Can Onboard Gear Cover Boat Disposal Costs?
Free Boat Recycling?
Can a neglected boat’s onboard gear completely pay for its own removal and recycling? That is one of the most common questions we get at Boatbreakers. Recently we had the perfect opportunity to put the theory to a real-world test.
A close friend of the business reached out to us about a Dufour yacht sitting on Hayling Island that had reached the end of its line. Knowing how active our online salvage shop is, he asked us a direct question: Would the parts on board be valuable enough to offset the entire cost of scrap and collection? Because the boat was local, which kept our road transport overhead low, we decided to take on the challenge and run the numbers.
Costs to Cover
To make the experiment work, the salvage value had to cover two major expenses. Sending our Hiab lorry out to haul the boat off Hayling Island. And the physical breakdown and disposal fees for the non-recyclable hull material back at base.
Once we got the Dufour into the yard, our teardown crew did a complete inventory of her setup. Tucked inside was a running Beta diesel engine, four high-quality self-tailing winches, an auto-helm system, marine electronics, and a wide array of clean stainless steel deck fittings.
Our team systematically removed, cleaned, and listed the hardware directly on our online shop. The results were fantastic: because marine equipment like self-tailing winches and reliable Beta engines are always in high demand, the parts sold quickly. By the time the dust settled, the sales had comfortably covered both the transport costs and the disposal fees for the hull.
Complete Success
While this zero-cost experiment was a complete success, it isn’t a option we can offer for every vessel. Many boat owners strip their gear before reaching out to us. Leaving only an empty shell with high disposal costs. However, when a local vessel comes to us fully fitted with prime equipment, the math can work out brilliantly. We may not be able to offer free disposal to everyone but where we can we will always try to discount.
Got a complete vessel you are looking to clear? Contact the Boatbreakers team today to see if your onboard gear can help reduce or cover your disposal fees.
