handle
Boat Refloating in Louisiana: what we take
Boat refloating in Louisiana covers more than most people expect. If it is on this list, we have done it, and if it is not, ask anyway.
- 01
Grounded boats after storms or low tide
Boats pushed onto sandbars, shorelines, and seawalls by storms or low water.
- 02
Swamped hulls at the dock
Rain-filled or leaking hulls that are sitting low but not on the bottom.
- 03
Listing boats with water intrusion
Boats taking on water that need pumping and a tow before they go under.
- 04
Tow to ramp, lift, or repair yard
Delivery to wherever it needs to go next.
- 05
Post-storm recovery for marinas
Multiple-vessel refloating for marinas after a storm.
How it works
How boat refloating works in Louisiana
From "can you take this?" to "it's gone" is usually one visit. This is the order it happens in.
- 01
Assess
Location, water depth, hull condition, and tide. We decide between pumps, lift bags, or a straight pull.
- 02
Stabilize
Lines set, water pumped, hull patched or bagged where needed.
- 03
Refloat
Controlled, on the right tide, without dragging the hull over the bottom.
- 04
Deliver
Towed to the ramp, the lift, or the yard, or removed entirely if that is the plan.
Why now
Why Louisiana stops putting it off
Nobody schedules boat refloating for fun. These are the reasons Louisiana homeowners finally pick up the phone.
- A boat taking on water today is a sunken boat recovery tomorrow.
- Grounded hulls grind against the bottom with every wave.
- Insurance claims go smoother when the boat is recovered quickly and documented.
- Hurricane season defines the calendar: storm-damaged boats, flooded campers, and whole-house cleanouts after every named storm.
From the truck
Boat refloating jobs, as we found them.
- Stabilized and floating
Lifted for transport
Swamped at the dock
Barge and excavator salvage
Cabin cruiser loaded and leaving
Driveway pickup, trailer included
Straight talk
What boat refloating does not include
A few things we will tell you up front, because you would rather hear them now than on the day.
- We refloat and move boats. We do not repair them.
- Some hulls are too far gone to save, and we will tell you that on site rather than charge you for a refloat that does not hold.
Coverage
Boat Refloating across Louisiana's regions
Louisiana is not one market. Each region has its own access issues, disposal facilities, and seasonal rhythm.
- Greater New Orleans, around New Orleans: boat pickups on Lake Pontchartrain, the Mississippi River, Lake Borgne and Bayou St. John and the marinas, ramps, and storage yards that serve them.
- Acadiana, around Lafayette: boat pickups on the Atchafalaya Basin, Vermilion Bay and Bayou Teche and the marinas, ramps, and storage yards that serve them.
- The Northshore, around Covington: boat pickups on Lake Pontchartrain, the Tchefuncte River and the Bogue Falaya and the marinas, ramps, and storage yards that serve them.
- The Florida Parishes, around Hammond: boat pickups on the Amite River, Lake Maurepas and the Tangipahoa River and the marinas, ramps, and storage yards that serve them.
- Central Louisiana, around Alexandria: boat pickups on the Red River, Kincaid Lake and Saline Lake and the marinas, ramps, and storage yards that serve them.
- Southwest Louisiana, around Lake Charles: boat pickups on Calcasieu Lake, Lake Charles and Sabine Lake and the marinas, ramps, and storage yards that serve them.
- North Louisiana, around Shreveport: boat pickups on Cross Lake, Caddo Lake, the Red River and Bayou D'Arbonne and the marinas, ramps, and storage yards that serve them.
Sound familiar?
Common boat refloating situations in Louisiana
If one of these sounds like your Louisiana situation, you are in the right place. If it does not, we still want to hear about it.
- 01
Aground after the storm
The surge put the boat on the seawall or the neighbor's lawn, and it needs to go back in the water without cracking the hull.
- 02
Sitting low at the dock
Rain-filled and listing, but not under yet. A pump-out and a tow to the lift solves it today.
- 03
Low water stranding
The lake dropped and the boat is on the bottom at the dock. It needs to be floated and moved to deeper water.
