The first thing I checked when I walked up was the smell coming out of the open bilge. It was old gas turned to varnish, mixed with battery acid dripping down the side of the wooden hull. A winter storm had blown this 16 foot mahogany utility boat off its resting place and wedged it sideways into a neighbor’s overgrown hedge in Ceres. The property owner called us because he had an abandoned derelict sitting in his yard and wanted his hedge back.
Before our crew touched a branch, we had to get the paperwork sorted out. Since the vessel was not the homeowner’s property, we helped him verify who held the legal right to clear it, and he signed the release of liability once that was done. We checked for hazardous fluids first, draining the leaking battery and pumping out the foul fuel into sealed containers. The broken branches were tangled through the gunwales, so we pruned the wood away carefully. Once the vessel was free, we rolled it upright, blocked the bottom, and slid our trailer directly under it.
Any solid hardware and reusable metal were set aside so they could be recycled or salvaged, and the wrecked wooden frame was taken to a licensed facility for disposal. The homeowner got his fence line back clean and clear of chemicals. If you have non-running or unwanted vessels on your waterfront property, lawn, or storage lot in Ceres, call 209-580-0395 to get a free estimate.
How our boat removal process really starts
Typically, we see open wood and fiberglass hulls fill up fast during rainy stretches, adding hundreds of pounds of hidden water weight. On any boat removal process, I look hard at the boat trailers left under these rigs. Dry-rotted tire sidewalls and rusted wheel bearings tell us right away if the rig can safely roll or if our trailer needs to carry the entire load.
Boat disposal services in Ceres: how it went
| Job | Junk boat removal |
|---|---|
| Boat | 1987 mahogany utility boat, about 16 feet |
| Where it sat | Tossed into a neighbor’s hedge by a storm |
| Who called | A homeowner after a storm put a stranger’s boat in the hedge |
| What was wrong | An old battery leaking and fuel in the bilge that smelled like varnish |
| Estimate | Free estimate before the date was set |
| Paperwork | Release of liability kept by the owner |
| Area | Stanislaus County, CA |
This story is an illustrative example of boat removal in Stanislaus County, not a record of one customer’s job. Photos are illustrative.
Boat owners in Ceres, CA often ask
How do I get rid of my boat?
Send us photos of the vessel, the trailer, and where it sits. We check if it is at a dock, a marina, or in a yard, and give you an upfront cost based on its size and condition. Once you sign the paperwork, our crew handles the pickup.
Are your haulers in Ceres licensed and insured?
Yes, our crew is fully licensed and insured for junk removal and boat removal services. We handle the boat trailers, heavy lifting, dismantling, and proper disposal of the junk boat so you do not have to worry about injury or property damage during the job.
Boat removal and disposal near Ceres
We pick up boats across Stanislaus County, in Modesto, Turlock, Patterson and Oakdale. January rain softens the soil around a yard quickly. A heavy fiberglass hull or sailboat sitting on soft ground can sink straight into the mud, which means we have to set extra support down before we can winch the load out.
Want the yard or the slip back in Ceres? Call 209-580-0395 and our crew will plan the pickup.