The next-door neighbor liked the new rig, but he wanted the old one out of the sightline. A Rochester homeowner picked up a newer vessel for summer fishing and ran out of room in his yard. Behind his wooden privacy fence sat an 18 ft white Stratos 186 bass boat. The hull had turned yellow at the waterline from years in the lake, and the old outboard was long dead.
Our crew swung by to get the fiberglass hull out. The trailer tires held air, but the bow hook was frozen in place. The trailer winch was completely seized and the crank handle had rusted right through at the gears. We brought a heavy ratcheting strap to bridge the strap hook to the trailer tongue, bypassed the broken winch entirely, and pulled the bow tight against the roller. We then unbolted three fence pickets, angled the rig through the narrow slot, and hitched it to our truck.
We hauled the bass boat back to our shop to drain all fluids and remove the wiring harness. The steel trailer and motor parts went to local metal recycling, and the cut fiberglass hull went to a Monroe County landfill that takes it. Smaller boats up to 20 feet usually run near $75 per foot on our rate sheet. Call us at 833-658-4847 for boat removal anywhere in Rochester.
In our experience, winters in western New York punish hulls left outdoors without proper drainage. Trapped rainwater goes through freeze and thaw cycles that split gelcoat and rot internal wood cores. Before we haul any craft for recycling, our crew flushes the fuel tank, drains engine oil, and pulls the battery to keep hazardous materials out of the ground.
Case summary
| Boat | 18 ft Stratos 186 bass boat |
|---|---|
| Where it sat | Backyard behind a wooden privacy fence |
| Coverage area | Monroe County |
| Outcome | Fiberglass hull cut up and hauled to a landfill that takes it, metals recycled |
Illustrative example: a representative boat removal in Monroe County, not a record of a specific customer job. Photos are illustrative too.
Two questions we hear on jobs like this
Do I need a title to have my boat removed?
No, you do not always need a clear title. If you have the paperwork, we take the title from you. If the document is missing, we sign a release of liability with you so the boat is officially off your name.
Is my old boat worth anything?
Most old fiberglass boats cost money to dispose of because landfills charge by weight and hull material has zero salvage value. Aluminum hulls or working outboard engines might carry some scrap value, but damaged fiberglass craft are purely waste.
Boat removal and disposal around Rochester
Crews cover Monroe County: Honeoye Falls, Webster, Brockport and Hilton. Early summer brings a rush of calls across Rochester as boat owners buy new rigs and clear out their yards. Unwanted hulls often sit forgotten until suburban property codes or neighbors force the issue.
If a boat like this is taking up space in Rochester, call 833-658-4847. Tell us the length and where it sits.
