Pirate Ship Arises From Bottom Of Big Bear Lake

BIG BEAR LAKE (AP) — A pirate ship known as Time Bandit is back from a brief visit to the not-so-briny not-so-deep.

The 38-foot replica of a Spanish galleon that sank in Big Bear Lake in the Southern California mountains during a fierce storm two weeks ago has been raised and refloated.

Airbags and pumps were used Thursday to refloat the 16.3-ton vessel, which was resting on its keel in 12 feet of water.

Owner Loren Hafen says there was no major damage, although a mooring eyebolt ripped out and the resulting foot-long hole needs to be plugged.

The motorized ship was built in 1968 and appeared in the 1981 movie "Time Bandits."

It offers lake tours from Halloway's Marina. Hafen says it should be ready to sail for the marina's 100th anniversary this summer.

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