- 04
Post-storm marina cleanup
Several boats pushed onto the shore and stacked against each other, each needing a controlled refloat.
Afterward
Where boat refloating material from Louisiana ends up
"Where does it go?" is the right question to ask any removal company. This is our answer for Louisiana.
- 01
Fuel, oil, and batteries
Fluids are drained and batteries removed before the hull moves, and both go to certified facilities.
- 02
Motors and hardware
Outboards, stern drives, winches, and stainless hardware are recovered for salvage or scrap.
- 03
Hull breakdown
Fiberglass hulls are cut down and disposed of at a facility that accepts them. Aluminum hulls are recycled as scrap.
- 04
Trailers
Working trailers are reused or resold; rusted-out frames go to scrap.
Before we arrive
How to prepare for boat refloating in Louisiana
You do not need to do much before a boat refloating crew arrives in Louisiana, but three small things make the day go faster.
- Note the tide or water level trend so we can time the job.
- Do not run the engine or try to pull it with a vehicle; hulls crack that way.
- Tell us where it should go afterward: ramp, lift, or repair yard.
Equipment
What boat refloating in Louisiana takes
The reason this job gets turned down by other companies is usually equipment. This is what we bring to Louisiana.
- 01
Marine-rated straps
Hulls are strapped, not chained, and supported where the hull is meant to be supported.
- 02
Trailers rated for the load
Bunk, roller, and keel-capable trailers for boats of different hull types and sizes.
- 03
Winches, pumps, and lift bags
For boats with no trailer, boats in the water, and boats that are half under it.
Cities
Boat Refloating by city in Louisiana
Every city below has its own boat refloating page with local rules, disposal notes, and nearby coverage. Major metros first.
Questions
Boat Refloating in Louisiana: your questions
Is refloating cheaper than removal?
Usually, when the hull is sound. We assess on site and tell you honestly which makes sense.
Do you repair boats?
No. We get it floating and moved. Your yard handles repairs.
Do you offer same-day boat refloating in Louisiana?
Same-day boat refloating in Louisiana depends on that day's schedule. We keep windows open for urgent calls, and next-day is almost always available.
Are you licensed and insured for boat refloating in Louisiana?
Yes. Lucky Hauling carries general liability and auto coverage for every job in Louisiana. Ask the office for a certificate of insurance and we will email it before the crew arrives.
Which areas near Louisiana do you cover?
All of the Louisiana area, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette. If you are outside that, we still probably cover you; check the Louisiana page for the full city list.
How do I set up boat refloating in Louisiana?
Send a few photos through the estimate form or by text. We confirm what we can take and set up the free on-site estimate, and nothing is loaded until you say yes.
Do I need to be home for boat refloating in Louisiana?
Only for the estimate, and even that can happen by phone or text with photos from the crew. Property managers and out-of-town owners do it this way every week.
What should I do before the crew gets to Louisiana?
Very little. Decide what stays, point it out or tape it, and clear a path if it is easy. Pull personal items and any fuel cans off the boat. The crew does the rest.
Can you get it out of a tight spot in Louisiana?
Usually. Boats boxed in by fences, docks, or other boats are winched or lifted rather than dragged. Send a photo of the access and we plan it before the day.
What if the weather is bad on the day?
Rain does not stop most jobs. Lightning, ice, and high wind do, especially for boat lifts and tow work. If we have to move your window we tell you as early as we can and reschedule at no charge.
I do not have the title for the boat. Can you still remove it in Louisiana?
In most cases, yes. Boat titling in Louisiana runs through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and there is a release or abandoned-vessel process for boats without paperwork. We tell you exactly which form to sign before pickup day.
Next step
Book boat refloating anywhere in Louisiana
Pick your city above for local details, or send photos now. We reply within business hours with the first open window, and nothing moves until you say yes.
Internal links
Boat refloating everywhere in Louisiana
Free estimate
Boat refloating in Louisiana?
Send a few details and we come back with the first open window. No obligation, and nothing moves until you say yes on site.
Monday to Saturday: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM · Sunday: By appointment