The homeowner was putting his house on the market and needed the dock clear for the sale. The buyer did not want the boat, so the owner called us for boat removal. A white Hunter 23 sailboat sat in the water against his private lake dock. It had a faded navy blue stripe along the fiberglass hull and a small outboard motor hanging off the stern.
Getting a truck down to the water was impossible. The ground near the lake shoreline was soft mud that would swallow a heavy rig to the axles. Our crew rigged three long tow straps together and hooked them to a winch mounted on our heavy trailer. We left the trailer on the dry, solid gravel drive seventy feet back. We floated the boat to the bank, attached the cable, and pulled the hull slowly over rubber roller skids onto solid earth before loading it.
We unbolted the small outboard motor for metal recycling. The fiberglass hull went to a landfill that takes fiberglass, where it was chopped and crushed. Boats over 20 feet are priced over the phone, because size and setting change the work. If you need boat removal in Orcutt or Santa Barbara County, call 833-658-4847.
In our experience, dry California sun bakes old hulls year after year, leaving gelcoat powdery and seat covers split wide open. Before we tow any hull away, we drain all fuel and oil from small motors and pull the battery to keep hazardous materials out of the ground. We take the title when the boat owner has one, or we sign a release of liability to clear your name.
Quick facts from this job
| Boat | 23 ft Hunter 23 sailboat |
|---|---|
| Where it sat | Private lake dock |
| Coverage area | Santa Barbara County |
| Outcome | Fiberglass hull cut up and hauled to a landfill that takes it, metals recycled |
Representative example of our work in Santa Barbara County; it does not describe a particular customer job, and the photos are illustrative.
Before you call: two common questions
Can you remove a boat that is in the water?
Yes, we remove boats directly from private lake docks, slips, and shorelines. Our crew brings winches, straps, and flotation gear to pull sunken or floating vessels out of the water onto our trailers safely without damaging surrounding property or docks.
How to get rid of a bad boat?
Call our team to handle the entire job. We haul the boat from your property, drain fluids, and dispose of the fiberglass properly at a landfill. We also sort the metal parts for recycling so you do not have to worry about hauling it yourself.
Our boat removal crews in Santa Barbara County
Crews cover Santa Barbara County: Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta and Solvang. Early summer property listings and yard cleanups usually trigger calls across this valley. People clearing rural acres or fixing up lake properties before dry weather sets in often find an old fiberglass hull blocking their plans.
Boat in Orcutt that is not going back in the water? Call 833-658-4847 and we will walk you through it.
