Any Thoughts On Boats?

New to forum and just wondered if anyone has ever considered scrapping old boats? We live in an area that is surrounded by lakes and rivers. With that you can find boats laying around abandoned in yards and marinas. Just this month a marina ran an add for around 10 free in their yard. Just come get them. There are always adds on Craig's List for free boats.

From a scrap viewpoint there are the old aluminum fuel tanks, batteries, stainless rub rails, bronze thru hull fittings, copper and aluminum wiring, cast aluminum, engine blocks, steel from trailers, and sometimes electronics.

The downside is the part I'm having a hard time with. Each boat generates a bunch of junk...seats, carpet, wood, and the main problem is the fiberglass. I have to pay to unload all the interior waste. The hull itself has to be stripped and it could be brought in whole or in pieces with a charge of .05 a lb.



I could probably count on a $50 bill to get rid of the waste. I'd guess and say the better part of a day to scrap one boat. Is there enough in scrap to make it worth while?

If it's feasible there is a goldmine in boats. I could probably run adds to get them out of yards and be swamped. Nobody seems to know what to do with them or doesn't want to deal with the issues of disposal. Any thoughts?? There is always the guilt factor of filling our landfill up with fiberglass boats but if it's not me it's someone else.

You know nothing beats Experience like Doing something yourself Here is a Idea Take a chance since the boats are free in your area and they are laying around how about this go get a free boat tear it down seperate the metals then take to the scrap yard and the money you get paid from the scrap yard take the left over junk to the land fill and pay them out of the money you made at the scrap yard from selling your free boat and see how much you have left over then report back to us what your profit was for your area.

then all your questions will be answered

Thanks. Why did I know that was coming? Did I open myself up that much? I was wondering if anyone had gone through this before.

Originally Posted by AKman

Thanks. Why did I know that was coming? Did I open myself up that much? I was wondering if anyone had gone through this before.

The responce I gave may have come off as a Jerk that wasn't my intention. My intention was to give some sound Advice for the question you was asking.

I knew that and didn't take it that way. It's all in fun and that is how I took it. Now however I will come back after I try this and accurately report with pictures the whole process. Then we can all learn something from it. If someone says no don't go that route before I try I'll listen though.

I saw one on Craig's list here, but did not go for it. If I had the space I would have, but I do not have the space. I hope you give it a shot and that it works for you.

Any more thoughts on having them bring a dumpster and like Bell said cut the f'glass hulls down into pieces and fill the dumpster. If you could put 8 or 10 hulls into the dumpster, divide the cost by 8 or 10 and there is your cost per boat.

Saroro hit the nail on the head, IMO. If people gladly pay me to remove unwanted appliances out of basements, then I have no doubt that they'd probably gladly pay a modest fee to get rid of a boat. That removal fee could cover disposal charges on your end, and then everything else is in the black. Again, just my opinion. Good luck either way!

If they are old jon boat and v hulls it pays to just put em on craigslist for like 50 bucks more then scrap value.. it helps allot of people out.

Around here you can get dumpster service, pick up 4-8 times a month for only about $100/mo..I will Probably get one once I have some more space to tear down bigger and better things.

Some good thoughts here from all. I will actively start looking for one just to start out and try before I do any advertising. Some just aren't worth it unless they pay you. The I/O's with a cracked block and out drive still intact would be my target. It's also the older ones with the aluminum fuel tanks.

As far as the dumpster...I'll look into that also. I have a Case 580 CK that I can yank blocks out with along with loading the whole boat in the dumpster. Once in the dumpster I can smash the hell out of it to save space.

First things first. Get the right boat and scrap it out to see what I get out of it. I will report my findings when I get one done and maybe this will work for others too.

Originally Posted by AKman

New to forum and just wondered if anyone has ever considered scrapping old boats? We live in an area that is surrounded by lakes and rivers. With that you can find boats laying around abandoned in yards and marinas. Just this month a marina ran an add for around 10 free in their yard. Just come get them. There are always adds on Craig's List for free boats.

From a scrap viewpoint there are the old aluminum fuel tanks, batteries, stainless rub rails, bronze thru hull fittings, copper and aluminum wiring, cast aluminum, engine blocks, steel from trailers, and sometimes electronics.

The downside is the part I'm having a hard time with. Each boat generates a bunch of junk...seats, carpet, wood, and the main problem is the fiberglass. I have to pay to unload all the interior waste. The hull itself has to be stripped and it could be brought in whole or in pieces with a charge of .05 a lb.

I could probably count on a $50 bill to get rid of the waste. I'd guess and say the better part of a day to scrap one boat. Is there enough in scrap to make it worth while?

If it's feasible there is a goldmine in boats. I could probably run adds to get them out of yards and be swamped. Nobody seems to know what to do with them or doesn't want to deal with the issues of disposal. Any thoughts?? There is always the guilt factor of filling our landfill up with fiberglass boats but if it's not me it's someone else.

In my opinion as far as what I see at lot is most boats are stripped of all hardware. This may not hold true in every case but ...

If the hull is glass I would think it would take a lot of metal to make up for the massive amount of itchy stuff!

On the other hand if you were able to resell part or all of the boat with a lil' elbow grease the venture might be worth the effort. I am sure you will be able to start a axle collection and such. It will take lots of room without the "Mayor" living next door.

With that said I would take it one boat at a time.

On a side note you could become "The East Wakefield boat choppers"
Maybe even your own show! LOL

Sorry , guess I should be out in my boat.

Dude we post at the same exact time!
You owe me a beer.

<------- Sending Joe a Budweiser

Originally Posted by Kris Kringle

<------- Sending Joe a Budweiser

Arrr mate thanks I needed that!