A neighbor complained about the old fiberglass hull sitting out in the yard, so the owner tucked the Larson LX 186 inside his pole barn. The boat was an 19 ft bowrider with a burgundy hull and a white deck. An insurance company wrote the boat off after a storm, and the owner wanted it out of his building.
He called us for boat removal, but the outboard still had a fuel tank half full of old gas. Gasoline sits in a tank for years and turns into varnish that smells like old turpentine. Our crew pumped the fuel out into sealed transfer cans using a grounded hand siphon before loading the trailer so no fumes could ignite in the barn.
We hauled the Larson away for disposal and found a sound hull under the dust. We sold the shell to a local repair yard that rebuilds damaged craft. Our price sheet lists boats under 20 feet at about $75 a foot. If you need boat removal in Western Springs or Cook County, call us at 833-658-4847.
In our experience, water left inside a hull through Illinois winter cycles freezes, splits the gelcoat, and soaks the rear wood. Snow loads tear heavy tarps, so pole barns are always the best storage spots. We drain all old fuel and motor oil, then disconnect the battery before taking any boat for recycling or salvage.
Job notes
| Boat | 19 ft Larson LX 186 bowrider |
|---|---|
| Where it sat | Pole barn on a rural lot |
| Coverage area | Cook County |
| Outcome | Sold to a repair yard because the hull was still sound |
Illustrative only: a representative Cook County boat removal, not a specific customer’s job. Photos are for illustration.
Boat disposal questions
How much does it cost to remove a boat?
Boat removal pricing depends on length, placement, and fuel content. Boats under twenty feet cost around seventy-five dollars per foot. Sunken hulls or units stuck in muddy fields take extra work, so we review the site layout before giving you a final price.
Can you remove a boat without a title?
Yes, we can remove your boat even if you lost the original paper title. When there is no title, our crew signs a release of liability with you on site. That form proves you surrendered the vessel and removes your legal responsibility for it.
Removing boats across Cook County
Crews cover Cook County: Arlington Heights, Glenview, Des Plaines and Palatine. Early summer warm weather brings out property owners cleaning out pole barns and storage spaces. Many boat owners in northern Illinois decide to haul away damaged vessels right after completing spring cleanup on their land.
Boat in Western Springs that is not going back in the water? Call 833-658-4847 and we will walk you through it.
