The rusted trailer under the Crestliner Kodiak 16 had two flat tires and missing wheel bearings. The owner needed this 16 ft aluminum fishing boat moved out of an Edwardsville, IL marina slip to stop unpaid fees, but he could not haul it away himself. The white and light blue hull sat low at the dock, held down by months of collected rain.
Our crew pulled up with a heavy utility trailer and a portable trash pump. Rainwater had filled the riveted hull up to the bench seats, adding roughly two thousand pounds of weight. We set the suction hose into the lowest part of the floor and pumped out the water until the light aluminum hull floated high again. Once the boat was light enough, we winched it out of the water, loaded both the boat and its broken trailer onto our flatbed, and strapped them down tight.
We brought the outfit to a scrap yard where workers removed the outboard motor and saved the trailer for scrap, then crushed the clean metal hull for recycling. Boat removal costs run about $75 a foot for hulls under 20 feet. If you have an unwanted vessel in Madison County, call 833-658-4847.
In our experience, water trapped in an aluminum hull over winter leads to split seams when the weather turns cold. Before any hull goes to a scrap yard, we drain all leftover gasoline, pull the motor oil, and disconnect the battery for proper disposal of hazardous materials. When you have the title, we transfer it over, and if it is lost, we sign a release of liability so the boat is off your name.
The boat, the place, the outcome
| Boat | 16 ft Crestliner Kodiak 16 aluminum fishing boat |
|---|---|
| Where it sat | Marina slip with unpaid fees |
| Coverage area | Madison County |
| Outcome | Engine and trailer salvaged, hull crushed at a scrap yard |
This is an illustrative case built from the kind of work we do in Madison County, not a record of one customer’s job. The photos are illustrative as well.
Before you call: two common questions
Can you remove a boat that is in the water?
Yes, we remove vessels right from dock slips or shorelines. Our crew pumps out standing water, hooks up tow lines or straps, and pulls the hull out onto our trailer. You do not need to haul the vessel onto dry land before we arrive.
What is the procedure for boat disposal?
We strip all hazardous materials like fuel, gear oil, and batteries first. Our crew then salvage useful hardware or metal parts for scrap. Finally, we haul the remaining hull to a landfill that takes fiberglass or to a scrap metal recycling facility.
Boat removal throughout Madison County
Crews cover Madison County: Godfrey, Granite City, Alton and Glen Carbon. Early summer brings many boat owners looking to clear out unused slips before marina storage costs pile up. Sunken hulls and rusted trailers are common around local waterways after sitting untouched through wet spring months.
If a boat like this is taking up space in Edwardsville, call 833-658-4847. Tell us the length and where it sits.
