The wooden fence gate at the back of the driveway was frozen shut into three inches of crusty ice. Behind it sat an 18-foot 1970 mahogany utility boat that had not moved since the Carter administration. A daughter settling her late parents’ estate called our team because the city was starting to write letters about the yard. She had enough on her plate without arguing over an old boat.
The hull looked intact from ten feet away, but up close, the battery case was cracked open and two gallons of old fuel in the bilge smelled like furniture stripper. Worse for us, both trailer tires were dry-rotted through and the wheel bearings were solid rust. Before we touched a winch, our crew checked for hazardous fuel and oil leaks so nothing spilled on the grass. The title was long gone, so we helped her get the state registration record lined up with a bill of sale, and she signed the release of liability when she booked the job. We hoisted the entire rig onto our trailer, secured the hull with heavy straps, and hauled the non-running vessel out through the ice.
We brought the boat back to save what was usable from the hardware before sending the rest for proper disposal. She kept her signed receipt and a clean side yard. If you have an unwanted vessel sitting in Gary or anywhere in Lake County, call 219-946-4598.
What a trailer says about the boat on it
Typically, we see more damaged hulls after a hard freeze because trapped rainwater expands and splits the fiberglass hull or wood seams right at the waterline. Deep cold locks up ancient wheel bearings and leaves trailer frames sitting hub-deep in snow. If you want to speed up the boat removal process, clear a six-foot path through any yard debris to the street and clear out personal items from the floorboards before our crew arrives with our trailer.
Gary boat pickup, the short version
| Job | Removal, recycling and disposal |
|---|---|
| Boat | 1970 mahogany utility boat, about 18 feet |
| Where it sat | On a trailer in the yard of an estate the family was settling |
| Who called | A daughter settling her parents’ estate |
| 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 | Signed release of liability |
| Area | Lake County, IN |
We tell this as a typical Lake County boat removal, not as a customer’s actual record. Photos are illustrations.
Boat removal in Gary: questions and answers
Do you take the trailer too?
Yes, boat trailers go with the vessel whenever property owners want them gone. Our boat removal services cover the entire rig, whether the trailer rolls on its own wheels or needs to be loaded directly onto our trailer for transport and recycling.
How do I get rid of my boat?
Call us at 219-946-4598 or send photos for a free estimate. Our pricing starts at a $400 minimum service charge and depends on the vessel size, location, and condition. Once you book, our licensed and insured crew handles the entire boat removal and disposal process.
Our boat removal service areas in Lake County
We pick up boats across Lake County, in Merrillville, Hobart, Hammond and Crown Point. March weather in this part of Indiana brings freezing night temperatures that turn soft ground into rutted ice, which makes pulling a dead trailer out of a backyard a tight job. We bring the right gear to clear abandoned vessels from any waterfront lot or driveway before spring mud sets in.
Start with a free estimate: call 219-946-4598 about the boat in Gary.